SUV · model years 2020-2024 · NHTSA recalls, complaints & NCAP ratings
Across model years 2020-2024, the Kia Sportage has
10 NHTSA recall campaigns on
record (a high number of recall campaigns for these model years) — most often the trailer hitches system,
plus 478 owner complaints and a NCAP overall rating of about 5/5 stars.
This is the model's recall history, not your car's status — the only way to know if a recall
is still open on your vehicle is to
check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Verify with your VIN. Recalls are issued continuously and tie to your exact vehicle.
Confirm open recalls for your Kia Sportage at
nhtsa.gov/recalls — or use our
VIN check helper. Data as of June 2026.
The most recent recall campaigns on record for 2020-2024. The remedy (repair) is free at a franchised Kia dealer; quote the campaign number.
TRAILER HITCHES · NHTSA #25V874000 · filed 2025-12-17 · model year 2024
Summary: 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.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · NHTSA #24V422000 · filed 2024-06-07 · model year 2024
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2024 Kia Sportage vehicles. The circuit board in the motor-driven power steering assembly may short circuit, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 19, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC319.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS · NHTSA #24V025000 · filed 2024-01-18 · model years 2023, 2024
Summary: 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 · NHTSA #23V531000 · filed 2023-07-31 · model year 2023
Park Outside
Summary: 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 · NHTSA #23V410000 · filed 2023-06-07 · model year 2023
Summary: 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 · NHTSA #23V298000 · filed 2023-04-26 · model year 2023
Summary: 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 · NHTSA #22V878000 · filed 2022-11-28 · model year 2023
Summary: 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.
TRAILER HITCHES · NHTSA #22V703000 · filed 2022-09-19 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Park Outside
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Consequence: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · NHTSA #22V651000 · filed 2022-08-29 · model year 2023
Summary: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE · NHTSA #21V137000 · filed 2021-03-04 · model years 2020, 2021
Park Outside
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA, not confirmed defects. Newer model years often have fewer simply because fewer are on the road and less time has passed.
NCAP stars are federal crash-test results. A blank means that test was not separately published; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not crash-test that configuration.
How the Kia Sportage compares
Similar suvs by recall-campaign count:
Kia Sportage and peer vehicles. Source: NHTSA, model years 2020-2024.
Vehicle
Recall campaigns
Complaints
Kia Sportage (this vehicle)
10
478
Kia Sorento
10
447
Volkswagen Tiguan
10
598
Toyota RAV4
11
1,411
Honda CR-V
11
1,702
Chevrolet Equinox
11
656
Frequently asked questions
Does the Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Across model years 2020-2024, the Kia Sportage has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns on record, most often involving the trailer hitches system. This is a recall history, not your car's status. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if any recall is still open on your specific Kia Sportage.
How do I check if my Kia Sportage is under recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN at the free NHTSA recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls). It shows any unrepaired safety recall on that exact Kia Sportage. The repair, called the remedy, is free at a franchised Kia dealer.
How many complaints does the Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA has 478 owner complaints on file for the Kia Sportage across 2020-2024, of which 51 mention a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, useful as a signal of possible issues, not confirmed defects.
What is the Kia Sportage crash-test rating?
The Kia Sportage has a NHTSA NCAP overall safety rating of about 5 out of 5 stars across the tested model years in 2020-2024. See the year-by-year frontal, side and rollover stars on this page.
Recalls, complaints and crash-test ratings: NHTSA
(model years 2020-2024), US public domain, captured June 2026. This is a dated snapshot of a
model's history and can lag NHTSA. It is not your vehicle's recall status and is not safety advice —
always verify open recalls with your VIN at
nhtsa.gov/recalls. See the
methodology and disclaimer.