KIA Sportage Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the KIA Sportage across 21 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (75). The words owners use most often: “fuel tank” (32% of reports).
- 266fuel system, gasoline complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel tank: mentioned in 84 of 266 complaints (32%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the KIA Sportage at $1,000, and half of them between $760 and $1,450.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 176 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 266 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
KIA Sportage fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 78,000 |
| 2020 Sportage | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2017 Sportage | 3 | 1% | 126,983 |
| 2014 Sportage | 2 | 2% | 101,500 |
| 2013 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 44,350 |
| 2012 Sportage | 1 | 0% | 137,005 |
| 2011 Sportage | 3 | 2% | 2,500 |
| 2009 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 4,913 |
| 2008 Sportage | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2007 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 30,015 |
| 2006 Sportage | 2 | 2% | 49,500 |
| 2005 Sportage | 7 | 10% | 21,000 |
| 2003 Sportage | 2 | 50% | 129,605 |
| 2002 Sportage | 40 | 17% | 61,567 |
| 2001 Sportage | 50 | 22% | 70,000 |
| 2000 Sportage | 75 | 25% | 80,000 |
| 1999 Sportage | 34 | 12% | 78,100 |
| 1998 Sportage | 18 | 6% | 84,459 |
| 1997 Sportage | 16 | 9% | 111,186 |
| 1996 Sportage | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1995 Sportage | 2 | 4% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
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.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Model years: 2005
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, fuel may leak from the o-ring into the internal vapor chamber located in the fuel tank at full tank conditions.
Risk: The engine may stall when coming to a stop. It will be hard to fill the gas tank and external fuel may leak from the evaporative air filter inlet. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank and replace the charcoal canister free of charge. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who determined that the fuel injector was faulty and…
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle drove 2 MPH for approximately 2 minutes and was jerking abnormally. The contact stated that the failure recurred…
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel, the electronic fuel cap door failed to immediately open, and the contact was unable the to insert the nozzle into the filler neck. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified…
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, after 15 minutes of driving, a quarter tank of fuel had been consumed. There was no…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA Sportages have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 266 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the KIA Sportage. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA Sportage fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the KIA Sportage?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,000 (half paid between $760 and $1,450), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel tank”, in 84 of 266 complaints.
Other KIA Sportage problems
- Engine problems (1,506)
- Electrical System problems (630)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (480)
- Power Train problems (457)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (429)
- Air Bags problems (293)
- Structure problems (276)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (192)
See all KIA Sportage problems.