2023 Kia SPORTAGE HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
97 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
11,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 97 complaints (36.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 19.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 18.6% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 9.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 35 |
| Engine | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 3 |
Electrical System: 35; Engine: 26; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Power Train: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18; Service Brakes: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2026 | 18 |
2022: 3; 2023: 25; 2024: 26; 2025: 25; 2026: 18
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11482460 · 2022-09-01 (September 1, 2022)
While driving 30-40 mph most of the Advanced Driver Assistance System warning lights came. The check engine light, service light, etc also came on. There was a notice that kept flashing do not drive vehicle. This has happened on three occasions. There were zero issues prior to this. On one occasion I was driving on a two lane mountain highway and had to continue driving the vehicle because there wasn't an emergency lane nor pull off. Having all the warning lamps flashing was extremely nerve racking and frightening. The vehicle has been a…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11482460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482537 · 2022-09-02 (September 2, 2022)
The vehicle flashed and alarmed a brake system warning while traveling on a freeway. Braking was soft. Took a longer than usual amount of time to stop the vehicle at that point.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11482537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11495730 · 2022-12-02 (December 2, 2022)
When starting car from behind stopped, the car would not speed up when pressing gas pedal and felt like stalling, but slamming on gas pedal jolted car to speed up again. If there were cars around, this could have been very dangerous. Car is in the shop now for mechanics to determine exact cause.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11504604 · 2023-01-31 (January 31, 2023)
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH and pressing the brake pedal to reduce speed the pedal extended to the floor and the warning "check brakes" displayed. The vehicle was immediately taken to the dealer who performed an unknown service to the braking system. The vehicle was retrieved but later experience the same failure. The was taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 320.
Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 11504604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11509004 · 2023-02-24 (February 24, 2023)
I had a number of systems suddenly cut out on me. The dealership thinks it was a fuse or fuses that went bad. They affected the car's following systems: * Primary Instrument Cluster (Left side) * Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist w/Car, Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection * Advanced Collision Avoidance (Auto-breaking) * Lane Following Assist * Lane Keeping Assist * Driver Attention Warning w/ Leading Vehicle Departure Alert * Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (In Mirrors) * Door Unlock Warning (I received several warnings that my doors were …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11509004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515043 · 2023-04-02 (April 2, 2023)
This is a heads up, not an incident report. On this vehicle there is a push button starter on the center console. Page 6-11 of the owner’s manual has a warning that reads, “Never press the ENGINE START/STOP button while the vehicle is in motion. This would result in loss of directional control and braking function, which could cause an accident.” I feel this is a hazard with an easy fix: disable the start button if the vehicle is in motion. A toddler could reach over and press the button for fun. A person could drop an object on it accidentall…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11515999 · 2023-04-07 (April 7, 2023)
The tempered glass panel between the windshield and panaormic sunroof spontaneously shattered. We saw and heard nothing hit the vehicle when driving. We came out one morning, and the glass piece was shattered with missing glass. There are several complaints online of Kia sunroofs and this particular glass panel spontaneously shattering. If nothing is done, we believe someone could get injured.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11515999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11517672 · 2023-04-18 (April 18, 2023)
On March 1, 2023, approximately 5 days after purchasing the vehicle, when turning the vehicle on at approximately 8:00 pm, the screen stated that "A possible condition with your Hybrid Control Unit/Low DC-DC Converter has been detected. A full system check is recommended to be done soon. Please contact your local dealership to schedule an appointment." An appointment was scheduled from the screen. The car was then driven on the freeway. Several minutes later, all systems on the vehicle died. The vehicle lost all engine power, power steering, p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11517672 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V298000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2023-04-26 (April 26, 2023)
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."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗