The engine has a loud knocking sound. I turned on my vehicle and when I pressed on the gas I heard a loud knocking sound. I have always been diligent about getting my regular oil changes and services for and have service records for it so thought this was odd. I took it to the Kia dealer and was advised it needed a new engine and would cost about $7200, a lot more than what the vehicle is worth.…
2013 Kia Sportage engine problems
severe 278 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
278
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1crash
14fires
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 278 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Kia Sportage, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 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.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 73% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 278 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
I have a Kia Sportage Ex 2013 and this motor vehicle has a fire and explotion in the road.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormally loud knocking sound. The contact stated that the vehicle previously had the brakes, four tires, fuel injectors, and spark plugs replaced; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the vehicle experienced rough driving. The vehicle was taken to two independent…
Car engine started making a loud knocking / tapping noise, car shut off while driving down the road at 40 mph, I had to replace the battery, car started back up but is still knocking / tapping. No warning lights came up, I have 112,000 miles on it, I keep the maintenance up on it, I don't run it hard, I take car of it because I Love My car, I have NEVER had any issues before this. I did not…
We were driving down hwy 75 s the car was on cruse control , the engine began to rev up so I took the cruise control off , the car began to knock so I was making my way to the edge of the road when flames and smoke began coming from the rear of the car . Other drivers began to call 911 and reported my car was on fire. At this time I heard a load noise from the engine and the engine blew .I was…
On 4/18/2019 I was driving on a narrow 2-lane highway at 55 MPH when my vehicle suddenly lost power and would not restart. I had the vehicle towed to a Kia dealership and I was told the engine had failed and needed to be replaced at a cost of $8,800. The engine had 83,000 miles on it.
Vehicle has 111,000 miles and main engine bearing going out. Car was in motion when it started making a bad sound. This is the exact problem that the Kia has had a massive recall on but for some reason my vehicle based on the VIN is not included. I have contacted Kia consumer affairs and after more than a week have been told that there is no action that they will take. I was told that at my…
On December 13, 2023, at 7:30am I noticed that the check engine light was on in my vehicle. I recently received an Important Safety Recall letter notice on November 14, 2023, regarding a defect with the safety of kia motor vehicles that were manufactured between 2011-2013, in which the defect can result in an engine compartment fire. I currently have a 2013 Kia Sportage so once I saw the check…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Kia sportage. While driving 65 MPH on the freeway, the engine seized without warning. The contact managed to veer to the shoulder of the road and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle failed to resume normal operation. The insurance company towed the vehicle to the contact's residence where it was then towed to bob moore Kia northwest (7340 northwest expy, oklahoma city,…
September of this year my daughter was driving 70mph on I-80 with 3 friends and 2 dogs when the engine made loud popping noises and quit, luckily for all she was in the right hand lane and immediately pulled over, if not she would have probably stopped in the middle of the interstate. We had the car towed to our mechanic who informed us that the engine had seized and suggested I call Kia and…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 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 engine problem on the 2013 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 278 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 212 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 85,000 and 127,000 miles, with the median around 106,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,000; a quarter make it past 127,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2013/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.