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2013 Kia

Sportage 4WD

Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo

Kia Sportage: best and worst years
2013 Kia Sportage 4WD (photo 1 of 3)

Photo may show a different model year; you're viewing the 2013.

PhotoAlexander MiglCC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Body
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026
Transmission
Automatic 6-spdEPA, from EPA, last updated 6/22/2026

Engine & performance

Efficiency

Smog score
5/10
SmartWay certified
No

Dimensions & capacity

GVWR class
Class 1C (4,001 to 5,000 lb)NHTSA vPIC, from NHTSA vPIC, last updated 10/13/2026

Safety NHTSA record NHTSA, model year

⚠ This model year has a recall advising owners to park outside or away from structures (fire risk). Check with the manufacturer.

Overall crash rating
★★★★★
Rollover rating
★★★★★
Stability control (ESC)
Standard
Forward-collision warning
No
Lane-departure warning
No
Recalls
3
Owner complaints
381 See on NHTSA
Reported injuries
6
Theft rate
0.8 per 1,000 produced (CY 2013 federal data)

Recalls NHTSA record NHTSA, model year

23V652000 Park outside Sep 25, 2023 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICKia America, Inc.

Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Vehicles covered (all models): 1,730,192

Full notice
18V907000 Dec 19, 2018 ENGINE; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine…

Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Vehicles covered (all models): 71,653

Full notice
17V224000 Mar 31, 2017 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGKia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles.

Summary: Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.

Consequence: Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

Vehicles covered (all models): 618,160

Full notice

Source: NHTSA

Reported problems NHTSA record NHTSA owner complaints, model year

  • ENGINE67%
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER6%
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5%
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC4%
  • POWER TRAIN4%
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3%

Source: NHTSA owner complaints, 450 total.

Kia Sportage: best and worst years

Federal investigations NHTSA record NHTSA defect investigations, model year

  • AQ23002Openopened Nov 17, 2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

    Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  • DP22003opened Sep 12, 2022ENGINE

    Loss of Motive Power

  • EA21003opened Dec 22, 2021ENGINE

    Engine Fires

  • RQ17003opened May 18, 2017ENGINE

    Scope and Timeliness

Known issues manufacturer service bulletins, model year

161 service bulletins filed with NHTSA for this model year

  • Mar 11, 2026ELECTRICAL SYSTEMPI2103_OWNR_501

    PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2103 FLIGHT #501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will only involve the addition of newly developed computer software for the Engine Control Unit

  • Feb 19, 2026STRUCTURE:BODYTSB_CS2312_R1

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 20, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whole Integr

  • Dec 19, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYCS2311_OWNR_PC201

    CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade and can be installed at the ignition cylinder location to provide additional protection against the social media theft method. Prior notifications stated that this modification had to be performed by July 1, 2025, but the subject vehic

  • Dec 18, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYTSB_CS2312

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY Kia vehicles outlined on page 19, which may not have been equipped with an immobilizer and whose Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) / Body Control Module (BCM) did receive the Anti-Theft Software Logic upgrade under CS2301/02/03/04/05/06/07/08/09 TSBs. In

  • Dec 17, 2025STRUCTURE:BODYCS2312_OWNR

    CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made available to owners of eligible Kia model vehicles free of charge at authorized Kia dealers since 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade has been developed and can be installed at th

  • Dec 9, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGSPS797

    PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or for

  • Jul 8, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEMPI2103_OWNR_401

    PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI203) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on 2011-2013 MY Kia Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4-liter MPI engines to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage. The update will be done free of charge and will only involve the addition of newly developed computer software for the Engine Control Unit (“ECU”).

  • Apr 17, 2025POWER TRAINTSB_TRA046_R5

    TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.

  • and 153 more

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

Warranty manufacturer terms, by make

Basic
5 yr / 60k mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100k mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60k mi
EV battery
10 yr / 100k mi

Source: www.cars.com as of 2026-06

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.