2021 Kia Sportage: Rats eat soy based wiring
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2021 Sportage report: rats eat soy based wiring. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 47,700 miles.
NHTSA has 6 owner complaints for the 2021 Sportage in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11748804 (filed 07/07/2026): “The contact owns a 2021 kia sportage. the contact stated that while parked on several occasions, a "battery discharge warning" message was displayed, which disappeared once the vehicle was driven. the contact then stated that on several occasions after the veh…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11690967 (filed 10/02/2025): “The contact owns a 2021 kia sportage. the contact stated that her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed on the freeway and had stopped on the shoulder of the road to access the navigation system. the contact stated that after the driver shifted to park(p)…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .