Kia Sportage problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 1,017 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Kia Sportage. That averages 29.7 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.74 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 12 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 60.3.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 498% above the 2018 and 2019 models (127 early complaints per model year versus 23).
The 2023 model year has the highest rate (80.8 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (9.0). The 2023 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 29.7 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2019, 2021 and 2022 run at least 40% below this model's average of 29.7 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (35.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (13.1%) and Unspecified or other (12.3%). Engine complaints are 1.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 118 complaints (11.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 60 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 310 complaints versus 237 in the previous 12 months — up 31%. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (74). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 25 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (3), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires” (audit query, opened 2023-11-17, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Mazda CX-5, but fewer than Volkswagen Tiguan, Jeep Compass, Subaru Forester and Jeep Cherokee.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 164 | 18.7 | 0.46 | 29 | 3 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Fewest complaints | 70 | 9.0 | 0.22 | 14 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 162 | 23.9 | 0.59 | 44 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 54 | 9.3 | 0.23 | 21 | 2 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 46 | 9.6 | 0.24 | 13 | 1 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2023 ▲50%+ | 306 | 80.8 | 2.0 | 74 | 7 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 106 | 38.0 | 0.94 | 38 | 3 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 71 | 39.7 | 0.98 | 40 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 38 | 38.0 | 0.94 | 37 | 1 | Brakes | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 310 · Previous 12 months: 237 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
365 · 35.9% · 1.61 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Electrical ›
133 · 13.1% · 0.83 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
125 · 12.3% · 1.37 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Body & structure ›
86 · 8.5% · 0.93 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
80 · 7.9% · 1.31 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
50 · 4.9% · 0.42 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Other
49 · 4.8% · 2.61 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
39 · 3.8% · 0.67 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
26 · 2.6% · 0.4 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
24 · 2.4% · 0.62 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
20 · 2.0% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
11 · 1.1% · 0.43 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
9 · 0.9% · 0.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 25 months
What owners report
As the vehicle ahead of me began braking, I attempted to slow down accordingly. Despite applying the brake pedal, my vehicle did not decelerate as expected. The brake went down to the floor without resistance.
On XXX, while driving my 2024 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige on [XXX] after exiting XXX, traveling west toward [XXX], the panoramic moonroof glass suddenly shattered without warning.
Rod Bearing failure June 29,2026 with prior Kia manufacturer recalls June 19,2023: (1.) SC206, HECU fire Recall, a serious safety recall regarding the Hydraulic Electronic Control unit.
Power lose while accelerating (Especially on the highway), misfire causing rough idle. Code reading P0301 for fuel injector in cylinder 1. Kia is aware of this issue and has a TSB out for it however will not cover for the cost to replace the fuel injectors.
First of all, what I am about to write put my husband and I in great danger.Driving on a two way, busy, rural highway, traveling approximately 65 mph, my Kia suddenly displayed a warning to pull over immediately and something about the battery.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 862 | 18.6 | 0.46 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 3 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | 1,017 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,267 | 29.7 | 0.74 | Improving | Rising | 28 | Engine |
| 4 | Jeep Compass | 1,853 | 31.4 | 0.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Subaru Forester | 2,453 | 45.0 | 1.11 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Body & structure |
| 6 | Jeep Cherokee | 2,906 | 55.5 | 1.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2,068 | 64.8 | 1.61 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 23 | Engine |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 3,158 | 67.2 | 1.67 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Engine |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 2,402 | 75.3 | 1.87 | Worsening | Rising | 15 | Engine |
| 10 | Nissan Rogue | 3,149 | 79.1 | 1.96 | Improving | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Ford Escape | 5,254 | 87.3 | 2.16 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 50 | Engine |
| 12 | Honda CR-V | 6,037 | 139.4 | 3.46 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 3
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (3) · 2019 (2) · 2020 (2) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (7) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (1) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…