PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Kia Sportage brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Kia Sportage have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Sportage | 7 |
| 2008 Sportage | 17 |
| 2009 Sportage | 12 |
| 2010 Sportage | 5 |
| 2011 Sportage (this page) | 17 |
| 2012 Sportage | 11 |
| 2013 Sportage | 24 |
| 2014 Sportage | 22 |
| 2015 Sportage | 29 |
2crashes
2fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 17 brakes complaints filed for the 2011 Kia Sportage, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct brake system failures in 2011 Kia Sportages. First, complete loss of braking during active driving: the brake pedal freezes or becomes unresponsive, with no pedal depression possible regardless of foot pressure. One owner at 25 mph ran a red light and collided with another vehicle; another at 55 mph on highway cruise control couldn't stop for a traffic light and hit the vehicle in front, resulting in injury. Both cited check engine lights or brake warning symptoms.
Second, unattended vehicles caught fire under the front end while parked in driveways or left running in park (around 150,000–170,000 miles). Insurance companies declared both total losses. Owners linked both fires to the hydraulic brake recall (NHTSA 23V652000).
Several owners received recall notifications but dealers confirmed repair parts remain unavailable, creating months-long delays. One owner reported burning smell after 20-minute driving sessions. Another experienced an ABS light at 155,000 miles. One intermittent no-start condition was traced to a faulty brake sensor safety switch. One owner's complaint of brake failure was dismissed by Kia without physical inspection, citing photographs as insufficient.
Same Kia Sportage brakes reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Complete brake pedal loss / hard pedal
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or frozen, does not depress regardless of applied pressure. Occurs during active driving at low and highway speeds, leading to loss of braking ability and crashes.
When: 25,000 miles; downhill city driving; highway at 55 mph with cruise control
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or frozen; Cannot depress pedal despite full pressure application; Check engine light illuminated (one case); Complete loss of braking ability; Hard brake pedal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). One owner reported Kia engineers refused to inspect brakes, citing photos as insufficient evidence and dismissing claim based on careless driving citation.
Vehicle fire while parked or idle
Vehicle catches fire under the front end while parked in driveway or while left running in park in driveway. Fire department extinguished. Vehicles declared total loss by insurance.
When: 150,000 miles; 170,000 miles; while parked overnight or idling in park
Symptoms owners cite: Fire under front of vehicle; Fire while vehicle parked or idling; Smoke / burning smell
Repairs/costs cited: Both vehicles declared total loss by insurance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Owners related fires to this recall.
ABS warning light illumination
ABS warning light comes on. No failures reported but recall parts unavailable.
When: ~155,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). Recall parts not available.
Brake sensor safety switch failure causing no-start
Faulty brake sensor safety switch prevents vehicle from starting intermittently.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle does not start intermittently; Faulty brake sensor safety switch
Burning smell during/after driving
Burning smell detected after 20-minute driving sessions, repeating on return trip. Concern of brake overheating.
When: After 20-minute driving cycles
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell after driving; Smell to burn when parked after drive
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…
Drive the car for a certain amount of time (20 mins) park and then drive it again 20 mins back home when it’s already parked smell to burn. What I do? I need the car to drive to work and back home.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Kia sportage. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine light illuminated and the brakes failed. The contact ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle. The frontal air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. There were no injuries. The approximate…
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 Kia Sportage?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2011 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 107,143 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Kia/Sportage.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.