2015 Kia Sportage

Unjustified Denial of Engine Warranty Coverage - 2015 Kia Sportage "I am filing this complaint because Kia is denying warranty coverage for a known engine defect (rod bearing failure in the Theta II GDI engine) on my 2015 Kia Sportage. The manufacturer’s denial is based on the claim that I did not perform the KSDS (Knock Sensor Detection System) software update in previous years. However, I have officially performed this update at an authorized Kia dealership (Hendrick Kia of Cary) on April 17, 2026. Despite my vehicle now fully complying with the recall requirements, Kia continues to deny the warranty claim by retroactively applying a 'missed update' penalty. This is a clear attempt to evade their obligations under the class-action settlement regarding this engine defect. The manufacturer is holding the current owner responsible for maintenance history they cannot control, even though the vehicle is now technically compliant. I request that the NHTSA investigate this practice, as it prevents consumers from accessing the safety-related warranty protections they are entitled to." Tips for your submission:

The contact’s son owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced lunging and the engine seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The contact used an ODB scanner to diagnose the vehicle and retrieved DTC codes related for: camshaft timing in cylinder bank 1 advanced, low oil, phaser stuck, faulty sensor, failed valve control solenoid, and worn timing components. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that the internal engine failure was likely due to low oil pressure. The dealer also stated that the engine oil level was good and recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact filed a case regarding the failure; however, the case was denied by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 111,508.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not accelerate as designed. The contact depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact continued driving until the vehicle independently slowed down and she was able to shift into the park positin. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 60,181.

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was stalling and was not accelerating despite depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light, along with two other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact managed to pull over and stated that the vehicle had not lost motive power, however, the vehicle was inoperable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired and the contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to a local dealer for further diagnosis and repair. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine would need to be removed for further diagnosis. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

WHEN I ACCELERATE SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL JERK AND THE ENGINE WILL TRY TO STALL. THE CAR WILL STILL GO BUT STARTS TO SPUTTER AND START TO LOSE POWER. YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND SET THERE FOR A BIT AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT MAY DO IT AGAIN 2 OR 3 MORE TIMES AND IT MIGHT NOT DO IT FOR AWHILE. BUT VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT WILL ALSO DO IT WHEN YOU TRY TO SPEED UP TO PASS OR JUST GAIN SPEED

WHILE ENTERING THE 290 FROM DOWNTOWN CHICAGO DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES AN HOUR WE FELT A PULSE AND THEN AN AUDIBLE VOICE CAME OVER OUR RADIO WITH A DISPLAY ILLUMINATING AS WELL STATING THAT THERE WAS A "POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH OUR ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DETECTED AND THAT WE SHOULD SCHEDULE A FULL SYSTEM CHECK WITH THE KIA DEALERSHIP." THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. WITH THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT THERE WAS AN EXTREME DANGER OF COLLISION AS THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY COME OUT OF THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION. WITHOUT A SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ON WE THEN MADE OUR WAY TO A SIDE STREET AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND WE THEN HAD TO ARRANGE OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION FROM THE DISABLED VEHICLES LOCATION TO A PLACE THAT WAS OPEN AND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE TRANSPORTATION. CALLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE NEXT MORNING WE WERE MET WITH A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF IT BEING A "SENSOR" AND THEN AFTER WE PERSONALLY VISITED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAIN HOW WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE IN OUR VEHICLE THEY WENT ON TO SAY THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM AND WOULD LOOK AT IT. I AGAIN REITERATED THAT IN A NEW VEHICLE WHETHER IT WAS THE CAR ITSELF OR A FAULTY PART I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AS I HAD LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND IN ANY OTHER SITUATION WOULD HAVE NOT HAD THE OUTCOME I DID. THEN BEING TOLD THAT IT COULD BE A ECM THEY WOULD FURTHER LOOK INTO IT. I STATED AGAIN, NO MATTER WHAT THE PROBLEM I WAS FEARFUL OF GETTING BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AS THIS WAS NOT A RESULT DUE TO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE BUT RATHER A FAULTY PART OF ANOTHER UNDISCOVERED ISSUE IN THE CAR THAT HAD NO WARNING BUT RATHER JUST AN IMMEDIATE OCCURRENCE. I STAND FIRM IN MY STATEMENT THAT KIA SHOULD LOOK AT WHY THIS HAPPENED AND NOT FURTHER BET ON THE CHANCE THAT THIS WILL NOT REOCCUR AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE IN FULL.