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#BS-2021-KIASPO-32D4

2021 Kia Sportage

Based on reports from 42 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
42
Crashes
3
Fires
6
Recalls
2
TSBs
63
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 42 complaints, 3 crashes, 6 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

rats eat soy based wiring

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

14 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 53K miles.

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

Failure Timeline by Mileage

5
0–30K
2
30–60K
2
60–90K
3
90–120K
120–150K
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (5 reports) • Median: 53K 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 (14 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

Engine14 (33%)
Other13 (31%)
Electrical5 (12%)
Drivetrain2 (5%)
Trailer Hitches2 (5%)
Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly1 (2%)
Visibility1 (2%)
Lights1 (2%)

2021 Kia Sportage: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Sportage, with 14 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 53,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 53K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Sportage, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Sportage, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Trailer Hitches Issues

Trailer Hitches complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2021 Kia Sportage, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to trailer hitches-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

1
20
6
21
7
22
6
23
6
24
16
25

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2021 Kia Sportage. Recent trend: increasing.

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

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Recall History (2 recalls)

21V137000Park OutsideApr 2021

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

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.

22V703000Park OutsideJul 2023

TRAILER HITCHES

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a 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.

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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.

2021 Kia Sportage vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

42

Class avg

172

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. 42 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 →

2021 Kia Sportage: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2021 Kia Sportage?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2021 Kia Sportage is related to the engine, with 14 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2021 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 2021 Kia Sportage has 42 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 6 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2021 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 2021 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Yes, the 2021 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 12 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 53,000 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.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 42 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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