KNOWN FAULTS · Kia

Kia Sportage (IV) 1.6 / 1.7 / 2.0 CRDi common problems.

2015–2021 · Diesel

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

4 known faults with sources

Applies if: US bulletin for cars built up to September 2020; only with the driver-assistance front camera.

Driver assistance that switches off at times because of an internal front camera faultElectrical and electronic systems

Engine / equipment: Sportage (IV) and Niro (I) with the driver-assistance front camera
Period mentioned: 2015–2020
Symptoms: The emergency braking light and the general warning triangle come on at times, and adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning or lane keeping assist stop working. Then they come back on their own.
Possible cause described: An internal control chip in the front camera (the one behind the interior mirror) fails and stores codes C1604-49 (hardware) or C1606-49 (software). Kia says to replace the camera (bulletin ELE231, April 2021, for Sportages built from May 2015 to September 2020 and Niros from April 2016 to September 2020).
Check for the garage: Clean the windscreen in front of the camera and note when it happens. At the garage, have them read the camera codes: with C1604-49 or C1606-49 the bulletin says to replace and calibrate it.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Applies if: Only cars built in Slovakia from 2/1/2020 to 16/12/2020.

Touchscreen that does not respond or stays black (2020 Kia Ceed, XCeed and Sportage)Electrical and electronic systems

Engine / equipment: Kia Ceed (five-door and SW), ProCeed, XCeed and fourth-generation Sportage built in Slovakia (all versions)
Period mentioned: 2020
Symptoms: The multimedia screen sometimes does not respond to touch or stays completely black.
Possible cause described: According to L'argus (June 2021), an internal fault of the circuit board (PCB) that runs the whole multimedia system, on cars built in Slovakia from 2/1/2020 to 16/12/2020.
Check for the garage: Check the build date. If the garage confirms the fault, the fix is to replace the whole audio, video and navigation unit (about 40 minutes on the Sportage and under 20 on the others), taking care not to damage the dashboard trim.
Cost cited in the source: Kia's warranty for the audio and navigation system is 3 years (not 7); according to L'argus, it should be covered without difficulty.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Applies if: Only the 1.6 CRDi, built from 25/10/2018 to 5/10/2020. Confirm by VIN.

Hard brake pedal and poor lubrication: tandem oil and vacuum pump on the Kia 1.6 CRDiBrakes

Engine / equipment: 1.6 CRDi four-cylinder diesel: Kia Ceed, ProCeed, XCeed, Sportage IV and Stonic
Period mentioned: 2018–2020
Symptoms: The brake pedal goes hard (less braking, you have to press harder) and the engine may not get enough oil, with a risk of mechanical damage.
Possible cause described: Foreign matter can block the filter of the “tandem” pump, a single part that is both the vacuum pump (brake assistance) and the oil pump. Kia recalled 13,071 cars in France (November 2023): Ceed and SW built from 26/10/2018 to 25/9/2020, XCeed from 7/8/2019 to 28/9/2020, ProCeed from 6/11/2018 to 28/8/2020, Sportage from 25/10/2018 to 5/10/2020 and Stonic from 26/6/2019 to 14/4/2020.
Check for the garage: If the brake pedal goes hard, drive very carefully to a garage or call for assistance. Check by VIN with Kia whether your car is in the recall: the garage checks the vacuum and oil pump and, if it is damaged, replaces it with its drive belt (up to about 5 hours); sometimes only the belt needs replacing.
Cost cited in the source: Free under the recall.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Applies if: Only with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (7DCT). Confirm the gearbox type.

Judder on the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT)Automatic gearbox

Engine / equipment: 7-speed dry dual-clutch automatic (7DCT)
Period mentioned: Approx. 2015–2021
Symptoms: Abnormal vibration or shudder when pulling away and at low speed, especially in traffic.
Possible cause described: Dual-clutch behaviour at low speed; Hyundai and Kia issued technical bulletins with new gearbox software (anti-judder logic) and, if that is not enough, a clutch replacement.
Check for the garage: At the dealer: run the judder test with the diagnostic tool, install the latest gearbox software and replace the dual clutch only if the judder remains.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.