Kia Sportage

Where it stands out against its peers

• Engine: more complaints than 94% of 2017 cars — 55% of its 399 complaints, where an ordinary 2017 car has 22%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• ENGINE — 139 owners reported this, 9 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 17 owners reported this
• STRUCTURE — 17 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 14 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• POWER TRAIN — 11 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS — 10 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 10 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

77% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 14V023000

  Maintaining tire pressure below the recommmend specification could result in premature tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will correct the label information, and owners will also receive a sticker to put into the owners manual, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2014. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC103.

• 16V862000

  If the trailer brake lights stay illuminated while being used, other drivers may be confused, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer tow hitch harness, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC142.

• 17V224000

  Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

• 18V907000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

  Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

• 19V101000

  A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC174.

• 20V750000

  An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.

  Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.

• 21V137000

  An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

  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 electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.

• 22V051000

  An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

  Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.

2 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

  Audit query, opened November 2023, still open.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.

• Engine Fires

  Engineering analysis, opened December 2021, closed February 2024.

• Scope and Timeliness

  Recall query, opened May 2017, closed December 2021.

  Became recall 17V224000.

• Fan blade cracking/separation

  Engineering analysis, opened January 2007, closed April 2007.

• Fan blade cracking/separation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2006, closed January 2007.

• Fuel tank leakage

  Engineering analysis, opened May 2006, closed November 2007.

• Fuel tank leakage

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2006, closed May 2006.

• Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2004, closed July 2004.

• Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction

  Recall query, opened October 2003, closed February 2004.

• Engine stalling post-recall

  Recall query, opened October 2002, closed September 2003.

• Safety belt buckle malfunction

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2002, closed September 2002.

• Vehicle rollover

  Defect petition, opened June 2002, closed September 2002.

• Windshield wiper

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2002, closed August 2002.

• Incorrect battery jump-start

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2000, closed July 2000.

• Turn sighal

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2000, closed July 2002.

• Turn signal, traffic safety hazard

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2000, closed June 2000.

• Check engine light stays on

  Investigation SQ, opened June 1999, closed February 2000.

• Windshield wiper

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 1999, closed October 1999.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Kia filed one bulletin about the 2027 Sportage.

• Electrical system: 1

• TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER ACTION: UPPER ACTIVE AIR FLAP DUCT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT (CA2606) - This bulletin provides information to replace the upper active air flap (“AAF”) duct assembly… · July 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.