NHTSA has received 71 owner complaints about the 2025 Kia Sportage, or 39.7 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (complaint index 0.98, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 86 model-year 2025 vehicles we track, it ranks #54 of 86 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Kia models its rate is 14% higher; against other Compact SUVs it is 34% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2024-12-30 and 2026-09-25. Median delay from incident to filing: 6 days.
71Complaints
39.7Complaints per year on the road
0.98Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
12.7%Share involving a crash or fire
40Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2024) drew 38.0 complaints per year, about the same. The following model year (2026) drew 38.0 per year, about the same.
The most common problem area is Electrical (19.7% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (16.9%) and Engine (12.7%). 9 reports (12.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 9 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (65% of incidents). In the last 12 months 40 new complaints were filed, versus 31 in the 12 months before — up 29%.
I was involved in a rollover accident and the driver's side door opened during the accident. Had I not been wearing my seatbelt, I would have been ejected from the vehicle.
Body & structure · 2026-09-25 · ODI 11766985 · Crash
VEHICLE: 2025 Kia Sportage X-Line VIN: [VIN] APPROXIMATE MILEAGE: 34,000 miles DATE OF INCIDENT: September 3, 2026 LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 6140 University Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35806 COMPONENT: Steering / Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) / Steering…
Steering · 2026-09-13 · ODI 11763971 · Crash
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while performing a normal inspection on the vehicle, the body side molding from the front to the rear on the passenger’s side of the roof had detached.
Body & structure · 2026-09-04 · ODI 11762171
My 2025 Kia Sportage PHEV, brand-new with ~750 Miles, was in a low-speed collision with a parked vehicle when the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system failed. I was pulling out of a parking spot from a complete stop.
Driver-assist systems · 2026-07-16 · ODI 11750845 · Crash
The car seat is defective. Fraying where it is comes out of the car seat, where it is sewn together.
Other · 2026-06-30 · ODI 11747512
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
