repaired · 2026 Q1
Trailer hitches
Park outsideRisk. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2019 Kia SportageProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 72 owner complaints about the 2019 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-703 the manufacturer reports only 29% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 11, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 Kia Sportage has problems
72 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
38Engine3 crash/fire/injury
11Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
7Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
7Power train1 crash/fire/injury
4Service brakes, hydraulic
3Air bags
3Exterior lighting
3Service brakes
3Trailer hitches
138 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 38 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 1 |
| Power train | 7 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 2 |
| Trailer hitches | 3 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 13 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2019 Kia Sportage recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2019 vs. every other Sportage year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. How we score
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2019 Kia Sportage safety ratings
2019 Kia Sportage SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.5% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2019 Kia Sportage, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Sportage owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
There was an update that shouldve been completed on my car that was not. There were 7 recalls on my car that I was never informed of and now they will not fix it. The engine rod went bad due to this and there is a class action settlement going on about it
I have a 2019 Kia Sportage with a conventional ignition key. Three times in five years, the engine has apparently started by itself while parked. The key was not in the ignition. I stopped the engine by inserting the key, turning it ON, then OFF. I bought the vehicle used from CarMax, and I don’t…
The car engine is losing oil without any leaks being found. I got my oil changed and was told to have it done every 3k miles. Within a month of that oil change, my engine ran hot. I had all of my components checked. Radiator and coolant was fine but they found that my engine was 2 qrts short of…
Own a 2019 Sportage?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.