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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2011 Kia Sportage Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
23about this part
Share
13%of 181 total for the year
Median mileage
63,909miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2011 Kia Sportage, 13% of the 181 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,909 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Shifting from 1st to 2nd clutch pedal lost tension and went to floor. Luckily we were at low MPH and were able to pull over to call for assistance. Successfully was able to place in neutral. Car still running. This could have been disastrous if we were in another gear at higher RPM. Kia should address the clutch cable issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10605407, filed 2014-06, 58,818 miles

“We own the car, 2011 Kia Sportage sx t-gdi, for less than 3 months and I had to take it to the dealership pretty much every other week with some issues. Last problem we had was an accelerator/speed control when the car wasn't shifting or accelerating over 25-30 MPH even the RPM were up to 6-7x1000, and I was able to floor the pedal and keep it there, was no speed response. …”

NHTSA complaint #10660303, filed 2014-11, 25,182 miles

“My Sportage 2011 was stuck in 4th gear and did not shift back to first, so I drove straight to the dealership in 4th and now I dont have a substitute car since a whole week I know I gonna take for long. My car was 23k miles at the time.”

NHTSA complaint #10559293, filed 2014-01, 23,000 miles

“I was park in the parking garage of my work place. The time was between 7:10am to7:15am. I put the car in park. I stepped out of the car to get my purse and other bag on the ground. I left car on cause I was listening to a song. I was looking for an app on my phone to see what song was playing. I then walked around to other side to get a book that was in passenger seat. I walked back to driver side stood there a minute or two still searching for app on phone all sudden my car starting to roll back. …”

NHTSA complaint #10863692, filed 2016-05, 73,000 miles

“So I had pretty much a full day of driving and my manual transmission 6 speed 2011 Sportage, that until today the only problem I noticed was that sometimes to me it felt like when I up shifted or began to go into first that it wasn't going all the way into gear; and at times on the highway it wasnt accelerating normally and my gas mileage is about 50m less per tank than it has been the past 5 mo.(financed to buy as of march). According to the dealership only 1 previous owner and I'm not sure what work had been on it prior to the dealership we are buying through. …”

NHTSA complaint #11242177, filed 2019-08, 100,080 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025611%
202445%
20231910%
202237%
202147%
202032%
2019710%
20181811%
20174110%
201686%
201564%
201443%
2013185%
2012215%
20112313%
2010210%
200934%
20081212%
200734%
200665%
200511%
20022310%
20012210%
20004113%
19995720%
19986321%
19972514%
19961119%
199547%

Other parts of the 2011 Kia Sportage

Engine
77 complaintsElectrical system
38 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Kia Sportage

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology