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Vehicle Stats/KIA/Sportage Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Sep 2026Methodology

KIA Sportage Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,221 complaints and 25 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used KIA Sportage options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,221
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
25
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
82
Crash-Related
crash complaints
63
Fire-Related
fire complaints
70
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a KIA Sportage? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the KIA Sportage has 1,221 owner complaints and 25 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.

KIA Sportage — key reliability facts
Make
KIA
Model
Sportage
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,221
Safety recall campaigns
25
Crash-related complaints
82
Fire-related complaints
63
Worst model year (by complaints)
2017 (399 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2026 (32 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ENGINE
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Sep 5, 2026
This Sportage has 25 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

KIA Sportage: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2017399 complaints2023187 complaints2018162 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202632 complaints202246 complaints202549 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2017 KIA Sportage? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20252025 Kia Sportage SUV AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20242024 Kia Sportage SUV AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The KIA SPORTAGE has 1,221 NHTSA complaints and 25 recalls on record. 82 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,221 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 25 federal recall campaigns
  • 82 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
399
2018
162
2019
69
2020
159
2021
50
2022
46
2023
187
2024
68
2025
49
2026
32

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

25 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

#24V422000STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMJuly 6, 2024
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

#23V410000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSISTJuly 6, 2023
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

#21V137000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEApril 3, 2021
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

#21V137000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEApril 3, 2021
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

#21V137000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEApril 3, 2021
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

#21V137000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEApril 3, 2021
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#25V874000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#24V025000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#25V874000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#22V703000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#22V703000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#22V703000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

#18V907000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#22V703000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

TRAILER HITCHES

#22V703000TRAILER HITCHES
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

#26V046000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

#22V651000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN

#22V878000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

#23V298000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP

#23V531000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,221 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ENGINE513 complaints
02
UNKNOWN OR OTHER247 complaints
03
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM212 complaints
04
SERVICE BRAKES111 complaints
05
POWER TRAIN102 complaints
06
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM71 complaints
07
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE62 complaints
08
STRUCTURE60 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,221 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

Chest Clip, Buckle, HarnessJun 2026

The car seat is defective. Fraying where it is comes out of the car seat, where it is sewn together.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINEJun 2026

We were getting in our car to drive home from a restaurant. We attempted to start our car like any other day, and the car started. However, our car was stuck in gear, it was in parking but also not in parking. The car was not moving, the gear was in “park”, the dot light for park was not showing, and then we had several warnings appear on our dashboard. At first it was three, then it went to six (after turning off the car and restarting again)!! The car told us to put it in park, but we literally could not move the gear shift at all. We had: check speed limit system, check high beam assist, check driver attention warning, check blind spot safety system, check forward safety system, check rear cross-traffic safety system appear in 20 seconds of car being on. This car just hit ~15,500 miles on it. To add to the strangeness, we open the Kia Access App and tried “lock” and “unlock” (while being in the car”, then turn the car off. We started the car again and it worked as if this never happened (no immediate warnings like above). Yet we did recieve a check engine light and a vehicle diagnostic on the instrument (dashboard) saying “follow-up check required: 2 (Engine Management System and Transmission Control System.)” The car allowed itself to recognize it in park gear and drive off. The Kia Access app said we experienced a UOO01F0 code tied to the Engine Control System. We never seen anything like that before. We did, however, experience a problem with the driver seat powertrain at 11,000 miles where the seat wouldn’t move. The seat was fixed by the dealership though. We are going to take the car in to the dealership to see what they say.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2026

Twice since I purchased my car, once in 2025 and two weeks ago in 2026, I turned my car off in the garage and the engine kept running. I had to start the car up and turn it off again in order for it to shut down. I mentioned that to Arapaho Kia at my last visit in November 2025 and they just said that they didn’t find anything on the computer.

SERVICE BRAKESJun 2026

In November 2025, with approximately 6,900 miles on the vehicle, I reported brake issues to the dealership. After inspection, the dealership resurfaced (turned) the brake rotors at no charge. At that time, I was led to believe that the issue had been corrected. However, in June 2026, with only 14,300 miles on the vehicle, I returned to the dealership because the same symptoms had reappeared. I was informed that the rotors again require resurfacing and that the brake pads now need replacement as well. why has the same issue returned so quickly? Is there a defect in the rotors, brake pads, calipers, brake system design, or another component that has not been identified and corrected? I do not believe that my driving habits are the cause of this problem. Prior to purchasing this Sportage, I owned two vehicles from other manufacturers. Neither vehicle required brake rotor resurfacing until well over 50,000 miles, despite being driven under similar conditions. The fact that this vehicle has required rotor service twice before reaching 15,000 miles strongly suggests that an underlying issue exists. I believe that that premature rotor wear puts me and others at risk of collision. The Sportage is available for inspection.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2026

The cluster system of the vehicle lit up every warning system which prevented the running vehicle from being able to be put into drive. Safety was put at risk because I'm afraid this will happen while driving. I've seen this same concern on many Kia owner forums who describe the same issue possibly related to a faulty wiring harness. I had just purchased this vehicle that has 15,000 miles and there were no other symptoms up until this issue occurred. I had the code read and it was a generic U0001 CAM error (Controller Area Module). Kia has a recall on trailer harnesses right now and I believe this recall on faulty wiring harnesses needs to be expanded to other models and newer vehicles.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKESMay 2026

While exiting the John C. Lodge Freeway in Detroit at approximately 40 MPH, the brake pedal became stuck halfway during braking and the vehicle did not stop properly on the first brake application. I had to remove my foot from the brake pedal and press it again before the brakes engaged and the vehicle stopped. This has occurred approximately seven times intermittently. The issue creates a serious safety hazard and risk of collision. In addition, the “D” gear indicator intermittently blinks while driving and the “P” indicator intermittently blinks while the vehicle is in Park. Vehicle was previously brought to dealership and issue was reported, but the condition continues intermittently.

Read 14 more owner reports
VISIBILITY/WIPERMay 2026

While driving on an open highway, my panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded on [XXX] coming back from Prescott with me behind the wheel, my husband as a passenger, and my dog in the backseat. There was nobody driving in front, near, or behind me. I was not driving near an overpass. The incident sounded like an explosion or gunshot. My husband began to open the sunroof visor to investigate, and glass began dropping into the car. Once we could pull over safely, there was a large hole on my panoramic sunroof. My husband, dog, and I had tiny pieces of glass on us. I took my car to Kia, and they refused to acknowledge that anything, but a rock caused the problem. There are numerous news stories about this being a problem and also recalls for panoramic sunroofs from other dealers like Hyundai, who are made by the same manufacturer as Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2026

We have lost instrument panel info while driving twice in less than a year, it reboots while driving. We took the vehicle to the dealer and were informed there was no tow hitch as stated in the recall letter. My concern is that my car is doing what is described in the recall letter, (during rebooting the control cluster will not show info such as speedometer or warning lights), we have a blank panel while driving. So it seems KIAs diagnosed solution is not at least the entire problem. When I told the service tech at KIA we were experiencing the same issued described in the recall letter he said there was nothing he could do about it. There seems there is no way to reproduce the problem because it happens randomly and takes about 20 minutes for the system to reboot and get instrumentation back on line. I think KIA needs to be accountable to resolve this life safety situation.

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2026

I was driving to work and there was a sound like an explosion or a gun shot and then my sun roof was shattered.

SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2026

Safety Complaint Description Vehicle: 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid LX 2025 Mileage: ~6,000 miles Issue status: Ongoing, multiple dealer visits (3 attempts), unresolved Related Kia case number: [XXX] Problem Description The vehicle demonstrates significant highway instability and unsafe handling behavior under normal driving conditions. At highway speeds (approximately 50–70 mph), the vehicle exhibits excessive lateral movement and instability, especially after hitting potholes or uneven road surfaces. The car shifts horizontally after impacts, requiring immediate steering correction to maintain lane position. On grooved concrete highways (such as interstate routes toward [XXX] [XXX] ), the vehicle feels like it is floating and swaying continuously, even without strong wind conditions. The vehicle is also highly sensitive to moderate crosswinds (around 20–25 mph). At highway speeds, this results in noticeable rear-end drift and instability, requiring frequent steering corrections and creating concern about potential loss of control. Overall, the handling behavior is beyond normal expectations for this vehicle class and creates a safety concern at highway speeds. Safety Concern These conditions create a risk of loss of vehicle control, particularly: -After hitting potholes at highway speeds -During moderate crosswinds -On grooved or uneven concrete highways The instability increases driver workload and raises concern about potential accident risk if overcorrection occurs. Repair Attempts The issue has been reported to the dealer and service center three times, but no permanent resolution has been achieved. The problem remains reproducible under normal driving conditions. Additional Notes Concern exists regarding whether proper pre-delivery inspection (PDI) or alignment verification was fully completed prior to delivery, as the issue has been present since early ownership and persists at ~6,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMApr 2026

Oil was being diluted by fuel seeping in from the injectors and the high pressure fuel pump. Vehicle was brought in twice to fix the problem. During the 24-27 Feb 26 repair the high pressure fuel pump was diagnosed and replaced. On 16 Mar 26 I noticed the oil level had risen on the dip stick (after driving ~300 miles) about 5 mm and brought the car back to the Kia dealer for diagnosis and repair. The high pressure fuel pump was diagnosed again as bad and replaced as were all four fuel injectors after they were also determined to be leaking fuel.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMar 2026

Driving with no other cars around us and no debris anywhere and the moonroof suddenly shattered with a loud noise.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTIONMar 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the rear-view camera had become inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was initially unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was later diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was with the radio and the camera. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The manufacturer denied the buyback request. The failure mileage was approximately 10.

2 InjuriesENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGMar 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sportage. There was no indication that there was an issue while test-driving the vehicle. The vehicle was cleaned by the seller before purchase. The contact stated that while driving for twenty minutes, they noticed there was an abnormal burning /chemical smell detected. The occupants /the contact, and her husband sustained nasal, eye, headaches, dizziness, and irritation occurred, and medical attention was provided. The contact attempted to ventilate the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact had a (Certified Pre-0wned) CPO warranty. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. Additional letters and emails were sent to Kia, but there was no response. A loaner vehicle was not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 262,000.

SERVICE BRAKESMar 2026

3 times my car has been in for rotors my car is not even a year old 10/25 resurfaced rotors 1/26 brand new rotors 3/26 rotors warped having to resurface the new rotors this shouldn’t be happening on a new car I don’t ride my breaks I have had new cars all my life never had break issues

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMar 2026

On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 11:48am, the rear panel of my panoramic sunroof exploded. I didn’t see or hear anything fall on top of the sunroof, or any part of the car. I didn’t hear a loud noise that sounded similar to a “boom” sound or thud. As soon as I got in my car, I heard a cracking sound coming from the sunroof panel.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERFeb 2026

My sunroof shattered. No other vehicles were near me and after hearing a very loud bang, I pulled over to check to see of something hit my car. All looked fine, but I did not look at the top of my car until about a week later due to hearing wind sounds. I then assumed something must have fell out of the sky. Dealership said that they do not fix sunroofs in-house and towed it to a body shop near them. I was then quoted $8700 to fix! A friend suggested I check for recalls and found issues noted online.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERFeb 2026

The windshield creates layers of frost if it is really cold.. While the above might be unrelated but the other day I was rolling my front passenger window up in the cold weather and the window just shattered - it just exploded, even though it stayed intact it shattered into a thousand pieces

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPERFeb 2026

I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK TO kIA IN cLEARWATER 4 X FOR PANEL GOING BLACK. NO LIGHTS, AIR COMES ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. nO BACK UP CAMERA. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON THIS TRUCK SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE MGR. WADE THINKS I AM CRAZY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PANEL BUT NOT FOR MY TRUCK, WHY? NO ONE WILL FIX THIS TRUCK. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED WITH KIA. I HAD A SOUL AND TRADED UP FOR THESE SAME REASONS. 3 BATTEIES IN 4 MONTHS. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE? [XXX] [XXX] I [XXX] ANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFeb 2026

Navigation screen began blinking (glitching) and suddenly went black and would not come back on. Called the dealership and they said it was not a recall and that it was no longer covered under warranty. This problem has persisted intermittently and I am noticing a pattern. When the temperature is cold outside the screen works fine, however if it is 60+° outside this happens. I’ve read online that this is a known issue however I’m being told there is no recall.

Showing 20 of 1,221 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact KIA Sportage

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used KIA Sportage, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The KIA Sportage has 1,221 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The KIA Sportage has 25 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 82 of the KIA Sportage's 1,221 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all KIA Sportage vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two KIA Sportage vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The KIA Sportage has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a KIA Sportage by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used KIA Sportage.

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Keep researching before you buy

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KIA Sportage reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the KIA Sportage reliable?

Poor. The KIA Sportage has 1,221 NHTSA owner complaints and 25 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which KIA Sportage years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (399 complaints), 2023 (187 complaints), 2018 (162 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common KIA Sportage problems?

Top reported issues: ENGINE (513 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (247 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (212 complaints).

Does the KIA Sportage have recalls?

Yes — 25 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the KIA Sportage. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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