2025 Kia Sportage Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report display screens that reset or go blank, and transmission problems such as jerking, stalling, or failure to shift. Sunroof glass that shatters or explodes and automatic braking that activates without an obstacle are also described, and where mileage is stated most reports involve fairly low mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Screens that reset, freeze, or go blank

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 0.7 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe instrument cluster screens that run a system check while driving, go blank for several seconds, and then return, sometimes with inaccurate readings afterward. Some say cruise control disconnects during the blank period and may not reengage, and others describe infotainment or navigation screens that freeze, glitch, or turn black, including cases where CarPlay failed. Some dealers could not reproduce the problem, and one owner says the reboot behavior matches a recall letter, although the dealer found no tow hitch as the letter described. Where mileage is stated, one report says the problem began with under 300 miles on the car, and the episodes happen at random times and speeds.

   Recall 25V8740003 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch the instrument and infotainment screens for resets, blanking, or freezing, and check that cruise control stays engaged. Ask whether the infotainment or navigation software update bulletins have been applied, and whether recall 25V874000 applies to this vehicle's screen and tow hitch harness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I am driving, does not matter speed or weather, the instrument cluster screen will do a System Check as if the vehicle is being started. The screen will go blank for about 5 seconds and then will reappear. If the vehicle is in cruise control, that will disengage and the vehicle will slow down and I have to catch it and keep speed up. This does not happen every day and has happened at different intervals of 6 days between incidents and up to 15 days. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11691667, filed 2025-10

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11716480, filed 2026-02
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, stalls, or will not shift

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 10,750 mi at 0.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe transmissions that shift unexpectedly with a jerk, stall while driving, or do not respond when the accelerator is pressed. Others describe a transmission that refuses to shift on hills, a shift lever that will not move out of park, and a car that stays in drive without moving forward while the engine revs. According to complaints, some dealers could not reproduce the problem, and turning the engine off and on was sometimes needed to restore shifting. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 3,500 to 18,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that every gear engages smoothly from park and drive, and that the car moves promptly when the accelerator is pressed from a stop. Ask whether the dealer scanned for shift or transmission codes and what the results were.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746853, filed 2026-06

   “Started vehicle and was driving, ISG (auto start stop) light went amber and transmission refused to shift to allow uphill travel. Had to pull over and turn engine off and on again for the transmission to start working. Have had to dealer, however yet again they cannot replicate in their test drive so they can't do anything about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11670589, filed 2025-07
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Panoramic sunroof glass shattering or exploding

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • typically at 1.3 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe panoramic or moon roof glass that shattered, imploded, or exploded, often with a loud bang and no impact. Some report glass or small parts falling into the cabin, and one says the sunroof had not opened fully for about a month before it failed. Repairs were described as costly, one dealer said it does not repair sunroofs in-house and referred the car to a body shop, and one owner says the warranty was not honored. None of these reports states mileage, and most describe the glass failing while driving on highways.

   What to check: Look closely at the panoramic glass and frame for cracks, chips, or gaps, and open and close the sunroof fully on a test drive. Ask whether any sunroof repair or warranty claim has been made on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11721859, filed 2026-03

   “The panoramic sunroof exploded. We were driving down the hwy. Going roughly 55mph when there was a loud bang and glass started falling down on us. Glass fell down onto our heads and our child. The sunroof Glass was pushed up and outward so nothing had hit the car to make the Glass cave in. Two small peices had fallen from the sunroof mechanism one containing a rubber gasket and one lacking one.”

   NHTSA complaint #11667481, filed 2025-06
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Sudden automatic braking with no obstacle

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe automatic emergency braking that activated suddenly and strongly with no obstacle ahead, including on highways and when backing out of a driveway. Some say the system braked for traffic in adjacent lanes or while the owner was not in any danger, and one says the car braked hard enough that the vehicle behind had little time to react. According to complaints, dealers could not duplicate the problem during road tests. None of these reports states mileage, and several describe the braking at highway speeds or on an interstate.

   What to check: On a test drive, check the forward collision and auto-braking settings and any warning messages, and ask whether the dealer scanned that system for stored codes. Ask whether any related software update has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving this car, I have experienced the car's auto-braking system. While driving on I-94, the traffic was slowing down due to activity ahead of me. Apparently, I did not slow down enough for the car's sensor, as the auto brakes engaged and slammed onto the brakes. The car behind me barely had time to react due to the auto-braking so hard on the brakes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11710155, filed 2026-01

   “I have documented the following issues: -84 instances of Keep Hands on the Wheel when my hands were on the 10/2 or 9/3 position. This dates back to March 2025 and has continued into December. -12 instances of the ER braking engaging with Collision Alert when no other vehicles/object/danger were around. The ER braking is the sudden, full force stopping of the vehicle staring in April 2025 and as most recently as 12/06/2025. -3 instances of the vehicle being in drive but not moving forward; only the engine revving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11704582, filed 2025-12
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden surges or unintended acceleration

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 10,750 mi at 0.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the car suddenly revving or surging forward, including while pulling into a parking spot, at a stop sign, and with cruise control set. One owner describes a violent bounce-back whenever accelerating on busy roads, so the car could not accelerate normally. One owner says the dealer could not reproduce the surge, and another describes the car striking a tree while parking. Mileage is not stated in these reports, and the events are described while parking, at a stop, and on busy roads.

   What to check: On a test drive, accelerate gently from a stop and check for surging, bouncing, or delayed response, including with cruise control on. Ask the dealer whether engine or throttle codes were checked and documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving to work this morning, I experienced an unintended engine acceleration while at a stop sign. It was about 7:30am at the time of event, I had been driving for about 10 minutes up to that point. Prior to that, the vehicle had been in the garage all evening. The temperature outside was cool, but I had no heat or air turned on at the time of event. I was at a complete stop at a stop sign on the corner of Bertrand Rd and S Third St in Niles, Michigan. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11772701, filed 2026-10

   “On Monday, Dec 15 at approximately 3:30 pm I was pulling into my parking spot in front of my house. The vehicle suddenly revved loudly and shot forward striking a tree in my front yard. If not for the tree would have ended up in the kitchen. When parking I do not have to apply gas once I enter the lot as I can drift into the spot. I barely have to brake to stop the vehicle. The steering wheel airbag deployed, fortunately no serious injuries. The passenger front end was pretty much gone and two big branches were sheared off at ground level. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11705582, filed 2025-12

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year should test-drive for smooth shifting, steady acceleration, and a stable screen display, and inspect the panoramic glass closely. Because some dealers could not reproduce these symptoms, ask for scan records and check whether recall 25V874000 applies to the vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.