Kia Sportage Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 4,713 consumer complaints across the 30 model years of the Kia Sportage (1995–2026) that have at least 5 complaints. 2017 has the most, with 403. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (1,513 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Sportage years →
All Sportage model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 1,060 | 1 | 24 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 55 | 17,500 | 1 | 15 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 75 | 22,500 | 3 | 37 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 193 | 26,887 | 6 | 74 | 100 · More | Too new |
| 2022 | 46 | 33,000 | 1 | 52 | 47 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 54 | 53,000 | 2 | 68 | 49 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 164 | 13,000 | 2 | 93 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 71 | 32,000 | 2 | 82 | 43 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 165 | 18,400 | 3 | 133 | 90 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 403 | 55,000 | 4 | 191 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2016 | 134 | 60,000 | 2 | 127 | 43 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 146 | 75,000 | 2 | 153 | 45 · Typical | Falling |
| 2014 | 125 | 79,500 | 3 | 181 | 28 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 381 | 98,000 | 3 | 167 | 55 · Typical | Falling |
| 2012 | 392 | 97,750 | 5 | 177 | 80 · More | Falling |
| 2011 | 181 | 78,000 | 6 | 172 | 90 · More | Rising |
| 2010 | 20 | 76,297 | 2 | 24 | — | Rising |
| 2009 | 80 | 64,500 | 3 | 20 | 48 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 98 | 80,500 | 3 | 24 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 77 | 69,000 | 2 | 32 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 111 | 72,000 | 1 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 68 | 78,600 | 3 | 40 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 234 | 59,764 | 1 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 228 | 65,500 | 0 | 8 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 304 | 70,838 | 2 | 9 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 284 | 78,000 | 3 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 303 | 80,000 | 3 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 181 | 82,500 | 3 | 7 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 57 | 79,000 | 3 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 56 | 111,500 | 2 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine1,513 31%
- Electrical system636 13%
- Brakes599 12%
- Other or unknown518 10%
- Engine cooling479 9.7%
- Fuel system461 9.3%
- Transmission and drivetrain458 9.2%
- Air bags293 5.9%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2007: “While driving on the interstate, kia caught on fire. We got off interstate at our stop and a car started honking. As we didn't know car engine was on fire. We pulled into a parking lot and got out. The fire department was called. No one has looked at it to see what happened. Fire dept stated vehicle probably can't be fixed. We see there was a recall on 2007 vehicles. This is a 2007.”
NHTSA complaint #11606550, filed 2024-08, 184,527 miles2015: “The engine began knocking on a crowded roadway. The Kia dealership noted an engine recall, but that engine replacement claim was denied because a KSDS sensor update was not completed prior because the corporate office did not have my updated address, and I never got the recall letter.”
NHTSA complaint #11564222, filed 2024-01, 150,000 miles2005: “My Kia Sportage.... Stalled in mid traffic like it losses power right after I. Put gasoline in the car, almost making me loose control and get in a wreck. It is not getting fuel .after I continued to try and refuel it. I noticed a recall online about my vehicle nut dealer is only sayinh the recall is on a fuel strap ti hold the fuel tank up I need this safely repaired”
NHTSA complaint #11405152, filed 2021-03, 165,000 milesOther Kia models
10,219 complaintsKia Optima
7,532 complaintsKia Soul
5,579 complaintsKia Forte
2,560 complaintsKia Sedona
2,415 complaintsKia Telluride
2,058 complaintsKia Sephia
1,701 complaintsKia RIO
1,292 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology