Head-to-head reliability
KIA Sportage vs Toyota Camry
How the KIA Sportage and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
KIA Sportage vs Toyota Camry: The Sportage has 119 complaints per year, with engine stalling and brake failure risks. The Camry has 208 per year, including key removal and moonroof shattering issues. The Camry has 1 reported death. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the KIA Sportage or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
KIA Sportage
The KIA Sportage shows a high complaint rate of about 119 per year, with engine issues dominating—owners report stalling, loss of propulsion, and battery terminal fuse block failures. Electrical system problems, including sudden power loss and warning light cascades, are also common. Brake complaints describe unintended acceleration and pedal going to the floor, suggesting serious safety concerns. Overall, the Sportage demands careful pre-purchase inspection, especially on engine and electrical components.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a higher complaint volume at 208 per year, but many issues are less severe—such as key stuck in ignition, moonroof shattering, and brake noise. Powertrain complaints include the vehicle being able to shift out of Park with the key removed, a roll-away risk. Engine and brake issues are often noise-related or intermittent. The Camry's reliability picture is mixed: frequent but often non-critical complaints, though some safety-related problems exist.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | KIA Sportage | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,193 Better | 2,081 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 25 Better | 28 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 82 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 119.3 Better | 208.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 161 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
KIA Sportage
- 01ENGINE500
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER242
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM207
- 04SERVICE BRAKES110
- 05POWER TRAIN98
Owners report the engine stalling while driving, with the engine light coming on, and a specific failure of the positive battery terminal fuse block that can cause electrical and starting issues. This can lead to sudden loss of power on the road.
The battery terminal fuse block is a recurring problem, causing no-start or electrical failures. Some owners also report sudden loss of propulsion with multiple warning lights, indicating a serious electrical fault.
Brake complaints include the car accelerating when the brake is pressed, and the brake pedal going to the floor with no resistance. These suggest potential brake system failures that could lead to loss of stopping ability.
“I am submitting this complaint regarding the positive battery terminal fuse block (battery terminal/fusible link assembly) on my 2022 Kia Sportage. The component is currently installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. I purchased t…”
“On [XXX] while driving on the highway my vehicle stalled and the engine light came on. I called my local Kia dealership and setup a diagnostic. My vehicle was dropped off 7/22/25 in which I was informed it was still under warranty and a claim would have to be…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
A key safety issue: the vehicle can be turned off and the key removed while still in Drive, allowing it to roll away. Also, the ignition key can get stuck and require battery disconnection to remove.
The moonroof can shatter spontaneously while driving, sounding like a gunshot, with no external cause. This poses a risk of injury from glass debris.
Brake issues include grinding noises and unintended braking activation, where the system erroneously applies brakes, causing sudden deceleration. These are intermittent and hard to diagnose.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
KIA Sportage — 25 recalls
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As suc…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification lett…
The defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an elect…
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris a…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification lett…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
Buyer analysis
KIA Sportage or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The KIA Sportage has fewer complaints per year (119 vs 208), but its issues are more severe—engine stalling and brake failure. The Camry's higher count includes many minor problems, but also a roll-away risk. In practice, the Sportage may be more likely to leave you stranded, while the Camry has more frequent but less critical annoyances.
Key differences
- Sportage: engine stalling and battery terminal fuse block failures vs Camry: key stuck in ignition and roll-away risk.
- Sportage: brake pedal going to floor and unintended acceleration vs Camry: brake noise and unintended braking activation.
- Camry: moonroof shattering spontaneously; Sportage: panoramic sunroof shattering at highway speed.
- Sportage: 0 deaths reported; Camry: 1 death reported, though not necessarily due to a defect.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or battery terminal fuse block replacement; inspect the fuse block for corrosion or damage.
- Test the brakes thoroughly: look for pedal feel issues and any unintended acceleration when braking.
- Verify that the key can only be removed when in Park; test by turning off engine and removing key in Drive.
- Inspect the moonroof for any cracks or previous replacements; ask about spontaneous shattering incidents.
Before you buy
- Request service records for engine and electrical system repairs on the Sportage.
- Test drive the Camry and check for brake noise or unintended braking events.
- On the Sportage, have a mechanic inspect the battery terminal fuse block and brake system.
- On the Camry, test the key removal in all gear positions and check moonroof condition.
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls are performed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | KIA Sportage | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 97 |
| 2025 | 49 | 140 |
| 2024 | 66 | 46 |
| 2023 | 183 | 60 |
| 2022 | 44 | 57 |
| 2021 | 48 | 154 |
| 2020 | 157 | 264 |
| 2019 | 68 | 387 |
| 2018 | 159 | 728 |
| 2017 | 397 | 148 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific KIA Sportage or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- KIA Sportage vs Toyota Camry
- KIA Sportage total complaints
- 1,193
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- KIA Sportage total recalls
- 25
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- KIA Sportage avg complaints/year
- 119.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- More reliable overall
- KIA Sportage
- KIA Sportage top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN