2011 Kia Sportage UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Update to NHTSA (ODI #11679186) Subject: Update to ODI Complaint #11679186 – Kia America Written Response Body: Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am writing to provide an update to my ODI Complaint #11679186 regarding my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ), which caught fire while I was driving on [XXX]. On August 27, 2025, Kia America issued me a written response (attached). In this letter, Kia explicitly acknowledged: “Preliminary evaluation results show… the fire originated within the engine compartment area.” “The cause was unknown engine oil leaks allowing motor oil to contact hot exhaust surfaces of the engine that led to ignition.” Despite admitting the fire’s cause, Kia refused restitution, stating that the vehicle was “9 years and 163,000 miles outside of warranty.” I request that this letter be added to ODI Complaint #11679186 and considered in your analysis of Kia vehicle fire trends. I believe this documentation is significant in establishing that Kia recognizes the fire hazard but denies responsibility due to warranty expiration, which does not address the broader safety risk. Thank you for your review and for your ongoing work to protect vehicle safety. Respectfully, Daniel McAdams INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On [XXX], my 2011 Kia Sportage SX (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while I was driving. The vehicle rapidly filled with smoke, causing throat and eye irritation from smoke inhalation. My insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. Kia America (Case #[XXX]) acknowledged the incident and confirmed that a fire inspection would be conducted. The inspection was completed, but Kia has refused to release the findings or determine the cause. On [insert date], Kia denied my claim without explanation, despite the vehicle being a complete loss due to fire. This is a critical safety issue that could have caused severe injury or death. I am requesting NHTSA investigate the cause of the fire and Kia’s handling of post-incident safety reporting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

It's been close to 6 months since they did the hydraulic brake switch fuse recall. This is a pretty big deal with cars catching on fire out of nowhere. How long do they have to come up with a solution?

Kia dealership sold me a used vehicle with an active and very recent URGENT safety recall with no remedy at this time! Knowing I’d be driving to and from daughters school & work every day with my child in it. I started to smell burning so I looked up issues the car may have to find out this information.

I have replaced the control arms on my vehicle 5 times since 2019. Now my vehicle has brake and steering issues resulting from this and the control arms are needed replacing again. This has caused me to wreck once and luckily it wasn’t life threatening but I am now afraid to drive the car

The gear shift get stuck in park or drive.

Oil pan leak caused by faulty gasket and failed indicator

THE CAR SHUT OFF AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAIN HIGHWAY AND AT AT STOP SIGN AND THERE WAS NO ADVANCED WARING

VEHICLE HAS PLASTIC BURNING SMELL FROM TIME TO TIME AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE TRACED AS OF YET. THE SMELL FREQUENTLY APPEARS AFTER CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES AND COMES AND GOES.WE LOOKED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS BEFORE REPORTING THIS ISSUE.

WE WERE PARKED WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK ONLY TO HAVE THE SHIFTER BUTTON GET STUCK INSIDE THE SHIFTER PREVENTING US FROM TURNING THE CAR OFF. WE HAVE HAD TO PRY THE BUTTON OUT TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT GETS STUCK NOW WHEN PUSHED IN CAUSING IT TO STAY IN WHILE DRIVING POSING A HAZARD IF THE SHIFTER IS BUMPED OR MOVED WHILE IN MOTION. IT IS STEADILY GETTING WORSE AND SOMETIMES WE ARE UNABLE TO GET THE BUTTON TO PUSH IN ENOUGH TO SHIFT THE CAR.

BEARING PREMATURELY WORE OUT AND I HAVE TO GET A SHORT BLOCK MOTOR FOR $5405.00 AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP COUGHLIN IN NEWARK OHIO SO I HAD TO GET A NEW CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON AND IT NEVER SMOKED OR OVERHEATED.IT SHUT OFF IN IDLE AND DID IT SEVERAL TIMES. WE TOWED IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY NEVER MENTIONED A RECALL. I'VE BEEN ONLY OWNER. ALWAYS CHANGED OIL, IT NEVER GOT HOT OR MADE SOUNDS INDICATING A MOTOR WAS ABOUT TO BLOW AND NO TROUBLE LIGHT INDICATORS CAME ON.

VEHICLE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT-GUN BLAST HIT THE SUNROOF AND THREW GLASS EVERYWHERE. NO REASON AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED BUT IT JUST DID. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE THAT DESCRIBE THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEIR KIA BUT IT WAS A KIA SORENTO, I AM WONDERING IF IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT PROBLEM WITH KIA'S IN GENERAL.

WHILE ON VACATION IN LA WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH OUR 2011 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOSE POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WE HAD TO RESTART THE CAR REPEATEDLY UNTIL WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL AUTOZONE AND THEY GOT A CODE FOR THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. WE FOUND A DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE CAR IN. THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A PAST CODE , BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CODE THEY GOT. AFTER SITTING ALL DAY WAITING FOR KIA CORPORATION TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT, WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR BACK AND TOLD IT WAS A PIN TENSION THAT WAS LOOSE AND THEY FIX IT. NO CHARGE SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 2 MONTHS LATER AND THEY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT TOOK A WEEK TO GET AN APPT. NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY GOT A CODE FOR THE THROTTLE POS SENSOR AND THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER ( MILEAGE IS 61000). THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS. NO LOANER CAR WAS OFFERED TO US AND IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. SOMEBODY WILL SURELY GET HURT.