Reliable Auto DB

2013 Kia Sportage reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sportage over 14 years — 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Sportage years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Hoses and fittings, and Engine.

2012 Kia Sportage
Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

381

Per year

4

Recalls

3

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (301 of 381), then Electrical system (22) and Hydraulic brakes (19). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 22 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Sportage has 392 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2014 has 122 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Kia Sportage. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
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.
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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2018-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 18V907000
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.
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.
Recall Engine 2017-03-31 · NHTSA campaign 17V224000
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.
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.

Complaints by component (381 total)

Engine
301
Electrical system
22
Hydraulic brakes
19
Powertrain
18
Engine and engine cooling
14
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Service brakes
6
Structure
6
Suspension
6
Air bags
4
Speed control
4
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Steering
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Wheels
2
Back-over prevention
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Exterior lighting
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

5

Fire-flagged

22

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

2201342014720158201620201766201876201957202046202133202216202329202414202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "While driving all of a sudden my 2013 Sportage began shaking check Ingine light flashing. This happened out of nowhere. I pulled off to the side of the road, towed to Mechanic shop. They found that a piece of spark plug…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "Claim #25921274 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute Kia’s denial of warranty coverage for the engine failure in my 2013 Kia Sportage. Per communication with customer care, Kia denied my claim on the…"
    Engine · filed 2026-04-26
  • "Driver side door will not open from the outside. Handle no longer operates."
    Structure · filed 2026-04-02
  • "My engine failed due to the knock sensor recall a known issue on my 2013 Kia Sportage the recall is supposed to provide a lifetime warranty but I was denied coverage because the failure happened before I was able to…"
    Engine · filed 2025-12-14
  • "KIA America has rejected my appeal for an Engine replacement through the Recall , I had the KSDS, Knock Sensor Installed by North Town KIA 3900 Sheridan Drive Amherst NY , May 7 2021. The warranty I received mentioned…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-11-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Kia Sportage SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2013 Kia Sportage SUV FWD 4 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Sportage two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 21 30 25 MPG $2600
Sportage two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Sportage two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Sportage four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Sportage four-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Four-wheel drive 20 25 22 MPG $2950
Sportage four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Four-wheel drive 19 25 21 MPG $3100

Specs and fitment

4th generation (QL), 2012–2021
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 225/60R17 to 245/45R19 (trim dependent)
Towing capacity 2,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V907000. 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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Kia Sportage Next year 2014 Kia Sportage See every Kia Sportage model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Kia Sportage reliable?

Owners have filed 381 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Sportage over 14 years — 4 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Sportage years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Hoses and fittings, and Engine.

What are common problems with a 2013 Kia Sportage?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (301 of 381), then Electrical system (22) and Hydraulic brakes (19). Those filings include 5 that report a crash, 22 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Kia Sportage more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Sportage has 392 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2014 has 122 complaints, 3 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Kia Sportage been recalled?

The 2013 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Kia Sportage?

Owners have filed 381 complaints about the 2013 Kia Sportage with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Kia Sportage get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Kia Sportage is 23 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Sportage take?

0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 18V-907 cover on the Kia Sportage?

NHTSA campaign 18V907000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Sportage?

4th generation (QL) (2012-2021).