Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4,423 owner complaints analyzed
36 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,142 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,490 of 4,423 complaints (33.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 740 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 481 | 10.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 331 | 7.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 268 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 195 | 4.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 177 | 4.0% |
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 | 1490 |
| Electrical System | 463 |
| Unknown Or Other | 451 |
| Power Train | 222 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 205 |
| Air Bags | 191 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 170 |
| Service Brakes | 158 |
Engine: 1,490; Electrical System: 463; Unknown Or Other: 451; Power Train: 222; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 205; Air Bags: 191; Fuel/Propulsion System: 170; Service Brakes: 158
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 384 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 255 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 417 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 392 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 555 |
| 150,000 and above | 139 |
Under 25,000: 384; 25,000 to 49,999: 255; 50,000 to 74,999: 417; 75,000 to 99,999: 392; 100,000 to 149,999: 555; 150,000 and above: 139
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (555). 2,281 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 222 |
| 2001 | 189 |
| 2002 | 169 |
| 2003 | 171 |
| 2004 | 103 |
| 2005 | 84 |
| 2006 | 74 |
| 2007 | 89 |
| 2008 | 57 |
| 2009 | 72 |
| 2010 | 90 |
| 2011 | 86 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2013 | 81 |
| 2014 | 88 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2016 | 88 |
| 2017 | 147 |
| 2018 | 243 |
| 2019 | 340 |
| 2020 | 219 |
| 2021 | 204 |
| 2022 | 355 |
| 2023 | 309 |
| 2024 | 262 |
| 2025 | 311 |
| 2026 | 229 |
1995: 5; 1996: 7; 2000: 222; 2001: 189; 2002: 169; 2003: 171; 2004: 103; 2005: 84; 2006: 74; 2007: 89; 2008: 57; 2009: 72; 2010: 90; 2011: 86; 2012: 63; 2013: 81; 2014: 88; 2015: 66; 2016: 88; 2017: 147; 2018: 243; 2019: 340; 2020: 219; 2021: 204; 2022: 355; 2023: 309; 2024: 262; 2025: 311; 2026: 229
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 740 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 481 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 331 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 874953 · 2000-11-14 (November 14, 2000)
HORN FAILED TO OPERATE/ ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY/ INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD COME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN ANY OF THESE CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802040 · 1996-09-09 (September 9, 1996)
INTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091576 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED. IT DIED IN TRAFFIC EVERYDAY. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506631 · 1996-07-25 (July 25, 1996)
FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757858 · 2002-02-06 (February 6, 2002)
CAR HAS STALLED IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS 6 TIMES NOW AND RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. OCCUPANT OF VEHICLE NARROWLY MISSED A MAJOR COLLISION TWICE. THE CAR STALLS BUT ELECTRICAL POWER STILL THERE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005620 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
MY CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE KIA COPRORATION FIELD EXPERTS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY SAY IT'S A WIRING NIGHTMARE, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT TO IRVINE (KIA HEADQUARTERS) BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THEY WIRING HARNESS RECALL OF 1997 PROVES THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY FIXED, AND I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE MISSION BAY KIA DEALERSHIP SINCE 12-1-02, AND I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224254 · 2008-04-11 (April 11, 2008)
A FEW YEARS BACK I STARTED SMELLING GAS. SO MY FATHER IN LAW AND UNCLE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND IT YEP YOU GOT A GAS LEAK. SO THEY TRIED TO PATCH IT SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS SEEMED TO WORK. SO BACK IN FEBRUARY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING A REPAIR BENEFIT NOTIFICATION ABOUT MY GAS TANK LEAKING. SO A FEW WEEKS AGO I CALLED A KIA DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY TANK. AFTER A HOUR DRIVE AND A FORTY MINUTE WAIT THEY TELL ME THAT MY KIA DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR KIA TO FIX MY TANK. SO I COME HOME AND THE NEXT…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724567 · 2000-06-26 (June 26, 2000)
THE ENGINE WILL START UP AND STAY AT APROX 3000 RPM FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TWICE THE RPMS JUMPED WHILE EACH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IT AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. THE LOCKING HUBS ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT UNLOCKING. IT CAUSED SOME SLIDING IN THE RAIN GOING AROUND A CORNER. THE WHEELS ALWAYS TURN AT THE SAME RATE AROUND CORNERS. THE TRIM IS COMING LOOSE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH WHEN I SHIFT, AND DURING DRIVING IT WILL SOME TIMES SURGE FORWARD AND BACK. TOO MUCH PL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722250 · 2000-05-03 (May 3, 2000)
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE IMPACT BETWEEN MY CHEST AND THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT ME WITH BRUISED RIBS. I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE ACCIDENT OR THE INJURY WAS NOT SEVERE. IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS, 1) AT WHICH SPEED SHOULD THE AIR BAG DEPLOY, 2) IF IT WAS TO DEPLOY AT 40MPH THEN WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT STEP TOWARDS KIA TO VERIFY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY ONE AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034539 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034539 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 28 | 2 | Not available |
| 1996 | 26 | 3 | +1 |
| 1997 | 111 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 207 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 260 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | 303 | 2 | -1 |
| 2001 | 228 | 0 | -2 |
| 2002 | 234 | 1 | +1 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | -1 |
| 2005 | 68 | 3 | Not available |
| 2006 | 111 | 1 | -2 |
| 2007 | 77 | 2 | +1 |
| 2008 | 98 | 3 | +1 |
| 2009 | 80 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | 20 | 2 | -1 |
| 2011 | 181 | 6 | +4 |
| 2012 | 392 | 5 | -1 |
| 2013 | 380 | 3 | -2 |
| 2014 | 122 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 146 | 2 | -1 |
| 2016 | 130 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 399 | 4 | +2 |
| 2018 | 162 | 3 | -1 |
| 2019 | 69 | 2 | -1 |
| 2020 | 160 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 | 50 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 46 | 1 | -1 |
| 2023 | 187 | 6 | +5 |
| 2024 | 68 | 3 | -3 |
| 2025 | 50 | 1 | -2 |
| 2026 | 26 | 1 | 0 |