KIA Sportage Problems by Year
NHTSA has 4,706 owner complaints and 36 safety recalls on file for the KIA Sportage, across 31 model years (1995–2026). The 2017 model year has the most complaints (401). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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KIA Sportage years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sportage year: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2017 Sportage: 401 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2012 Sportage: 392 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2013 Sportage: 381 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2003 Sportage: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2010 Sportage: 20 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2026 Sportage: 27 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Sportage problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 1,506 | 26 | 10 |
| Electrical System problems | 630 | 30 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 480 | 27 | 12 |
| Power Train problems | 457 | 29 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 429 | 27 | 28 |
| Air Bags problems | 293 | 29 | 156 |
| Structure problems | 276 | 29 | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 266 | 21 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 192 | 30 | 29 |
| Visibility problems | 182 | 26 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 172 | 26 | 6 |
| Steering problems | 159 | 28 | 19 |
| Service Brakes problems | 158 | 22 | 29 |
| Suspension problems | 153 | 21 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 111 | 25 | 1 |
| Seat Belts problems | 105 | 21 | 21 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 69 | 13 | 18 |
| Equipment | 67 | 12 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 54 | 13 | 3 |
| Tires | 54 | 20 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 45 | 18 | 1 |
| Wheels | 44 | 21 | 6 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 40 | 13 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 32 | 9 | 0 |
| Seats | 31 | 18 | 6 |
| Lane Departure | 20 | 6 | 6 |
| Trailer Hitches | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 18 | 6 | 3 |
| Interior Lighting | 13 | 8 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
KIA Sportage problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2020: engine (75)
- 2018: engine (91)
- 2017: engine (220) · electrical system (62)
- 2016: engine (62)
- 2015: engine (84)
- 2014: engine (72)
- 2013: engine (301)
- 2012: engine (328)
- 2011: engine (77)
- 2002: engine and engine cooling (69)
- 2001: fuel system, gasoline (50)
- 2000: fuel system, gasoline (75)
- 1999: engine and engine cooling (79) · power train (57)
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (79) · service brakes, hydraulic (70) · power train (63)
- 1997: engine and engine cooling (56)
All KIA Sportage model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage | 27 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Sportage | 54 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Sportage | 73 | 3 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Sportage | 192 | 6 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | More complaints than other years |
| 2022 Sportage | 46 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Sportage | 54 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Sportage | 162 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Sportage | 70 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Sportage | 164 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Sportage | 401 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Sportage | 134 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Sportage | 146 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2014 Sportage | 124 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2013 Sportage | 381 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Sportage | 392 | 5 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 Sportage | 181 | 6 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Sportage | 20 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Sportage | 80 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Sportage | 98 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Sportage | 77 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Sportage | 111 | 1 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Sportage | 68 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Sportage | 4 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2002 Sportage | 234 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Sportage | 228 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 Sportage | 304 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Sportage | 284 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Sportage | 303 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Sportage | 181 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Sportage | 57 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Sportage | 56 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Sportage years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1998 (303), 1999 (284), 2000 (304), 2012 (392), 2013 (381), 2017 (401) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Sportage year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Sportage?
Engine, with 1,506 complaints across 26 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Sportage have?
36 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.