2023 KIA Sportage Phev Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sportage Phev years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 KIA Sportage Phev. That is the most of any Sportage Phev model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 20%), typically at around 1,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2023 KIA Sportage Phev problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 20% | 1,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 7% | 9,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2023 KIA Sportage Phev recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Trailer hitches; electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1. Hybrid system failure And check engine light on . 2. Car jerk while driving and gone to limp mode and my speed was reduced to 10 mph at traffic putting my self and other in danger . 3. My vehicle is currently at the dealership getting inspected this is the second time my hybrid warning light…
I had been driving on the freeway for about 5 minutes, and suddenly heard broken glass in my car. It was dark (around 8pm) so I looked around as I was driving and didn't see any of my visible windows broken. I then heard more glass shattering sound and realized it was my sunroof glass that had…
When engaging the cruise control using the steering wheel button, the speed will set itself at 110 miles an hour, and the vehicle will in fact attempt to reach that speed and accelerate. The problem has occurred at speeds as low as 30 miles an hour and as high as 70 miles an hour, it happens…
Kia opted for Leather like material for the steering wheel cover. This material with only 14, 828 miles on the vehicle is starting to peel off causing a bad gripping scenario. The material is more like a vinyl instead of leather. I have brought the vehicle to the Dealer who is attempted a warranty…
PHEV vehicle: charging interrupted in the middle of the night. When attempting to reconnect the charger, a "Charging unsuccessful" message was given. A warning with "Check Hybrid System" appeared, as well as the check engine light. I cannot charge the car anymore and had to leave it at the…
Other KIA Sportage Phev years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage Phev | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Sportage Phev | 6 | 1 |
| 2024 Sportage Phev | 12 | 1 |
| 2023 | 15 | 2 |
See all KIA Sportage Phev problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 KIA Sportage Phev?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2023 KIA Sportage Phev?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2023 KIA Sportage Phev a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sportage Phev model years, the 2023 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.