Before you buy a used Kia Sportage (II).
Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.
The essentials.
- 2 documented, sourced faults across its 2 engines.
- That is not much data: if no other faults show up here, it does not mean it has none.
- 1 of them depends on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
- 1 official recall on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm it has been done.
- According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.0 / 2.7 V6 (Petrol).
Typical faults by engine
The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.
All versions
Sheets the catalogue links to all 2 of its engines.
- Period mentioned
- 2004–2010
- Mileage mentioned
- What the sheet says: Faulty glow plugs cause the diesel’s poor starting. The timing belt must be replaced after 6 years or 90,000 km. Inspections flag bushings, steering, springs, brakes and fuel lines; the EGR also fails.
Applies if: Second-generation Sportage.
2.0 / 2.7 V6
Petrol
We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.
2.0 CRDi
Diesel
- Variable-geometry turbo and glow plugs on the 2.0 CRDi (D4EA)Injection / turbo
- Period mentioned
- Approx. 2001–2010
- Mileage mentioned
- What the sheet says: On VGT versions the turbo’s variable-vane mechanism seizes and sometimes the turbo must be replaced (documented on the Santa Fe I). Faulty glow plugs cause poor cold starting (documented on the Sportage II). The timing belt must be changed after 6 years or 90,000–120,000 km depending on the model.
Which engine has the fewest documented faults?
| Engine | Documented faults | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 / 2.7 V6PetrolFewest documented | 11 with conditions | 1 |
| 2.0 CRDiDiesel | 21 with conditions | 1 |
According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 2.0 / 2.7 V6 (Petrol).
By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.
We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.
Official recalls: ask before you pay
A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.
- Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
- Ask an official Kia dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
- Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Kia brake recalls (2003–2024)Brakes
How to check it: Check by VIN whether any of the recalls is outstanding (at the dealer or on the DVSA website) and carry out the inspection or replacement it requires.
View full entryOn the test drive: what to look and listen for
Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.
0 of 2 checked
Injection / turbo
Look out for: A big loss of power and weak pulling away (seized variable-geometry turbo); when cold, several attempts to start and rough running (glow plugs).
Ask them to check: Test the turbo under load and read boost codes; measure the glow plugs; check when the belt was changed.
Known weak points
Look out for: On the diesel, several attempts to start when cold and rough running; steering play, worn bushings, rusty or broken springs, oil leaks and water in the cabin.
Ask them to check: Measure the glow plugs, confirm the belt change and check suspension, springs and door drains.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.
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