2011 Kia Sportage: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · PA · fire · 1 injury

Update to the federal safety agency (ODI #11679186) Subject: Update to ODI Complaint #11679186 – Kia America Written Response Body: 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)

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · PA · fire · 1 injury

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 the federal safety agency 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)

Filed Jul 9, 2024 · Brakes · 170,000 miles · UT · fire

The contact owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked overnight and next to her home, it was started but the contact left the vehicle in park and on as she retrieved a personal item from inside the home, and upon return, it was discovered that the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. The police arrived on the scene and filed a police report but no information was available. The origin of the fire was unknown. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact recently received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and related the failure to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Filed Jun 7, 2024 · Brakes · 150,000 miles · UT · fire

The contact called on behalf of his girlfriend who owned a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that his girlfriend parked the vehicle at her driveway residence, and she discovered that the vehicle had caught on fire underneath the front. The fire department was called and the police arrived on the scene later. The fire was extinguished with water. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and later was declared a total loss by the insurance company. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. and the contact related the failure to this recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · VA

I had the check engine light come on my Kia around September 2023. It stayed on and did not flash or anything. I had a hard time accelerating in car. I took it to get fixed on December 19,2023. They said it was the electronic wastegate actuator and I got it replaced. A month after that I was on the high way and all of my car lights came on the dashboard and a cloud of black smoke came out the exhaust pipe. I pulled over and got my car towed to dealership. They told me this time it was the engine. My car was held for 1 month to fix the engine. I have spent so much money in this car and I think this recall has alot to do with my issues with it.

Filed Feb 22, 2024 · FL

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.

Filed Jan 7, 2024 · KS

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?

Filed Mar 17, 2021 · Engine · NY

On startup smoke coming from under hood and sometimes odor of gas engine excessive oil burning..

Filed Nov 13, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 117,785 miles · WA · fire

Was driving in cruze crontrol stepped on the gas and vehicle died. I pushed the start button nothing but a warning sign on dash screen that would go blank before I could see what it said. I lifted the hood and check the battery cables they were on tight got back in the truck push the button nothing smelled wires burning seen smoke top of my motors on fire. I was heading north on I-5 near the dupont exit.

Filed Jun 11, 2019 · 102,000 miles · FL

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.

Filed Oct 27, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 67,000 miles · MA

Engine light came on, smelled smoke, and thought I saw smoke coming out from where the engine is located, this happened while I was driving home from work. I was on my way to grocery store. I came out of store to leave and car would not start. Car will not stay running unless you use gas pedal and brake at the same time. I was able to drive it to the dealership 3 weeks ago! It is still in the shop. I have gotten the run around as to exactly what the problem is, they said the timing chain was way off, and they also ordered other parts kia "approved" but tried to order more parts that they thought would help my car so the man said but kia denied the request for those. I do not have an itemized list yet of specifics. The car only had 67,000 miles on it when this happened. Yes, I have the 100,000 mile limited warranty and will fight them tooth and nail if they attempt to charge me a dime for an engine problem. It was always in the shop for routine maintenance when needed. I am concerned this is one of the vehicles even though it is not on your list of dangerous kia's. Dealership has told me it was probably the timing chain that gave off the "fire" smell and there would be a bit of smoke. I do not know if this is true. I have attempted to reach out to kia and get some answers but I am getting the runaround there as well. I wanted to start this early just in case. I will find out on monday if the car is fixed, and at that time I should have paperwork to send to you. Help! How are we supposed to know if this is one of the old engine recalls I saw happened a few years back that I was not informed about? Or if the 2011 lx sportage is a fire hazard vehicle as well?

Filed May 30, 2018 · Engine · 87,942 miles · NY · fire

My car with 87,942 well maintained miles all of a sudden blew the engine and caught fire.recall on certain models with the same year with cam bearings letting go internally.I'm still currently paying on the vehicle.I got ahold of kia national motors and they seemed like they were going to help me fix problem or give decent trade in value,that was six months ago.one of my children needs to make doc.appt. Every other weekend.I'm getting very perturbed with the whole situation.the company won't even let me know what there doing,I told them just let me know what your plans are so I can at least take a lose" witch is real crappy" but I need to get a vehicle but they will not get ahold of me