The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 88 of 313 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 47 in 2022 to 313 in 2023.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 313
- Recall campaigns
- 7
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,450–$2,500
- Combined MPG
- 25–43
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,950 | 2,400–2,950 | 1,450–2,500 | 1,450–2,500 | 1,450–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 21–26 | 21–26 | 25–43 | 25–43 | 25–43 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–23 / 24–30 | 19–23 / 24–30 | 23–42 / 28–44 | 23–42 / 26–44 | 23–42 / 27–44 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 349–421 | 350–421 | 206–357 | 206–363 | 206–361 | |
| Complaints filed | 54 | 47 | 313 | 110 | 76 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 6 | 28 | 11 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sportage have?
7 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Kia Sportage?
Electrical: 88 of 313 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates it 25–43 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Kia Sportage?
EPA estimates $1,450–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 322 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 23 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 357 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 38 mpg | 38 mpg | 38 mpg | $1,650 | 233 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 42 mpg (high) | 44 mpg (high) | 43 mpg (high) | $1,450 (low) | 206 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 36 mpg | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | $1,800 | 96 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 70 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 39 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 28 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 88 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 48 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 15 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 76 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 20 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Other | 73 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (7)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Consequence
- 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.
- Consequence
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
- Consequence
- An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC275.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.
- Consequence
- A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the brake booster as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC272.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
- Consequence
- A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.
- Consequence
- A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC257.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
- Defect
- Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.
- Consequence
- An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the alternator battery positive terminal nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC248.