VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-2020MY Sorento, 2017-2022MY Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific co
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2022 Kia Sportage engine problems
severe Owners of the 2022 Kia Sportage have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Sportage | 65 |
| 2019 Sportage | 22 |
| 2020 Sportage | 65 |
| 2021 Sportage | 19 |
| 2022 Sportage (this page) | 15 |
| 2023 Sportage | 12 |
| 2024 Sportage | 4 |
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 15 engine complaints filed for the 2022 Kia Sportage, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 34% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 105) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) for certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gas Direct Injection (GDI) engines to ensure compliance with emissions regulations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions. These calibrations
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 103 / QL) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) for certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gas Direct Injection (GDI) engines to ensure compliance with emissions regulations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions. These calibrations may c
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2022 Kia Sportages are dealing with serious engine failures across the board. The most common complaint is sudden oil starvation—engines running completely dry despite recent oil changes, with no warning lights to tip off the driver. Vehicles enter limp mode (capped at 15-25 mph), check engine lights flash, and the engine either locks up or gets damaged beyond repair. Some owners hear ticking or knocking beforehand; others get no warning at all.
Two owners report engine fires: one while driving at a stoplight, another while parked cold. The fire department confirmed the fires originated under the hood. Another owner states an independent shop confirmed fire risk in their failed engine.
What grinds owners' most is the warranty denial pattern. Kia refuses coverage over maintenance records—if an owner's spouse (a licensed mechanic) did the oil changes, or used a non-dealer shop like Goodyear or Take 5, the warranty is void. One owner was explicitly told by the salesman that his mechanic spouse could do maintenance and the warranty would hold. It didn't. One owner had three replacement engines installed in a single year, with Kia acknowledging the first two had faulty parts; the third replacement is already showing problems.
Kia also demands owners pay for engine inspections ($700-$1,100) with no guarantee the vehicle will be repaired afterward, and charges diagnostic and rental car costs on top of that. One owner is out nearly $2,000 in rental car fees alone while her car sits without an engine.
Same Kia Sportage engine reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall with check engine light
Vehicle stalls while driving, typically on highway; check engine light illuminates. Requires dealer diagnostic.
When: Varies; reported at unknown mileage in complaint #1
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stall during highway driving; Check engine light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Kia dealership requested engine removal ($700-$1100) to inspect for neglect; owner claims no guarantee of repair even after paying.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claim filed but contingent on maintenance records; denies coverage if prior maintenance completed by non-dealer shops; diagnostic and inspection costs charged to owner
Engine knock and oil starvation
Loud knocking or clunking noise on engine startup; dipstick reads completely dry despite recent service. Oil pressure warning light does not illuminate despite low oil. Engine fails after short driving; dealer denies warranty citing insufficient maintenance.
When: ~50-51k miles; occurred after recent oil change with only ~12 miles driven before failure
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knock/clunk noise on startup; Completely dry dipstick (verified by owner); No oil pressure warning light despite low oil; No check engine light prior to failure
Repairs/costs cited: Kia dealer claims engine failed due to insufficient maintenance despite owner's servicing records at dealership; inspection video promised but not received by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denial based on alleged maintenance records; no coverage offered
Check engine light with oil pressure warning and limp mode
Check engine light flashes and oil pressure light illuminates while driving; vehicle enters limp mode and cannot exceed 25 mph. Oil found completely absent. Occurs repeatedly after initial oil change and code reset.
When: Initial occurrence several weeks before complaint filing; recurrence the following Friday at unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Flashing check engine light; Oil pressure warning light; Vehicle speed limited to 25 mph (limp mode); No oil found in engine
Repairs/costs cited: Third-party shop charged $110 to reset code; suggested water in fuel tank and recommended dry gas additive; issue recurred same night
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia dealership stated oil consumption is not covered under engine warranty and could not diagnose issue after owner added oil
Oil starvation with sputtering and engine shutdown
Vehicle sputters and stalls repeatedly after recent oil change; no oil found in engine despite service performed day prior with minimal driving. Service engine light illuminates. Dealer denies warranty based on prior maintenance by non-dealer technician and invoice discrepancy.
When: 04/11/2023 oil change; failure same day after less than 5 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Sputtering; Repeated engine stalling; Service engine light illuminated; No oil in engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to Kia dealership; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denied citing use of non-dealer technician for prior maintenance and invoice mileage error by Take 5 oil change facility
Power loss with abnormal engine noise and limp mode
Vehicle loses motive power while driving at 40 mph; abnormal clicking sound heard; vehicle cannot accelerate beyond 15 mph despite pedal depression. Check engine light flashes. Diagnosed as requiring engine replacement.
When: ~33,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power; Abnormal clicking sound; No engine response to accelerator; Vehicle speed limited to 15 mph; Flashing check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed need for engine replacement; repair not performed per owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no coverage details provided
Engine tick with eventual lock-up
Ticking noise heard in engine; check engine light illuminates. Dealer initially claims normal sound but later manager acknowledges abnormality. Engine eventually locks up completely. Warranty denied because owner's mechanic spouse performed oil changes despite salesman's assurance warranty would remain valid.
When: Ticking noticed before ~49,000 miles; complete lock-up occurred before reaching 49,000 miles (vehicle nearly 2 years old)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine ticking noise; Check engine light; Engine lock-up
Repairs/costs cited: Repair deemed too expensive; vehicle still financed with $17,000 owed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty void due to non-dealer oil changes, despite owner being told by salesman that spouse's maintenance would not affect coverage
Engine fire while driving
Smoke observed emanating from engine compartment while vehicle stopped at red light; flames visible from driver side of engine when hood opened. Fire department extinguished fire and determined origin was driver side engine compartment.
When: ~51,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from engine compartment; Flames from driver side of engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to tow lot; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure; no coverage details provided
Repeated engine failure requiring multiple replacements
Intake camshaft position actuator circuit alert triggered. Engine replaced three times in one year (February, August, October 2025) with refurbished/remanufactured engines. Dealer claimed first two replacement engines had faulty parts; switched supplier for third replacement, which also shows issues.
When: Multiple replacements in single year; complaint filed after third replacement still experiencing problems
Symptoms owners cite: Intake camshaft position actuator circuit alert; Unspecified further engine troubles after third replacement
Codes mentioned: Intake camshaft position actuator circuit alert
Repairs/costs cited: Three engine replacements with remanufactured units; first two reportedly sent with faulty parts; third replacement from different supplier also failing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia dealership performed three replacement engine installations; acknowledged faulty parts in first two replacements but third replacement sourced from different company and still problematic
Engine fire while parked
Vehicle caught fire while parked without warning or prior symptoms. Fire originated from under the hood. Fire department extinguished fire. Fire spread to contact's home. Fire inspector confirmed hood-originated fire.
When: 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fire under hood without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not made aware of failure per owner statement
Excessive oil consumption
Oil level drops to empty between oil changes. Owner changed oil approximately 3,000 miles prior to complaint; oil light flashes and dipstick reads empty. Independent shop (Goodyear) confirmed no leaks and diagnosed oil consumption issue; technician indicated recall-worthy condition.
When: ~70,000 miles; consumption evident within 3,000 miles of oil change
Symptoms owners cite: Oil light flashing; Completely empty oil level between scheduled changes; No visible leaks
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shop charged for inspection; diagnosed oil consumption issue; technician recommended recall consideration
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner states intent to take to dealership; no manufacturer response yet provided
Engine failure with fire risk
Engine completely failed requiring replacement. Vehicle began shaking and making abnormal sounds; check engine light flashed. All symptoms occurred within one hour, forcing immediate stop. Independent service confirmed fire risk potential.
When: Unknown mileage; rapid onset of symptoms over one hour
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shaking; Abnormal engine noise; Flashing check engine light; Complete engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Engine requires replacement; fire risk confirmed by independent service
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not inspected by manufacturer per owner statement
Hard start with sputtering and erratic driving behavior
Engine requires two to four start attempts to ignite; sputters when finally starting. Vehicle randomly jerks and surges speed during driving. Battery tested twice and confirmed functional; no electrical system issues identified.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Requires 2-4 start attempts; Engine sputtering on startup; Random jerking while driving; Random speed surging
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided
Radiator hose failure with engine overheating
Radiator hose requires repair; engine overheating occurs. Warranty does not cover this condition per Kia.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Radiator hose deterioration/failure; Engine overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Repair needed but denied warranty coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia will not cover under warranty
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Engine began to knock on [XXX] on my way home from work. Drove to work and back the next day, but heard a loud CLUNK when I started it to head home. Stopped at auto parts store and checked oil. Completely dry dip stick (after wiping it clean). Added 2 qts of synthetic since I had an appt the next morning ([XXX]) at 7:30am at dealership where I purchased it. Knocking stopped but only drove about…
A few weeks ago while on the highway my check engine light started blinking and the car started to slow down and wouldn’t go over 25 miles per hour. My oil pressure light also light up. There was no oil at all. I took it in for an oil change because it was due soon. And explained what happened to them and they said they can check for oil consumption but it’s not covered under my engine warranty…
On [XXX] while driving on the highway my vehicle stalled and the engine light came on. I called my local Kia dealership and setup a diagnostic. My vehicle was dropped off 7/22/25 in which I was informed it was still under warranty and a claim would have to be filed. Days later I received a phone call stating I would have to provide maintenance records in which I have a personal mechanic who…
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an alert on the instrument panel that stating "Warning - System Overheating". The contact checked the coolant level, and the level was at the operational level; however, the A/C was not operating properly. While driving the vehicle, the external temperature gauge started…
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle caught on fire without warning. The side of the contact's home also caught on fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The fire inspector stated that the fire was started from under the hood of the vehicle. The manufacturer…
Engine failure at 93,000 miles. Timing chain jumped, causing internal engine damage. Dealer (Capitol Kia, San Jose CA) diagnosed engine as failed and quoted $11,843 for short block replacement. Vehicle is a 2021 Kia Sportage 2.4L. This is a known issue with the Theta II 2.4L engine.
Had engine trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 46,500 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 $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/2022/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.