Kia Sportage problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Sportage from 1995 to 2026: 4,701 owner complaints and 77 recalls across 31 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2017 (401), 2012 (392), 2013 (381). Best fuel economy: 28 mpg combined (2026).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 | 56 | 19 | |
| 1996 | 3 | 57 | 19 | |
| 1997 | 3 | 181 | 19 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 303 | 19 | |
| 1999 | 3 | 284 | 19 | |
| 2000 | 2 | 304 | 19 | |
| 2001 | 0 | 228 | 19 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 234 | 19 | |
| 2003 | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 2005 | 3 | 68 | 22 | |
| 2006 | 1 | 111 | 22 | |
| 2007 | 2 | 77 | 22 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 98 | 22 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 80 | 22 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 20 | 22 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 181 | 25 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 392 | 25 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 381 | 25 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 123 | 23 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 146 | 23 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 133 | 23 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 401 | 25 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 164 | 25 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 70 | 25 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 161 | 26 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 54 | 26 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 46 | 26 | |
| 2023 | 6 | 192 | 28 | |
| 2024 | 3 | 73 | 28 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 52 | 28 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 27 | 28 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Kia Sportage.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Kia Sportage?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2017 (401), 2012 (392), 2013 (381).
How many recalls has the Kia Sportage had?
Across 1995–2026, NHTSA lists 77 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).