Photo: Calreyn88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2021 Kia Sportage: common problems and reliability
An average Sportage year.
51 owner complaints, most about engine. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2021 Sportage?The 2021 Kia Sportage has 51 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and engine and engine cooling. Owners most often flag diesel engine reliability concerns (2018-2022 models): cited as having poor reliability scores compared to petrol engines and earlier 2016-2018 diesels.
Safety record for the 2021 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2021 Kia Sportage vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Sportage years only. How we score it
Is 2021 a good year for the Sportage?
Across the 29 Sportage model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2003) to 399 (2017). With 51 complaints, the 2021 Sportage sits below the model's median of 131.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2021 Sportage
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Campaign 21V137000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
trailer hitches
Campaign 22V703000Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is sharply divided, creating a polarized ownership experience.
- IsolatedDiesel engine reliability concerns (2018-2022 models)
Cited as having poor reliability scores compared to petrol engines and earlier 2016-2018 diesels.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Sportage. See the full Sportage owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Sportage listings typically run $17,749–$24,718.
Other Sportage model years
Compare every Sportage year side by side to see how 2021 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Sportage against its rivals
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