2021 KIA SPORTAGE SX

The auction lists the vehicle as having a salvage certificate with more than 75% damage and identifies the primary damage as FRONT END. Stage 1’s photo-based assessment supports the FRONT END classification, citing substantial hood, bumper, and grille damage; however, the photographs alone cannot confirm the auction’s valuation claim of damage exceeding 75%. The 2021 Kia Sportage has severe collision damage concentrated at the front. The hood has a pronounced central crease, a distorted leading edge, and large uneven gaps above both headlights and the grille. The front bumper cover is cracked and torn across the center and lower sections, with multiple pieces missing or displaced and internal components exposed. The center grille assembly has large irregular openings, broken surrounding trim, and missing sections. The lower front fascia and air-intake trim are also broken or separated, with visible gaps and damaged black plastic. The driver’s steering-wheel airbag and the front passenger dashboard airbag are visibly deployed. Replacement of the airbags and associated restraint-system components, together with inspection of the impact sensors, seat-belt pretensioners, wiring, and structural areas behind the visible damage, should be expected. Mechanical, cooling-system, lighting, suspension, steering, and driver-assistance-system condition cannot be determined from the supplied findings and should be checked during a physical inspection. VIN decoding identifies this vehicle as a South Korea-built 2021 Kia Sportage SX SUV with 4WD, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The decoded equipment includes front and side airbags, curtain airbags for the first and second rows, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and other driver-assistance features. These systems may require diagnostic testing and calibration after repairs. Two NHTSA recalls are listed for this model year. Recall 21V137000 concerns a possible HECU electrical short that may cause an engine-compartment fire; the remedy includes fuse replacement and, on vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake, a software update. Recall 22V703000 concerns a possible fire risk from debris and moisture affecting the tow-hitch harness module on vehicles equipped with an original-equipment or Kia-dealer-installed tow-hitch harness. Recall completion and equipment applicability should be verified with Kia before purchase.