2016 Kia Sportage: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 8, 2026 · Engine · NC

The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) and electrical system malfunctioned, causing a severe short circuit, total power collapse, and an engine compartment thermal event (heavy smoke). The vehicle has an open, incomplete federal safety recall (the federal safety agency 22V051 / Kia SC227) for this exact fire and short-circuit hazard. The vehicle is intact, unmodified, and available for inspection upon request at the dealership. My safety and the safety of other motorists were put at severe risk. The vehicle suffered a catastrophic electrical shutdown while in motion on a public roadway. The sudden loss of engine power, power steering, and power brakes created an immediate collision risk. Smoke pouring from under the hood exposed occupants to toxic fumes and an imminent risk of a vehicle fire, forcing an emergency roadside evacuation. The authorized Kia dealership confirmed a total failure. The technician noted the engine is locked up and cannot be rotated manually. The diagnostic report reveals a cascading electrical/system collapse: the starter is completely dead (only clicking), and codes P0014 (Exhaust Camshaft Timing) and P0299 (Turbocharger Underboost) were thrown. This combination of an inoperable starter alongside timing and boost system corruption directly aligns with a sudden, catastrophic voltage drop and short circuit under the hood. The car was inspected by the dealer's technician. They recommend a $12,000 out-of-pocket engine, starter, manifold, and turbo replacement by citing an unrelated, missing class-action software update (KSDS), actively ignoring the open safety recall and the thermal symptoms. There were no long-term warning signs or prior symptoms. The symptoms appeared suddenly and concurrently at the moment of failure. Immediately before the vehicle died, smoke began pouring from the engine compartment, and the dashboard lights flashed before the car died.

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 180,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the transmission failed to properly change gears. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Apr 4, 2023 · Brakes · 154,000 miles · IL · fire

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle caught on fire underneath the hood. The fire died down before the fire department arrived on the scene; however, there was no report filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact there was no fire damage; however the engine was completely destroyed. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22v051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Filed Sep 27, 2022 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

purchased the car 4 months ago & was given the car with a bad gas pressure relay . So the gas & oil was spilling on top of my motor cause inhalation gas fumes & car smoking . The car could have caught on fire at any given moment . The engine or motor was not checked properly before the car was ok’d for me to drive to & from work everyday . The entire motor was covered in gasoline .

Filed Aug 31, 2022 · Engine · IA

Called local Kia dealer about part because my engine light is on and black liquid is dripping from underneath the front end. The dealer in Iowa said the Kia corporation in CA has no remedy or part so they can’t help me and they hope I don’t catch on fire. This is my only means of transportation and my teenager drives it occasionally. Hoping I don’t catch on fire is unacceptable. I am also paying $393 a month for a car payment for a car I can’t drive or if I do, I risk injury or death.

Filed Jun 14, 2022 · Electrical · FL

I contacted KIA Headquarters in Irvine California to find out when the fuse would be available. I told them I was very concerned that my car could catch on fire. I also asked them when the part would be available, they couldn't tell me. The recall notice I received was dated March 31st, 2022. Having been in the service repair business myself I find it unacceptable that a fuse is not available for over some 60+ days. I still couldn't get an acceptable answer from KIA so I told them I was filing a complaint with you. My concern is the safety of me and my family for a simple fuse that will fix the problem. There are absolutely no warnings that my vehicle can catch on fire while driving or parked at home. I live in a retirement community where they do not want cars parked in the streets, they want them parked in your garage. That brings a large concern that my house can catch on fire. KIA seems to have absolutely no sense of urgency to fix this problem

Filed Apr 15, 2022 · Engine · 118,860 miles · PA · fire

The contact owned a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated her son was driving approximately 35 MPH when smoke came from under the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over safely and removed himself from the vehicle. The vehicle became totally engulfed in flames and was destroyed. The state police arrived on the scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but were not successful. The fire department arrived on the scene shortly afterward and extinguished the fire. The local police filed a report. There were no injuries sustained. The approximate failure mileage was 118,860.

Filed Oct 29, 2019 · Engine · 29,000 miles · CA

I own a 2016 kia sportage and in january 2019 on a trip to a nearby town the car engine started to catch. At this time the car only had about 29,000 miles on it and had the oil changed about 4 weeks prior. My husband checked the all the fluids and found the car had very little oil in it. We were surprised since no warning lights ever came on and we had just change the oil. He put oil in it and watched it and again 2 weeks later there was very little oil in the car. I took it to the dealer and explain all of this. They took a picture of the inside of my motor and said it was like sludge then put it all back together and blamed everything on us voided the warranty . The car cannot be driven over about 45mph. Upon further research I found that there was an oil delivery system problem that causes excessive wear on this motor that kia is refusing to deal with it. After reviewing this research I was afraid to drive it because because there were reports that the engine seizes and catches on fire.

Filed Feb 14, 2019 · Steering · NY · crash · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2016 kia sportage. While the contact's son was making a right turn at 5 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle. The steering seized, which caused the vehicle to crash into a tree and burst into flames. It was unknown if the air bags deployed. The contact's son suffered a concussion and sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the contact's insurance company. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown. *tt

Filed Jul 2, 2018 · Body, Electrical · 53,200 miles · GA · fire

My husband and I were driving our 2016 kia sportage that we had bought on 05/23/2018 (just made the first payment the day before) to myrtle beach sc, we heard a pop, I lost function to the gas, pulled to the side of the road and popped the hood to find fire flames coming from the engine. We grabbed what we could out of our car and ran as far away as we could. It wasn't even 2 minutes later and the whole car was in flames and everything was destroyed. All that was left was the frame of the car. We just got married in october of 2017, this was our first married purchase and was suppose to be our family car and we watched it burn to the ground in front of us. We also lost a lot of valuables in the fire.