2014 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 71 of 122 complaints (58.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 22.1% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 13.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 71 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 14 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Engine: 71; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 19; Unknown Or Other: 14; Electrical System: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Power Train: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 70 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 7; 2019: 7; 2020: 6; 2021: 12; 2022: 43; 2023: 20; 2024: 4; 2025: 8; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10596965 · 2014-06-08 (June 8, 2014)
SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE, ON 3-15-14, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLASHING ON THE DASH PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THIS CONCERNED ME AS IT IS AN AWD, AND I WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHARED MY CONCERNS, THEY COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT, THEY DID REPORT SEEING THE LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH BUT REPORTED THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MY PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, IT STILL PULLED TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616427 · 2014-07-25 (July 25, 2014)
MY 5YEARS DAUGHTER HAVE HER WINDOW LITTLE OPEN WHEN SHE HAS HER FINGER ON THE WINDOW. I CLOSED THE WINDOW WITHOUT NOTICED THAT SHE HAS HER FINGER THERE. REALLY HURTS HER AND DIDN'T GET SO BAD BECAUSE SHE WAS FASTER IM WONDERING IF KIA DOESN'T PROVIDE A SAFETY LOCKER FOR WINDOWS PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10684333 · 2015-02-19 (February 19, 2015)
WHILE PARKED IN NEUTRAL I NOTICED THE LOW TIRE WARNING LIGHT BLINKING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES ON IT. AFTER CHECKING THE PRESSURE I DECIDED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE A SENSOR. I BROUGHT IT TO MYRTLE BEACH KIA ON HIGHWAY 501 IN S.C. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE BOARD NOT THE SENSOR IN THE TIRES AND ALL THEY COULD DO WAS RESET THE CODE. THE DEALER MANGER SAID THAT THEY HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM CORPORATE TO REPLACE THE PART. I WAS ASSURED THAT THERE WAS A RECORD OF THE PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER FOR ANY DEALER THAT I CH…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10684333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10690204 · 2015-02-24 (February 24, 2015)
MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. I HAD JUST ENTERED THE HIGHWAY (THERE WAS NO OVERPASS NEAR ME) MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. I HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A GUN SHOT AND GLASS RAINED DOWN ON ME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND DROVE IT IN. THERE WAS NO DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE. DEALERSHIP HAD TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE SUNROOF. HAD TO CLAIM ON MY INSURANCE AND PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE - ROUGHLY TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS 1200.00. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691787 · 2015-03-03 (March 3, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE 91 FREEWAY ON SATURDAY FEB 28TH THE SUNROOF BLEW OUT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT - DON'T HAVE ANY REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED NOTHING HIT THE CAR IT JUST SIMPLY BLEW OUT AND SHATTERED GLASS ALL OVER THE BACK SEATS AND THE CARS DRIVING BEHIND ME. I ALMOST VEERED INTO THE NEXT LANE AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870011 · 2016-05-20 (May 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIGN, A POLE, AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,905. ...01/04/17 *BF UPDATED 12/11/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10902014 · 2016-08-28 (August 28, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING MY LEASED 2014 KIA SPORTAGE, THERE WAS NONSTOP CONTINUOUS HESITATION "BUCKING", WITH WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE, LOSS OF SPEED THEREFORE HAVING TO PRESS HARD ON GAS PEDAL TO AVOID ACCIDENT BY TRYING PULL OFF ROAD. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAY. NO DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT DESTINATION KIA SAID MY MODEL DOES NOT COME WITH WARNING LIGHTS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN OIL PROBLEM. OIL LEVEL GOES DOWN WITH NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF LEAKING. I ONLY HAVE 24,000 ON MY KIA SPORTAGE,…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10902014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908436 · 2016-09-21 (September 21, 2016)
MY SUV IS 2YRS OLD AND THE COMPRESSOR BLEW OUT. I HAVE HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY ONE OF WEST SIDE KIA. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY KIA AMERICA MOTORS IS COVER UP WHAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10908436 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V023000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2014-01-27 (January 27, 2014)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured September 30, 2013, through January 11, 2014. The certification label has incorrect tire pressure information printed on it, listing a specification that is 1 or 2 psi below the correct information. Thus, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: Maintaining tire pressure below the recommmend specification could result in premature tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will correct the label information, and owners will also receive a sticker to put into the owners manual, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2014. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC103.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V907000 · Engine | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2018-12-19 (December 19, 2018)
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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V051000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2022-02-02 (February 2, 2022)
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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗