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Kia SportageYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 4,736 NHTSA owner complaints across 31 model years, the Kia Sportage years to avoid are 2023, and the strongest years are 1995, 2005, 2009 and 2019. The Sportage has 36 safety recalls on record.

Kia Sportage
Years to avoid'23Use caution: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2024Best years'95 '05 '09 '19Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints4,736Top: EngineSafety recalls361995–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Kia Sportage years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. Tap a year for its full report.

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/10032 complaints · 1 recall2025Too new–/10055 complaints · 1 recall2024Caution41/10075 complaints · 3 recalls2023Avoid25/100196 complaints · 6 recalls2022Solid64/10047 complaints · 1 recall2021Solid64/10054 complaints · 2 recalls2020Caution41/100171 complaints · 2 recalls2019Best67/10072 complaints · 2 recalls2018Solid49/100166 complaints · 3 recalls2017Caution30/100404 complaints · 4 recalls2016Solid57/100134 complaints · 2 recalls2015Solid54/100146 complaints · 2 recalls2014Solid62/100125 complaints · 3 recalls2013Caution34/100381 complaints · 3 recalls2012Caution33/100392 complaints · 5 recalls2011Solid50/100181 complaints · 6 recalls2010Not rated–/10020 complaints · 2 recalls2009Best67/10080 complaints · 3 recalls2008Solid59/10098 complaints · 3 recalls2007Solid65/10077 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid61/100111 complaints · 1 recall2005Best71/10068 complaints · 3 recalls2003Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls2002Solid44/100234 complaints · 1 recall2001Solid42/100228 complaints · 0 recalls2000Caution37/100304 complaints · 2 recalls1999Caution38/100284 complaints · 3 recalls1998Caution38/100303 complaints · 3 recalls1997Solid43/100181 complaints · 3 recalls1996Solid66/10057 complaints · 3 recalls1995Best78/10056 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Kia Sportage problems

All model years combined: 4,736 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine1524119
Electrical system63897
Engine and engine cooling48032
Power train45830
Service brakes, hydraulic42938
Air bags295167
Structure27734
Fuel system, gasoline2664
Vehicle speed control19231
32 other systems1592212
36 recalls

Kia Sportage recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

92%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel26V-046 · 2026 · Jan 26, 2026 · 42,677 vehicles42%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel25V-874 · 2024–2025 · Dec 17, 2025 · 5,046 vehicles90%Steering: electric power assist system24V-422 · 2024 · Jun 7, 2024 · 1,075 vehicles71%Body: roof and pillars24V-025 · 2023–2024 · Jan 18, 2024 · 101,049 vehicles28%Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module23V-652 · 2010–2013 · Sep 25, 2023 · 1,730,192 vehiclesPark outside82%Fluid/lubricant: pump23V-531 · 2023 · Jul 31, 2023 · 39,765 vehiclesPark outside87%Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist23V-410 · 2023 · Jun 7, 2023 · 98,944 vehicles88%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel23V-298 · 2023 · Apr 26, 2023 · 108,936 vehicles90%Side/window: curtain22V-878 · 2023 · Nov 28, 2022 · 76,918 vehicles19%Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module22V-800 · 2008–2009 · Oct 24, 2022 · 71,704 vehiclesPark outside29%Trailer hitches22V-703 · 2017–2022 · Sep 19, 2022 · 70,887 vehiclesPark outside93%Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator22V-651 · 2023 · Aug 29, 2022 · 19,701 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 36 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

19 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Sportage

  1. Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresAQ23002 · 2008–2021 · still open
    Open
  2. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · 2011–2021 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  3. Engine FiresEA21003 · 2011–2013 · closed Feb 5, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-877
  4. Scope and TimelinessRQ17003 · 2011–2013 · closed Dec 22, 2021
    Led to recall 17V-224
  5. FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATIONEA07001 · 2002 · closed Apr 16, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-161
  6. FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATIONPE06042 · 2002 · closed Jan 22, 2007
    No recall
  7. FUEL TANK LEAKAGEEA06007 · 1996–2002 · closed Nov 30, 2007
    No recall
  8. FUEL TANK LEAKAGEPE06002 · 1999–2000 · closed May 9, 2006
    No recall
  9. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONEA04007 · 1999–2000 · closed Jul 26, 2004
    No recall
  10. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONRQ03007 · 1999–2002 · closed Feb 27, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-305