2013 Kia Sportage Reliability
The 2013 Kia Sportage has 381 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and unknown or other. Compared with other Sportage model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sportage's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
381
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
5
Complaints citing a crash
22
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Kia Sportage complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 301 | 79% |
| Unknown or other | 27 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 25 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 18 | 5% |
| Engine & cooling | 14 | 4% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 7 | 2% |
| Body structure | 6 | 2% |
2013 Kia Sportage recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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… |
| 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 2013 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 181 | 6 | Engine | Caution |
| 2012 | 392 | 5 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 381 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2014 | 125 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
| 2015 | 146 | 2 | Engine | Caution |
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.
What to check on a used 2013 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.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- 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 3 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 2013 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.
2013 Kia Sportage reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2013 Kia Sportage has 381 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and unknown or other. Compared with other Sportage model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Sportage's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Kia Sportage problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Sportage are engine (301), unknown or other (27), service brakes (25), electrical system (22). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Kia Sportage have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Kia Sportage, including 17V224000 (engine & cooling — engine) and 18V907000 (fuel system — delivery / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Kia Sportage compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 392 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 125 complaints and 3 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 381 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 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 2013 Sportage, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.