2015 Kia SPORTAGE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Kia SPORTAGE has 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 kia sportage. while driving at an unknown speed, all the lights illuminated on the instrument panel. the vehicle lost power steering and braking ability. the odometer also failed to illuminate. the contact observed smoke under the hood and flames appeared. a police repor. ⚠️ 21 fire reports filed.
193
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
85 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
- • WHILE ENTERING THE 290 FROM DOWNTOWN CHICAGO DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES AN HOUR WE FELT A PULSE AND THEN AN AUDIBLE VOICE CAME OVER OUR RADIO WITH A DISPLAY ILLUMINATING AS WELL STATING THAT THERE WAS A "POSSIBLE CONDITION WITH OUR ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DETECTED AND THAT WE SHOULD SCHEDULE A FUL
- • I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STALLING WHEN I PRESS THE GAS I CAN START TO GO AND THEN COME TO A DEAD STOP AND NOT MOVE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING ON A MAIN HWY AND HAS HAPPENED JUST DRIVEING DOWN THE ROAD... IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING BUT I WAS T
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
31 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
- • The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from the engine compartm
- • The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V051000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
27 complaints- • I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STALLING WHEN I PRESS THE GAS I CAN START TO GO AND THEN COME TO A DEAD STOP AND NOT MOVE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING ON A MAIN HWY AND HAS HAPPENED JUST DRIVEING DOWN THE ROAD... IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING BUT I WAS T
- • I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE GAS BUBBLING UP AFTER THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AND IT HAS SPRAYED OUT AND ON ME AND DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID TO USE ANOTHER GAS STATION. THE CAR IS STATIONARY, THE PUMP AND STATIONS HAVE NO
- • CPSC:I HAD A TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED ON MY 2015 KIA SPORTAGE., I WAS EXISTING THE CASTLE ROCK MOTEL IN FRIENDSHIP, WI WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHERE MY 1 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CAR SEAT. ONE OF THE HOTEL EMPLOYEES SAW ME STRUGGLE TO GET HIM OUT OF THE
“I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STALLING WHEN I PRESS THE GAS I CAN START TO GO AND THEN COME TO A DEAD STOP AND NOT MOVE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING ON A MAIN HWY AND HAS HAPPENED JUST DRIVEING DOWN THE ROAD... IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING BUT I WAS T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
17 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
- • CPSC:I HAD A TRAILER HITCH INSTALLED ON MY 2015 KIA SPORTAGE., I WAS EXISTING THE CASTLE ROCK MOTEL IN FRIENDSHIP, WI WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ERUPTED IN THE BACK OF THE CAR WHERE MY 1 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS STRAPPED INTO THE CAR SEAT. ONE OF THE HOTEL EMPLOYEES SAW ME STRUGGLE TO GET HIM OUT OF THE
- • DROVE VEHICLE APPROX 10 MINUTES SMELLED A BURNING SMELL, THOUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN NEXT LANE, ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT LIGHT, I NOTICED THE HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE, I EXITED VEHICLE AND JUST 1-2 MINUTES ENGINE WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
7 complaints- • I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO KIA ON THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL TWICE AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES ONCE. I HAVE GAS THAT BUBBLES UP AND OUT OF THE GAS TANK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY,
- • I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT WAS CHECKED BY MY LOCAL AUTO ZONE WITH A CODE INVOLVING A SLOW LEAK. THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS ON RECALL FOR THESE KINDS OF VEHICLES SINCE JANUARY 2019. IT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH THE SAME RECALL I HAD DONE BEFORE AS STATED AS PART OF THE RECENT RECALL.
- • Constantly have to fill the engine with oil about once or twice a month .
“I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO KIA ON THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL TWICE AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICES ONCE. I HAVE GAS THAT BUBBLES UP AND OUT OF THE GAS TANK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY, ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 193 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STALLING WHEN I PRESS THE GAS I CAN START TO GO AND THEN COME TO A DEAD STOP AND NOT MOVE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN PULLING ON A MAIN HWY AND HAS HAPPENED JUST DRIVEING DOWN THE ROAD... IT STALLS AND FEELS LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING THIS IS AN EVERYDAY THING BUT I WAS T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia SPORTAGE — Year Comparison
How does 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 193
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 21
- Crash reports
- 6
- Injury reports
- 5
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Kia SPORTAGE