2011 Kia Sportage Reliability
The 2011 Kia Sportage has 181 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Sportage model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sportage's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
181
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
7
Complaints citing a crash
8
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Kia Sportage complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 77 | 43% |
| Electrical system | 38 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 25 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 13% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 23 | 13% |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 7% |
| Speed control / throttle | 10 | 6% |
| Steering | 9 | 5% |
2011 Kia Sportage recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V114000 | Apr 1, 2013 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009… |
| 15V360000 | Jun 9, 2015 | Exterior lighting — brake lights / switch | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2011 Sportage vehicles manufactured March 7, 2011, to June 8, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may intermittently fail. |
| 17V224000 | Mar 31, 2017 | Engine & cooling — engine | 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. |
| 18V907000 | Dec 19, 2018 | Fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 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… |
| 19V101000 | Feb 15, 2019 | Engine | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage. |
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | 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…NHTSA advisory: park outside until repaired. |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Sportage years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sportage analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 80 | 3 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2010 | 20 | 2 | Service brakes | Better year |
| 2011 (this page) | 181 | 6 | Engine | Caution |
| 2012 | 392 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 | 381 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2011 Kia Sportage on the used market
- 12 of 130 2011 Kia Sportage listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2011 Kia Sportage
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Kia Sportage can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Kia Sportage reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2011 Kia Sportage has 181 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Sportage model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Sportage's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2011 Kia Sportage problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Kia Sportage are engine (77), electrical system (38), service brakes (25), unknown or other (23). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Kia Sportage have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Kia Sportage, including 13V114000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch) and 15V360000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Kia Sportage compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 20 complaints and 2 recalls (better year); the 2012 has 392 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid). The 2011 has 181 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Kia Sportage?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sportage research
Other Kia Sportage model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Sportage, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.