Car Defect Radar

Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage, with the 17 model years both have (2010–2026) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Hyundai Tucson

Years to avoid
20162017
Fewest complaints
201020112021

The typical Hyundai Tucson year has 226 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

Kia Sportage

Years to avoid
201220132017
Fewest complaints
201920212022

The typical Kia Sportage year has 131 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 17 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Hyundai Tucson

7.2× its typical year in 2016, its worst year

1,617 complaints against a typical year of 226.

Years to avoid: 2016, 2017. Fewest complaints: 2010, 2011, 2021.

Kia Sportage

3.0× its typical year in 2017, its worst year

399 complaints against a typical year of 131.

Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2017. Fewest complaints: 2019, 2021, 2022.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Hyundai Tucson2 years to avoid · typical year 226avoid zone: 452+05001,0001,5002,0002010Hyundai Tucson 2010: 58 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints58fewest2011Hyundai Tucson 2011: 124 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints124fewest2012Hyundai Tucson 2012: 255 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2013Hyundai Tucson 2013: 266 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2014Hyundai Tucson 2014: 201 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2015Hyundai Tucson 2015: 226 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2016Hyundai Tucson 2016: 1,617 complaints, 7.2× its typical year, a year to avoid1,617avoid2017Hyundai Tucson 2017: 1,084 complaints, 4.8× its typical year, a year to avoid1,084avoid2018Hyundai Tucson 2018: 395 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2019Hyundai Tucson 2019: 379 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2020Hyundai Tucson 2020: 176 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2021Hyundai Tucson 2021: 78 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints78fewest2022Hyundai Tucson 2022: 381 complaints, 1.7× its typical year2023Hyundai Tucson 2023: 133 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2024Hyundai Tucson 2024: 96 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2025Hyundai Tucson 2025: 280 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2026Hyundai Tucson 2026: 61 complaints, 0.3× its typical yearHyundai Tucsonavoid zone: 452+typical 2262026Hyundai Tucson 2026: 61 complaints, 0.3× its typical year612025Hyundai Tucson 2025: 280 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2802024Hyundai Tucson 2024: 96 complaints, 0.4× its typical year962023Hyundai Tucson 2023: 133 complaints, 0.6× its typical year1332022Hyundai Tucson 2022: 381 complaints, 1.7× its typical year3812021Hyundai Tucson 2021: 78 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints78fewest2020Hyundai Tucson 2020: 176 complaints, 0.8× its typical year1762019Hyundai Tucson 2019: 379 complaints, 1.7× its typical year3792018Hyundai Tucson 2018: 395 complaints, 1.7× its typical year3952017Hyundai Tucson 2017: 1,084 complaints, 4.8× its typical year, a year to avoid1,084avoid2016Hyundai Tucson 2016: 1,617 complaints, 7.2× its typical year, a year to avoid1,617avoid2015Hyundai Tucson 2015: 226 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2262014Hyundai Tucson 2014: 201 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2012013Hyundai Tucson 2013: 266 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2662012Hyundai Tucson 2012: 255 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2552011Hyundai Tucson 2011: 124 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints124fewest2010Hyundai Tucson 2010: 58 complaints, 0.3× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints58fewest
Kia Sportage3 years to avoid · typical year 131avoid zone: 262+01002003004002010Kia Sportage 2010: 20 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2011Kia Sportage 2011: 181 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2012Kia Sportage 2012: 392 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid392avoid2013Kia Sportage 2013: 381 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid381avoid2014Kia Sportage 2014: 122 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2015Kia Sportage 2015: 146 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2016Kia Sportage 2016: 131 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2017Kia Sportage 2017: 399 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid399avoid2018Kia Sportage 2018: 164 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2019Kia Sportage 2019: 70 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints70fewest2020Kia Sportage 2020: 160 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2021Kia Sportage 2021: 51 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints51fewest2022Kia Sportage 2022: 46 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints46fewest2023Kia Sportage 2023: 191 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2024Kia Sportage 2024: 69 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2025Kia Sportage 2025: 51 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2026Kia Sportage 2026: 27 complaints, 0.2× its typical yearKia Sportageavoid zone: 262+typical 1312026Kia Sportage 2026: 27 complaints, 0.2× its typical year272025Kia Sportage 2025: 51 complaints, 0.4× its typical year512024Kia Sportage 2024: 69 complaints, 0.5× its typical year692023Kia Sportage 2023: 191 complaints, 1.5× its typical year1912022Kia Sportage 2022: 46 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints46fewest2021Kia Sportage 2021: 51 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints51fewest2020Kia Sportage 2020: 160 complaints, 1.2× its typical year1602019Kia Sportage 2019: 70 complaints, 0.5× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints70fewest2018Kia Sportage 2018: 164 complaints, 1.3× its typical year1642017Kia Sportage 2017: 399 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid399avoid2016Kia Sportage 2016: 131 complaints, 1.0× its typical year1312015Kia Sportage 2015: 146 complaints, 1.1× its typical year1462014Kia Sportage 2014: 122 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1222013Kia Sportage 2013: 381 complaints, 2.9× its typical year, a year to avoid381avoid2012Kia Sportage 2012: 392 complaints, 3.0× its typical year, a year to avoid392avoid2011Kia Sportage 2011: 181 complaints, 1.4× its typical year1812010Kia Sportage 2010: 20 complaints, 0.2× its typical year20
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearHyundai TucsonKia Sportage
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
2026610.3×5Some concerns to check270.2×1Few red flags
20252801.2×6Some concerns to check510.4×1Few red flags
2024960.4×4Some concerns to check690.5×3Few red flags
20231330.6×2Few red flags1911.5×6Some concerns to check
20223811.7×3Some concerns to check460.4×1Few red flags
2021780.3×1Few red flags510.4×2Few red flags
20201760.8×1Few red flags1601.2×2Some concerns to check
20193791.7×1Some concerns to check700.5×2Few red flags
20183951.7×1Some concerns to check1641.3×3Some concerns to check
20171,0844.8×3Approach with caution3993.0×4Approach with caution
20161,6177.2×5Approach with caution1311.0×2Few red flags
20152261.0×1Few red flags1461.1×2Some concerns to check
20142010.9×2Few red flags1220.9×3Few red flags
20132661.2×3Some concerns to check3812.9×3Approach with caution
20122551.1×3Some concerns to check3923.0×5Approach with caution
20111240.5×5Few red flags1811.4×6Few red flags
2010580.3×4Few red flags200.2×2Some concerns to check

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearHyundai TucsonKia Sportage
2026Forward collision avoidance systemElectrical system
2025Forward collision avoidance systemElectrical system
2024Forward collision avoidance systemElectrical system
2023Forward collision avoidance systemElectrical system
2022Fuel systemEngine
2021EngineEngine
2020EngineEngine
2019EngineEngine
2018EngineEngine
2017EngineEngine
2016Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2015EngineEngine
2014EngineEngine
2013EngineEngine
2012EngineEngine
2011EngineEngine
2010Transmission and drivetrainBrakes

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Hyundai Tucson

Kia Sportage

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show