2015 Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
146 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 146 complaints (57.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 27.4% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 84 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Engine: 84; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 27; Unknown Or Other: 25; Electrical System: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Air Bags: 5; Power Train: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 89 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 59 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 10; 2020: 9; 2021: 10; 2022: 59; 2023: 17; 2024: 12; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10767409 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. ....UPDATED 10-27-15 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10913926 · 2016-10-05 (October 5, 2016)
INVOLVED IN A VERY LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT, GOING APPROXIMATELY 8-10MPH IF THAT, VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, PRESSED BRAKE, ROADS ICY, AND SLID INTO VEHICLE WHICH PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. IMPACT CAUSED AIRBAG TO COME OUT AND BROKE MY HAND/WRIST/ARM IN 3 PLACES. I SIT FAR ENOUGH BACK ON PURPOSE, THE AIR BAG ONLY STUCK MY ARM. I DON'T THINK I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AT ALL. I AM PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED AND HAVE LIMITED FUNCTION OF MY DOMINANT HAND NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 655 miles reported. Look up ODI 10913926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971108 · 2017-04-07 (April 7, 2017)
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STALLING WHEN I PRESS THE GAS I CAN START TO GO AND THEN COME TO A DEAD STOP AND NOT MOVE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING ON A MAIN HWY AND HAS HAPPENED JUST DRIVEING DOWN THE ROAD... IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING BUT I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE ECO OFF BUT HAS NOT HELPED. THIS OCCURS DAILY SINCE I DECEMBER 2016
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10971108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205760 · 2019-05-06 (May 6, 2019)
ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TO HOUSTON TX AND THE ENGINE STALL ON ROAD. VERY BUSY ROAD. FORTUNATELY COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND. AFTER CONTACT KIA MOTORS THEY SENT WRECKER SERVICE. BUT DID NOT TOW TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP BUT GARAGE IN NEAREST TOWN. MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHY VEHICLE WAS SENT TO HIM. I HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO TOW CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP. AT DEALERSHIP NOW THEY SAY ENGINE IS PART OF RECALL BUT I NEVER RECIEVED ANY NOTICE TO TAKE OUR VEHICLE IN. NOW OVER A MONTH LATER STIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11009830 · 2017-07-18 (July 18, 2017)
CPSC:I HAD A TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED ON MY 2015 KIA SPORTAGE., I WAS EXISTING THE CASTLE ROCK MOTEL IN FRIENDSHIP, WI WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHERE MY 1 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CAR SEAT. ONE OF THE HOTEL EMPLOYEES SAW ME STRUGGLE TO GET HIM OUT OF THE CAR SEAT AND CAME TO ASSIST, AT THE SAME TIME DAUGHTER (WHO WAS ALSO IN THE CAR WITH ME) CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE HOTEL EMPLOYEE RETRIEVED SOME TOOLS AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISMANTLED THE BACK PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11009830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11204104 · 2019-04-27 (April 27, 2019)
MY LOWBEAMS DO NOT WORK. THE LAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DON'T WORK. THERE IS NO INFO IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IDENTIFYING THE FUSE OR MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE LOWBEAMS. I CONTACTED KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE ON MARCH 22, 2019 (CASE# 13097019) WITH A 48 BUSINESS HR REP RETURN CONTACT COMMITTMENT. I JUST RECEIVED IT TODAY, APRIL 27, 2019, ADVISING ME TO TAKE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TO CONTACT THEM AFTER THE DIAG SO THAT THEY CAN SPEAK WITH THE DEALER TO HELP RESSOLVE. NO IDICATION THAT THEY'LL PAY, OR DO A COURTESY REPAIR. ELECTRICAL WOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919930 · 2016-10-28 (October 28, 2016)
I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 50 MPH AND A WOMAN PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I (T BONED ) HER. MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IMMEDIATELY ALL FUNCTIONS STOPPED WORKING.THE CAR FILLED WITH WHITE SMOKE FROM THE AIR BAG. MY WINDOWS WERE UP AND I COULD NOT ROLL THEM DOWN NOR STEER.I COULD NOT BREATH THE CAR WAS ROLLING IT STOPPED AT APPROX. 50 FT.WHEN I GOT OUT I WAS GASPING I HAD A WHITE SUBSTANCE ALL OVER ME IN MY NOSE. I'M VERY CONCERNED.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979396 · 2017-04-19 (April 19, 2017)
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE GAS BUBBLING UP AFTER THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AND IT HAS SPRAYED OUT AND ON ME AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID TO USE ANOTHER GAS STATION. THE CAR IS STATIONARY, THE PUMP AND STATIONS HAVE NO BEARING ON THE ISSUE. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. I MARCH MY CAR WAS THERE FOR A LIST OF ISSUES. I WAS TOLD THAT SOME PART WAS REPLACED. WHEN I CALLED BACK TO TELL THEM IT STILL BUBBLES UP AT ME, THEY SAID BUT ITS NOT SPRAYING OU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10979396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11043939 · 2017-11-06 (November 6, 2017)
I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO KIA ON THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL TWICE AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES ONCE. I HAVE GAS THAT BUBBLES UP AND OUT OF THE GAS TANK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY, OR SEASON, OR GAS STATION I USE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERS, BOTH KIA. THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM AND DON'T SEEM TO THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS THIS PAST FRIDAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11043939 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11499911 · 2023-01-03 (January 3, 2023)
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not accelerate as designed. The contact depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact continued driving until the vehicle independently slowed down and she was able to shift into the park positin. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that th…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,181 miles reported. Look up ODI 11499911 at NHTSA ↗