Kia Sportage: Timing Belt Or Timing Chain? (1995 - 2024)

Over its lifespan the Kia Sportage has had engines utilizing either a timing chain or a timing belt. From 2011 to 2024 all Sportage engines have timing chains and from 1995 to 2010 all Sportage engines have timing belts. All the Sportage engines are interference.

Scroll down to see detailed timing belt data for your particular model year of the Kia Sportage.

Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Year	Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference
2011-2024	2.0L, 2.4L, 2.5L	Timing Chain	Interference
1995-2002, 2005-2010	2.0L, 2.7L	Timing Belt	Interference

Check out the Belt Or Chain specifications for other makes and models.

2024 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2024 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2024 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.5L 4 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2023 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2023 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2023 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
1.6L Hybrid	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L 4 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2022 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2022 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2022 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.4L 4 Cyl.	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2021 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2021 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2021 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 181 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 240 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2020 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2020 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2020 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 181 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 240 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2019 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2019 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2019 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 181 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 240 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2018 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2018 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2018 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 181 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 240 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2017 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2017 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2017 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 181 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 240 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2016 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2016 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2016 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 182 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 260 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2015 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2015 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2015 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 182 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 260 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2014 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2014 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2014 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 182 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 260 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2013 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2013 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2013 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 176 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 260 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2012 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2012 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2012 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 176 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 260 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2011 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2011 Kia Sportage engines have a timing chain and are interference.

2011 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.4L 4 Cyl. 176 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L 4 Cyl. Turbo 256 hp (Theta II)	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2010 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2010 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2010 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2009 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2009 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2009 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2008 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2008 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2008 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2007 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2007 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2007 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2006 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2006 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2006 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2005 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2005 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2005 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.7L V6 173 hp (Delta)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K
2.0L 4 Cyl. 140 hp (Beta II)	Timing Belt	Interference	Inspect At 60K, Replace At 80K

2002 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2002 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2002 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

2001 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2001 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2001 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

2000 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 2000 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2000 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

1999 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 1999 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1999 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

1998 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 1998 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1998 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

1997 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 1997 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1997 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

1996 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 1996 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1996 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca
2.0L 4 Cyl. 94 hp (FE SOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

1995 Kia Sportage - Timing Belt Or Chain

All 1995 Kia Sportage engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1995 Kia Sportage Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L 4 Cyl. 130 hp (FE DOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca
2.0L 4 Cyl. 94 hp (FE SOHC)	Timing Belt	Interference	60K Exc. Ca, 105K Ca

Timing Belt Basics

The primary purpose of the timing belt or timing chain is to maintain the timing (syncronization) between the crankshaft and the camshaft(s).

A timing belt is made of a rubber compound while a timing chain is made of chain similiar to a bicycle chain.

A timing belt wears out over time and must be replaced at the manufacturer's specified interval. Timing belt failure can result in serious engine damage.

Although a timing chain will wear over time it is usually good for the lifetime of the engine but it should be routinely inspected.