11 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Kia America is recalling certain Sportage and Sportage PHEV vehicles equipped with a 4.2-inch instrument screen and a genuine Kia tow hitch wiring harness accessory. In these vehicles, a software error can cause the instrument panel screen to stop working properly. When that happens, the driver may not be able to see important safety information on the screen, such as the speedometer or warning lights.
On certain Sportage vehicles, the circuit board in the power steering assembly may short circuit. If this happens, the vehicle can lose power steering assist. Losing power steering assist increases the risk of a crash.
The molding along the roof of these vehicles may come loose and fall off while driving. A piece of molding that detaches on the road can become a hazard for other drivers. Dealers will inspect the roof molding and either secure it or replace it, at no cost to owners.
Kia is recalling certain Seltos, Soul, and Sportage vehicles equipped with an Idle Stop and Go system. The electronic controller for this system's oil pump may have damaged electrical components inside it. This damage can cause the oil pump to overheat, which increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
On certain Sportage vehicles, the brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned, which can cause an internal vacuum leak. This leak can result in a loss of power brake assist, which can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
These Kia vehicles have a digital instrument cluster with a small screen instead of traditional gauges. When the vehicle starts, this screen may fail to show any information at all. That means the driver cannot see tire pressure readings, warning messages, or warning lights. Kia dealers will update the instrument cluster software at no charge. Owner letters were mailed May 26, 2023.
In certain 2023 Kia Sportage vehicles, the side curtain air bags may have been installed twisted instead of lying flat. An air bag that is twisted may not open the way it's supposed to in a crash. If it deploys improperly, it may not protect occupants as intended, which can raise the risk of injury.
Certain Kia Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, and Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch wiring harness, either installed at the factory or added later through a Kia dealership, may allow debris and moisture to build up on a circuit board inside the harness module. This buildup can cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
On some Sportage SUVs, the nut that holds the positive battery cable to the alternator — the part that charges the battery while you drive — may loosen. If it loosens enough, it can cause the engine to stall while you are driving, or it can cause an electrical surge in the vehicle's wiring. Both problems trace back to that same loose connection.
Some Kia Cadenza and Sportage vehicles have an electrical circuit in the brake control unit that may short-circuit. This short can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
Kia is recalling certain vehicles that previously had an engine replaced under an earlier recall, warranty work, or a related product improvement campaign. During that replacement, the high pressure fuel pipe connected to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned, or improperly tightened, which can cause a fuel leak. Dealers will inspect the fuel pipe and replace it if necessary to fix the problem.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 163 | 7 | 12 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 70 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 160 | 11 | 12 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 195 | 24 | 1 | 14 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls covering the 2018–2025 Kia Sportage. 9 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Kia Sportage Instrument Panel Screen May Fail" (NHTSA campaign 25V874000), reported Dec 17, 2025.
The 2023 Kia Sportage has the most, with 6 recalls. The 2022 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 1. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
Yes. 3 Kia Sportage recalls carry a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA: Kia Seltos, Soul, Sportage: Oil Pump Fire Risk (23V531000); Kia Sorento and Sportage Tow Hitch Fire Risk (22V703000); Kia Cadenza, Sportage Brake Module Fire Risk (21V137000). These apply only to the affected vehicles, so check your VIN.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Kia dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: