FaultScore

KIA Sportage equipment problems

99 of the 6,792 complaints filed about the KIA Sportage are about the equipment — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

99

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

5

Fires

Equipment & Accessories complaints by model year

1996 Sportage 3 3.0%
1997 Sportage 5 5.1%

Median failure at 119,000 miles

1998 Sportage 25 25.3%
1999 Sportage 12 12.1%

Median failure at 69,000 miles

2000 Sportage 9 9.1%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2001 Sportage 15 15.2%

Median failure at 768 miles

2002 Sportage 6 6.1%

Median failure at 85,000 miles

2006 Sportage 1 1.0%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

2014 Sportage 1 1.0%

Median failure at 105,000 miles

2017 Sportage 5 5.1%

Median failure at 96,550 miles

2018 Sportage 3 3.0%

Median failure at 186,000 miles

2019 Sportage 3 3.0%

Median failure at 57,000 miles

2020 Sportage 3 3.0%

Median failure at 2,244 miles

2021 Sportage 3 3.0%

Median failure at 35,307 miles

2022 Sportage 4 4.0%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2023 Sportage 1 1.0%

What owners said

2017 KIA Sportage at 75,000 miles Las Vegas, NV Fire 1 injured

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact's mother owned a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact's brother parked the vehicle, rolled down the window, and became aware that there was smoke coming from under the hood before the vehicle caught on fire. The contact's brother exited the vehicle and ran away from the vehicle. The contact's brother called the contact and the police about the fire. The Police, bomb squad, and firefighters arrived at the scene. The firefighters extinguished the fire. The Police, bomb squad, and fire department reports were filed. The contact's brother received medical treatment for a severe asthma attack. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, but the insurance company had not yet declared the vehicle a total loss because the vehicle only had liability coverage. Upon investigation, the contact's brother discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the contact's mother had not received a recall notification. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint #11746213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 KIA Sportage at 74,000 miles Clarksville, TN

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V703000 (Trail Hitches) and 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the recall repair requests were denied by the manufacturer. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, it failed to start as intended. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while her brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. After restarting the vehicle, there was a burning odor coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it remained, and the contact was advised that a recall warranty had expired. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the costs. In addition, the contact stated that the recall was initiated prior to owning the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA complaint #11714237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 KIA Sportage at 186,000 miles Jacksonville, FL Fire 2 injured

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to approximately 45 MPH, and the contact pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact and her daughter who was inside the vehicle was able to exit the vehicle safely. The contact stated that the fire had started under the hood of the vehicle and totally engulfed the entire vehicle. The Fire Department was contacted and arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A Fire Department report was filed. The contact and her daughter sustained smoke inhalation and sought medical assistance. The vehicle was towed and was deemed a total loss. The contact inquired about possible recalls on the vehicle and was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the vehicle had not been repaired under the recall because the contact was unaware of the recall. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.

NHTSA complaint #11660415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2021 KIA Sportage at 53,000 miles Wasola, MO Fire

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service brakes were inoperable. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and rolled before coming to a stop. The contact noticed smoke exiting from the hood compartment. The contact grabbed his five-year-old daughter out of the vehicle safely. The contact stated the vehicle was in flames. The fire department and the police department came to the scene. The fire department extinguished the fire. No police or fire reports were filed. No injuries were sustained. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

NHTSA complaint #11567595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 KIA Sportage Rincon, GA

TRAILER HITCHES

Kia had come out with a recall immediately after purchasing and installing our tow hitch on our 2022 Kia Sportage. It has been almost 18 months with no remedy. I've taken it to the dealer multiple times and called Kia themselves both say they can't do anything. Every single aftermarket tow hitch is completely safe to use other than the Kia branded one. I paid almost $700 to get a tow hitch installed at 14k miles and now nearing 40k miles and haven't used it a single time. I have been running in circles trying to get any information. They say it's a short circuit but why they haven't adopted the method all other aftermarket parts have that have no issues makes zero sense after all this time.

NHTSA complaint #11557755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sportage at 118,101 miles Oakland, CA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was a knocking and ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle continued driving but then stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. An anti-theft device was installed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was able to restart the vehicle with a pair of pliers. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 118,101.

NHTSA complaint #11543182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 KIA Sportage at 40,000 miles South Holland, IL

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an unusual ticking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with tow hitch wiring harness deficiency. The contact was informed that the tow hitch wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had received an interim recall notification in November 2022. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) in July 2023. The contact stated that the vehicle was stolen in April 2023 for a short while. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer offered to cover half the cost of the repair. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11542854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 KIA Sportage at 20,000 miles Oviedo, FL

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle shuddered. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11536006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 KIA Sportage Huntsville, AL

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11522526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 KIA Sportage Placerville, CA

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11521437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2021 KIA Sportage Cynthiana, KY

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint #11520948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 KIA Sportage at 400 miles Latrobe, PA

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds and turning, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that after an hour, the steering wheel was unlocked. There were no warning lights illuminated. While taking the vehicle to the local dealer, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle drove over the curb. The contact was unsure of the diagnostic result or the repair. Additionally, while driving, a passenger noticed wires hanging from the tow hitch. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 400.

NHTSA complaint #11518819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sportage Parker, CO

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11518224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 KIA Sportage at 105,000 miles Palm Bay, FL

EQUIPMENT

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that there were no failures with the tires. The vehicle was taken to various independent mechanics where it showed that the front and rear passenger’s side tires had low air pressure and needed to be inflated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V023000 (Equipment); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA complaint #11514385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 KIA Sportage at 4,088 miles Lake City, CO

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11512157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 KIA Sportage Caldwell, ID

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the issue however, no timeframe for part availability was available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was concerned that he had to park the vehicle outside after hearing reports of vehicles being stolen using a USB cord. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11504959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sportage Plainville, CT

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11501054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 KIA Sportage Georgetown, TX

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11498687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 KIA Sportage Miami, FL

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11498016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2022 KIA Sportage Longport, NJ

TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11496308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other KIA Sportage problems