Kia Sportage Starter Motor: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

How to tell a failing starter motor from a flat battery, and what actually fits your specific engine.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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Kia Sportage Starter Motor reference plate

OEM Part Number: 36100-2A550

Accuracy note: confirmed below for the MK3 Sportage 1.7 diesel (2010–2015) — the most solidly cross-referenced figure we found. Starter motors vary by engine and generation, so if yours is a different engine or a newer (QL/NQ5) Sportage, confirm the correct part via a Kia dealer or parts specialist using your VIN.

MK3 (2010–2015), 1.7 CRDi diesel	Kia OEM: 36100-2A550 (Denso)
Other engines and generations	Not independently confirmed — check via VIN

Often Confused With a Battery Problem

A Kia Sportage that won't start gets blamed on the battery first, more often than not correctly — but a healthy battery paired with a failing starter motor produces some genuinely similar symptoms, which leads plenty of people to replace the wrong part first.

Before you buy: starter motor specification varies by engine size and, on some versions, whether the car has stop-start technology. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Kia Sportage Starter Motor: What It Does

On the Kia Sportage, the starter motor uses electrical power from the battery to physically turn the engine over, initiating the combustion cycle. On cars with stop-start systems, this component works considerably harder than on older designs, since the engine restarts far more frequently — which is why stop-start cars often use a reinforced starter motor rather than a standard unit.

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Kia Sportage Starter Motor: Symptoms, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Starter Motor Guide for symptoms to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and aftermarket advice.