2016 Kia Sportage: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 3, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · TX

2 problems occurred within 1 month from each other: - Kia Sportage engine started to randomly stall. I needed to do a full stop in the middle of the road and restart the car to continue driving. I had 3 stalls happen within 2 weeks before I had time to take it to the dealer. The Kia Dealer held it for over a week and drove it but could not find any issues. They mentioned low oil, which was strange considering I recently replaced it. I also forced the dealer to do ignition tuning which seemed to have resolved the issue. - In a month after the first problem with stalling I experienced issues with the engine of unknown origin (so far). This happened this week. While going downhill cruise control shut off. After that the engine started to decelerate and the amber blinking engine light came off. Transmission started to be jerky. Dropped it off at the dealer again. I was very luck to not get into any major car accidents so far, but I was very close! Smells, sounds, and looks like a potential recall that Kia does not want to recognize.

Filed Aug 14, 2024 · Engine · 110,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2023 · Engine · 106,000 miles · TN

The contact’s son owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while attempting to drive, the vehicle failed to accelerate, lost motive power, and stalled. The contact was unaware if a warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, but the failure recurred. Additionally, the dealer informed the contact that there was rod bearing failure and that the catalytic convertor had melted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the knock sensor update was not completed. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Filed Aug 3, 2023 · Engine · 122,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, he heard an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle was still losing motive power. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled off the road and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle and shift into drive; however, the vehicle would not accelerate above 20 MPH. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and found metal shavings in the oil pan. The contact was advised by the mechanic that the engine and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

Filed Aug 21, 2022 · Engine · OH

The Vehicle Stalled on Tuesday while turning on to incoming traffic no lights were on the dashboard no indication it just stalled then stopped I had to get towed to my house. Wednesday I took it to Kia dealership there are 2 other recalls that needed to be done the Canister and Software update for Ticking Noise. Which I started to experience on my way to the shop on Wednesday. They were suppose to do both recalls they only performed one stated that the problem is the Engine Long Block. I contacted Kia after to inform them of what the Kia dealership diagnosed the problem to be. They stated that they couldn't do anything because the software update wasn't done in 2018 and I didn't get the vehicle until 2020. In which I explained they said well the person who had the car didn't take care of it so it's nothing we can do. Reach out to who you purchased the car from. Not to mention there is a Class Action Settlement against them now for the Engine Long Block recall because they are denying claims when this is a lifetime warranty coverage. I reached out to claims for the Settlement and they basically told me that because the previous owner didn't get the software recall done in 2018 that there is nothing they can do which was also a Kia representative. I fear and this point that this vehicle could catch fire or may stall or stop which could cause a serious accident or death.

Filed Nov 9, 2021 · 91,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 35 MPH, she heard abnormal loud knocking sounds coming from the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that while he was taking the vehicle to the dealer the following day, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) because he had not taken the vehicle to their location before the engine failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 91,000.

Filed Jul 1, 2020 · Fuel system, Transmission · 145,000 miles · GA

The problem started a couple of months after purchasing my car, everytime we would go get a oil change the service facility would tell us that our oil was low and we didn't see how when we would ha e it changed regularly so we was loosing oil and didn't know where back it was leaking on the ground and it wasn't visible when you would look under the hood she we took it to kia and they stated that they didn't see anything wrong, if the problem continue to bring it back and they would do a diagnostic on the vehicle to get to the problem so I called kia corporate office they told be that they would write out a incident report and take it to kia I informed them that I did that and corporate basically said to follow the shop recommendations cause my vehicle didn't have a active recall on it so I reached out to the federal safety agency to report the issues I have had and to also let someone else no I have had issues the vehicle was having and not even a month later the car started jerking and brought it back to kia and then again said that it wasn't nothing they can do it wasn't a recall on the vehicle so last week I was driving the vehicle on my way to work the car stalled and completely died in the middle of the highway stopping traffic I had help safely get it to the side of the road and it wouldn't crank so I had to have it towed home then called kia and spoke to a service and they stated there was a bulletin out for my vehicle, I was told it was the camshaft, timing and something to do with the oil canister, I don't see why the vehicle haven't been recalled if they know there are issues with them this is a 2016 vehicle it is fairly new and it has so may issues.

Filed Oct 25, 2017 · Electrical · 16,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia sportage. On several occasions, while driving, the vehicle stalled and lost power without warning. The vehicle was taken to jim butler kia (722 long rd crossing dr, chesterfield, mo 63005 (636) 256-9600) and the technician stated that the failure was a kia manufacturing engineering issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact had not received a call back. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000.

Filed May 3, 2017 · NJ

I have been having issues with my engine dying/stalling randomly while driving with the car in motion and slowing down with no signs or indications of an issue atleast 6 times since having the vehicle which I haven't had for a year yet. Two times I was almost involved in an accident when this problem occurred, I had taken the car to the service center and was told "could not verify customers concern scanned with kids no codes found test drove vehicle and vehicle drove and sounded fine at this time with no issues recommend having towed next time it stalls" and that it could be anything and the car could be there for hours, my fear is they will just replace random parts they think could be the issue and it will still occur and next time I could be involved in a serious accident, I do not feel safe in this vehicle so I had to purchase a new one the same day as the salesman moved the car over to my new one I had stalled on him