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2011 Kia Sportage

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Sportage.

Body SUV

The 2011 Kia Sportage is an SUV whose routine service spec — 4.9 quarts of 5W-30 or 5W-40 API oil — only scratches the surface of the story a researcher actually needs. That model year logged 181 owner complaints, led by engine issues and accompanied by six recalls, numbers that situate it well above the 2003 low of just 4 reports and well below the 2017 peak of 394 across the Sportage's 1995–2026 history. The result is a middle position in the lineup's reliability arc — neither the cleanest year nor anywhere near the worst — that rewards careful scrutiny over snap judgment. For a researcher weighing the vehicle on its own terms, the engine complaint cluster and the recall count are the two clearest pressure points defining this particular model year.

Model year2026 2025 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174.8 in
Overall width	73.2 in
Overall height	65 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	3157 lb
Track (front / rear)	63.4 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sportage of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.1–10.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.10 sec — 2011 SX T-GDI

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2011	SX T-GDI 2.0L Turbo I-4	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	260 hp	AWD
2011	SX T-GDI 2.0L Turbo I-4	6.40 sec	14.90 sec	260 hp	AWD
2011	SX T-GDI 2.0L Turbo I-4	7.30 sec	15.70 sec	260 hp	FWD
2011	SX T-GDI 2.0L Turbo I-4	8.30 sec	16.40 sec	260 hp	FWD
2011	EX 2.4L I-4	8.60 sec	16.80 sec	176 hp	FWD
2011	EX 2.4L I-4	9.30 sec	17.10 sec	176 hp	AWD
2011	EX 2.4L I-4	9.80 sec	17.40 sec	176 hp	AWD
2011	EX 2.4L I-4	10.40 sec	18.00 sec	176 hp	AWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.9 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	8.2
Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.5
Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.5 Pints
Differential Gear Oil	75W-90 · GL-5

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	123-130 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	123-130 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	87-94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	87-94 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	36-40 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	36-40 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	145-202 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	145-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.56-..68 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5950-8050 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.59-.68 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5950-8050 ohms
Ignition Timing	5, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	10 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPM	Idle rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.06-1.17 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	3.71-4.38 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	124R

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	47.0-53.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	1.25 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance	13.8-15.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	185-206 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI
Engine Compression	164-185 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Oil Pressure	22.8 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure	21.3 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	58-72 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.078 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.001 in / 0.0012 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.023 in / 0.393 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

13-16 ft. lbs., 90

13–16 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

1	24.0-27.0 ft. lbs.	24–27 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees-95 degrees	90 degrees
3	90 degrees-95 degrees	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	11 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20-23 ft. lbs.	11 ft. lbs
3	120-125

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 120-125

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 Kia Sportage sits at the peak of a pronounced spike in the model‑generation’s complaint and recall activity: 181 complaints, 6 recalls, and 172 Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) far exceed the modest 20–98 complaints and 0–3 recalls that characterized the 2008‑2010 window. This surge is followed by a similarly high‑volume period in 2012‑2014, after which complaints drop sharply to the 40‑80 range and recalls settle near two per year through 2026. The 2011 data show that the dominant issues are engine‑related (50 reports), with smaller clusters in “Unknown or Other,” electrical systems, and service brakes, while crash‑related complaints (7) and fire complaints (8) remain low. The concentration of complaints and the unusually high TSB count suggest that 2011 models required more post‑sale corrective work than adjacent years, implying a higher risk of latent problems. Consequently, 2011 is a weaker choice within the Sportage generation, and buyers would be better served by selecting a model from a year with lower complaint and recall totals.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

172

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

181

Owner complaints

7 involved a crash · 8 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10’11’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 181 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine50

Unknown Or Other13

Electrical System11

Service Brakes, Hydraulic9

Power Train9

Steering8

Electrical System,Engine5

Engine & Engine Cooling4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V907000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 19/12/2018

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor… Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer…

19V101000EngineReported 15/02/2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage. Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 172 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
CS2311_TSB_R4	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER…
CS2312_TSB_R2	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
PI2103_OWNR_501	2026-03-10	Electrical System	PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2103 FLIGHT #501) - This document…
TSB_CS2312_R1	2026-02-18	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
CS2311_OWNR_PC201	2025-12-19	Structure	CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sportage. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 124R battery Vehicles taking 4.9 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2011 Sportage take?

4.9 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 Sportage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.