Recalled components: powertrain, trailer hitch, body structure, brakes, and 2 more. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (40 complaints, 13%). Most-reported area: electrical system (88 complaints, 28%).
One of the Sportage years to avoid
The 2023 drew 244 owner complaints in its first three years, against 36 for a typical Sportage year: 6.7 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2017 and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SPORTAGE. Kia campaign SC275.
Trailer hitch
Dec 17, 2025
Fails federal standard 101 (controls and displays)
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."
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles.
The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SPORTAGE. Kia campaign SC272.
Electrical system
Apr 26, 2023
instrument cluster/panel
Fails federal standard 101 (controls and displays)
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."
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA listings: SPORTAGE, SPORTAGE HYBRID, SPORTAGE PHEV. Kia campaign SC270.
The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.
Risk: A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles.
NHTSA listing: SPORTAGE. Kia campaign SC248.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia Sportage.
What owners report
Owners have filed 313 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Sportage. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Most named: warnings (22); automatic emergency braking (18)
Fuel and propulsion system23 · 7%
Unknown or other71 · 23%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Kia Sportage recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2023 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 Sportage drew the most (244).
Owner complaints
2023: 313 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Sportage
Model year
Complaints
2010
20
2011
181
2012
392
2013
381
2014
125
2015
146
2016
134
2017
404
2018
166
2019
71
2020
169
2021
54
2022
47
2023
313
2024
110
2025
76
2026
44
Safety recalls
2023: 7 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Sportage
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
6
2012
5
2013
3
2014
3
2015
2
2016
2
2017
4
2018
3
2019
2
2020
2
2021
2
2022
1
2023
7
2024
3
2025
1
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 313 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Kia Sportage, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (40), hybrid system warnings (31), and loss of power or limp mode (26). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2023 Kia Sportage safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2023 Kia Sportage earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2023 Kia Sportage?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Kia Sportage.
How do I check if my Sportage has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: SPORTAGE, SPORTAGE HYBRID, SPORTAGE PHEV.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.