2011 Kia Sportage reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2011 Kia Sportage — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 260
- 69 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 77 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 10 reported crashes · 8 injuries · 10 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,050
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
-5
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2009-2013
-13
median 274 complaints in 614 records
Top component share
30%
Engine: 77 complaints
What owners report fails — 2011 Kia Sportage
- ENGINE 77
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 36
- POWER TRAIN 23
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23
- SERVICE BRAKES 12
6 recalls on record for the 2011 Kia Sportage
- NHTSA 23V652000 · 2024 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACT An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V907000 · 2019 · ENGINE A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 19V101000 · 2019 · ENGINE A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 17V224000 · 2017 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 15V360000 · 2015 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Whenever the brake switch is not working, the brake lights will not illuminate, reducing the ability to warn other motor
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 Kia Sportage
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2011 Kia Sportage units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 260 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 Kia Sportage and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (77 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 Kia Sportage units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Sportage?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (77), electrical system (36), power train (23), unknown or other (23). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2011 Kia Sportage?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.