2023 Kia SPORTAGE PHEV
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2023 Kia SPORTAGE PHEV has 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 17. The most common issue is driver assist/cameras problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: the rear collision avoidance can not be disabled permanently. this becomes an issue when backing up while towing, or with a bike rack equipped, as the vehicle will slam on the brakes every time the driver reverses, impairing the driver's ability to quickly maneuver the vehicle in case of an emergenc. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year.
25
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
4 complaints- • the rear collision avoidance can not be disabled permanently. This becomes an issue when backing up while towing, or with a bike rack equipped, as the vehicle will slam on the brakes every time the driver reverses, impairing the driver's ability to quickly maneuver the vehicle in case of an emergenc
- • At approximately 5:05pm today (6/4) as I was leaving a parking lot, I was reversing into the parking lot. The van directly opposite me also had their reverse lights on but was not moving. It was one of those whos-going-to-go-first situations. I had proximity warnings going off because of the cars pa
- • At approximately 5:05pm today (6/4) as I was leaving a parking lot, I was reversing into the parking lot. The van directly opposite me also had their reverse lights on but was not moving. It was one of those whos-going-to-go-first situations. I had proximity warnings going off because of the cars pa
“the rear collision avoidance can not be disabled permanently. This becomes an issue when backing up while towing, or with a bike rack equipped, as the vehicle will slam on the brakes every time the driver reverses, impairing the driver's ability to quickly maneuver the vehicle in case of an emergenc”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Recalls (2)
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."
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.
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.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2023 Kia SPORTAGE PHEV
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Kia SPORTAGE PHEV Service Intervals
Turbo engines (Optima 2.0T, Sorento 2.5T) may benefit from more frequent oil changes.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Kia New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
10 year powertrain not transferable to subsequent owners
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 25 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: the rear collision avoidance can not be disabled permanently. This becomes an issue when backing up while towing, or with a bike rack equipped, as the vehicle will slam on the brakes every time the driver reverses, impairing the driver's ability to quickly maneuver the vehicle in case of an emergenc
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being charged, the battery failed to fully charge. The contact stated that the vehicle was only able to drive for 29 miles after being charged. The contact then stated that on multiple occasions while attempting
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I was driving to work recently on a smooth road. I was not near overpasses or other surroundings that would cause debris. Suddenly out of nowhere my glass sunroof spontaneously shattered, sounding like a gunshot went off. The dealer said this was from a rock but there is no way this could have occur
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: I have experienced a dangerous bug where cruise control shoots immediately to 110mph. I have experienced three incidents in the last 15 months. Too busy trying to disengage the accelerating vehicle to get a video, but many others have documented this bug: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Kia dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SPORTAGE PHEV — Year Comparison
How does 2023 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 25
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 17
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2023 Kia SPORTAGE PHEV