Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 3 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

3 total · 3 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 25V874000 · Dec 2025

An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Steering recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V422000 · Jun 2024

A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 19, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC319.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Structure recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 24V025000 · Jan 2024

A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect the roof molding and replace or secure it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC292.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

69 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
11

Most reports here involve sudden stalling. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

sudden stalling 8unintended acceleration 2software faults 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, or while the vehicle was parked, the engine intermittently hesitated and the vehicle almost shut…
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The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, or while the vehicle was parked, the engine intermittently hesitated and the vehicle almost shut off. The contact stated that the START/STOP button was depressed to shut off the vehicle; however, the button became inoperable. The vehicle was turned off and restarted to resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 18,700.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11744708 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
12

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 7sudden stalling 2
A recent report: While driving the vehicle and selecting EV only mode the engine RPMs surge to about 3000. This happens frequently and I have it on Video. Kia has had the car multiple times for electrical may…
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While driving the vehicle and selecting EV only mode the engine RPMs surge to about 3000. This happens frequently and I have it on Video. Kia has had the car multiple times for electrical may electrical related repairs but say the vehicle is normal. The tech line person even had the dealer drive a similar car for a baseline. I would expect they had a baseline prior to manufacturing the car. This is an ongoing unrepaired issue. Date below is first reported date of electrical concerns.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11708265 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
9

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

premature wear 5software faults 2loss of braking 1
A recent report: I am reporting a concern regarding the Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking systems on my 2024 Kia Sportage SX Prestige. I have been attempting to understand the operating…
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I am reporting a concern regarding the Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking systems on my 2024 Kia Sportage SX Prestige. I have been attempting to understand the operating behavior of the vehicle’s FCA system using cardboard boxes as targets. I conducted observations at very low speeds (approximately 5 mph) as well as at approximately 30 mph. During these observations, the vehicle did not provide a forward collision warning or automatic braking at distances at which I expected the system to recognize a potential collision. I have not intentionally caused a collision or placed a person or another vehicle in danger. I am uncertain whether this behavior represents normal FCA operating limitations, the use of an inappropriate target, or a malfunction or calibration issue. I am therefore reporting the concern rather than asserting that a defect has been established. I am also uncertain what diagnostic or functional validation procedure Kia provides for this system. I have been able to find information regarding radar alignment, camera calibration, and diagnostic fault checking, but I have not been able to determine whether Kia provides dealers with a standardized functional test that verifies that FCW/AEB actually recognizes an appropriate vehicle target and intervenes at the expected point. The concern has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not yet been subjected to a standardized ADAS functional test using a recognized vehicle target. No warning lamps or diagnostic messages have appeared that I am aware of. The potentially affected components are Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking within the vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance System. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11758974 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 5 mention an injury.

loss of steering 3software faults 1
A recent report: On Tuesday, July 14th I started my vehicle around 6:30 am and started to drive. Once I was driving, I had multiple warning lights on my dash showing and my power steering failed on me. I stopped the…
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On Tuesday, July 14th I started my vehicle around 6:30 am and started to drive. Once I was driving, I had multiple warning lights on my dash showing and my power steering failed on me. I stopped the vehicle, put it in park and turned it off. I restarted the car and still had the various warning lights and no power steering. The car was driving fine with no warning lights at 4:50 am that morning and again at 6:15 am that morning. I managed to drive the 2 miles home at a low rate of speed with no power steering since there were not many cars out. I called the Kia dealership and contacted a tow truck to take the vehicle in. The tow truck driver saw the warning lights as well and had to maneuver the car with no power steering onto his truck. Once Kia did the initial inspection, they said there were no warning lights and the power steering worked. They were going to conduct a more thorough inspection on Friday to see what the issue was. I called end of day Friday and was told they would need more time to inspect since they could not find any issues with the car. The know the warning light had shown up but if they could not recreate the issue then the car would not be looked at further. This is the 3rd issue with this vehicle that the dealer could not recreate. I've had the vehicle stall on me at a light when I was stopped or at a stop sign as well as not accelerate when I was at a high rate of speed in an emergency situation. This issue puts me and my family at risk if I were to be driving during a busy period or on a highway. My car is only 2 years old and has under 32k miles, I drive it frequently to visit family 4 hours away. I am to pick up my car from the Kia dealer and I am scared to drive this car. I feel it's a deathtrap and an accident waiting to happen. Kia said I can always trade it in for a new car, but no thank you.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11751657 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 2 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 4
A recent report: The SRS/airbag warning light illuminates and flashes, accompanied by a seat belt warning chime while the driver seat belt is fastened. I scanned the SRS module and retrieved DTC B1511-00 (Driver Seat…
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The SRS/airbag warning light illuminates and flashes, accompanied by a seat belt warning chime while the driver seat belt is fastened. I scanned the SRS module and retrieved DTC B1511-00 (Driver Seat Belt Buckle Switch Open Or Short To Battery) and B1515-00 (Driver Seat Belt Buckle Switch Defect), logged across two events. I purchased this vehicle used from a franchised dealer. I took it to that same dealer for diagnosis. Their technician found that the wiring harness under the driver seat had been cut and twisted back together. That splice was present before I purchased the vehicle. The dealership inspected and resold the vehicle to me in that condition and did not disclose any prior repair or modification to the restraint system wiring. As a result, the driver airbag and seat belt pretensioner may not deploy correctly in a crash. The dealer has denied warranty coverage on the basis of tampering and quoted over $2,000 for the part. The removed harness is in the dealer's possession and should be available for inspection.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764829 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
26

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: I’ve had to replace my front windshield twice every year due to it cracking straight down the middle.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752458 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
3

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 2
A recent report: Forward collision warning systems check error light hard braking occurred and scared the pee out of me. Camera blockage obstruction error

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11725384 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 69 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2023 and 2026, roughly 24 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2024 has 69 complaints on file, fewer than the 2023 (191) and more than the 2025 (51). Of the 17 model years of the Kia Sportage we cover, the 2017 has the most (399). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.