2015 KIA Sportage Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sportage years
- About as many complaints as other years 14th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version)
Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 KIA Sportage. That ranks 14th out of 31 Sportage model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (84 complaints, 58%), typically at around 91,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 11 fires, 5 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 146owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2015 KIA Sportage 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 84 | 58% | 91,000 | “oil change” (10%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 28 | 19% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 25 | 17% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 12% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 4% | 65,091 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 5 | 3% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 3% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2% | 78,850 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2% | 38,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 2% | 25,307 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 2,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 128,657 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2015 KIA Sportage recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I own a 2015 Kia Sportage VIN in detail. On 7-2-2026, an authorized Kia dealer completed the anti-theft ignition campaign. Within days of that repair, my daughter was driving at highway speed when the ignition moved from the ON/RUN position to ACC. The engine shut off, resulting in loss of power…
Engine fire which led to explosion and total loss.
Unjustified Denial of Engine Warranty Coverage - 2015 Kia Sportage "I am filing this complaint because Kia is denying warranty coverage for a known engine defect (rod bearing failure in the Theta II GDI engine) on my 2015 Kia Sportage. The manufacturerâs denial is based on the claim that I did…
I own a 2015 Kia Sportage with an open safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 22V051 / SC227B). The vehicle became undriveable years ago due to engine issues. I contacted both the dealership and Kia several times, but no one has responded or completed the recall. I received no notification letter. The…
The car just quit running as I was driving. It would not turn over using jumper cables. I had it towed to a local mechanic where they replaced the starter and the battery. Upon picking it up, it was making noises that it did not make previously.
Other KIA Sportage years
← 2014 Sportage · 2016 Sportage →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage | 27 | 1 |
| 2025 Sportage | 54 | 1 |
| 2024 Sportage | 73 | 3 |
| 2023 Sportage | 192 | 6 |
| 2022 Sportage | 46 | 1 |
| 2021 Sportage | 54 | 2 |
| 2020 Sportage | 162 | 2 |
| 2019 Sportage | 70 | 2 |
| 2018 Sportage | 164 | 3 |
| 2017 Sportage | 401 | 4 |
| 2016 Sportage | 134 | 2 |
| 2015 | 146 | 2 |
| 2014 Sportage | 124 | 3 |
| 2013 Sportage | 381 | 3 |
| 2012 Sportage | 392 | 5 |
| 2011 Sportage | 181 | 6 |
| 2010 Sportage | 20 | 2 |
| 2009 Sportage | 80 | 3 |
| 2008 Sportage | 98 | 3 |
| 2007 Sportage | 77 | 2 |
| 2006 Sportage | 111 | 1 |
| 2005 Sportage | 68 | 3 |
| 2003 Sportage | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 Sportage | 234 | 1 |
| 2001 Sportage | 228 | 0 |
| 2000 Sportage | 304 | 2 |
| 1999 Sportage | 284 | 3 |
| 1998 Sportage | 303 | 3 |
| 1997 Sportage | 181 | 3 |
| 1996 Sportage | 57 | 3 |
| 1995 Sportage | 56 | 2 |
See all KIA Sportage 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 2015 KIA Sportage?
Owners most often report engine, service brakes, hydraulic, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 84 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2015 KIA Sportage?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2015 KIA Sportage a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sportage model years, the 2015 has about as many complaints as a typical year, and NHTSA rates it 4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version) overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.