BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2016-KIASPO-32D4

2016 Kia Sportage

Based on reports from 181 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
181
Crashes
13
Fires
8
Recalls
2
TSBs
126
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 181 complaints, 13 crashes, 8 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

air inlet actuator knocks

3 complaints • Severity 6.7/10

$X,XXX
2

smoke coming from ac into car

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
3

key fob not working properly

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

56 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 60K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

17
0–30K
15
30–60K
17
60–90K
8
90–120K
9
120–150K
5
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (17 reports) • Median: 60K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (56 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine56 (31%)
Brakes37 (20%)
Other18 (10%)
Electrical16 (9%)
Fuel System9 (5%)
Drivetrain8 (4%)
Speed Control6 (3%)
Airbags5 (3%)

2016 Kia Sportage: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 31% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Sportage, with 56 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 60,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 60K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 20% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Sportage, with 37 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Sportage, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2016 Kia Sportage, with 9 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
16
10
17
6
18
26
19
9
20
11
21
67
22
20
23
10
24
16
25
4
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2016 Kia Sportage. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $1.20

Recall History (2 recalls)

18V907000Jan 2019

ENGINE

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

22V051000Park OutsideApr 2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Kia Sportage is the 2012 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2016 Kia Sportage vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

181

Class avg

449

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 181 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Kia Sportage Model Years

2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200320022001200019991998199719961995
View all Kia Sportage years →

2016 Kia Sportage: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Kia Sportage?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2016 Kia Sportage is related to the engine, with 56 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2016 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2016 Kia Sportage has 181 complaints, 13 crash reports, and 8 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2016 Kia Sportage problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2016 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Yes, the 2016 Kia Sportage has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Sportage problems start?
Based on 71 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 60,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2016 Kia Sportage Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 181 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees