The Lemon Index2011 Kia Sportage.
The 2011 Kia Sportage is better than average by owner complaints: 40 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 72, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 22 to 25 mpg combined. The best Kia Sportage year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 181 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sportage year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 26K to 123K miles on the car (122 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 57K–124K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 18K–144K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 19K–96K miles
Recalls 6
- brakes 2023
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- engine 2019
The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.
- fuel system, gasoline 2018
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.
Show all 6 recalls
- engine 2017
Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
- lights 2015
In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail.
- lights 2013
Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 172 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Installing an additional ground cable to the battery may cause sensor problems
- Uneven shifting gears and no start condition in power train control module (pcm)
- 6 spd a/t solenoid replacement multiple dtcs - this bulletin provides information relating
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedEngine fires2021–2024
- ClosedScope and timeliness2017–2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Kia Sportage SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–2900 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The vehicle intermittently does not start due to a faulty brake sensor safety switch.
2011 Kia Sportage owner · NHTSA complaint 10573927
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Kia Sportage reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 72; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sportage year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2011 Kia Sportage problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (30%), transmission & drivetrain (25%) and engine (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Kia Sportage have?
6 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Kia Sportage get?
22 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2011 Kia Sportage problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 26,500 and 123,200 miles. The middle report was at 78,000 miles, from 122 complaints.
Does the 2011 Kia Sportage have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 25% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Kia Sportage cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Kia Sportage have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sportage year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2022 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works