Kia SPORTAGE — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2017 Kia SPORTAGE
549 complaints (686% of segment average)
Main issue: 2017 KIA SPORTAGE. DRIVER REMOTE STARTS VEHICLE, UNLOCKS VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY SHIFTS FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR, WITHOUT PUSHING START/STOP BUTTON, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. ANTI-THEFT PROGRAMMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE 10 SECONDS AFTER UNLOCKING DOOR
2012 Kia SPORTAGE
451 complaints (564% of segment average)
Main issue: I PULLED A TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS DATE. THE TRUCK ONLY MADE IT 10 MILES, AND LOST ALL POWER, AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF OF THE FREEWAY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW APART. ALL THEY DID WAS CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON JULY 13TH, I TO
2013 Kia SPORTAGE
449 complaints (561% of segment average)
Main issue: WE EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS PERSISTED EVER SINCE DESPITE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT KIA DEALERSHIPS (22AUG2012, 07JAN2013, 30JAN2013). BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT (OCCURRING ON
2023 Kia SPORTAGE
300 complaints (375% of segment average)
Main issue: For the two months I have had my car I have had problems with indicators going off on my dashboard warning to check various parts of the driver’s assistance system. I took it to the dealership three times and was told they cannot help because when they had the car for three days they didn’t have any
2011 Kia SPORTAGE
264 complaints (330% of segment average)
Main issue: ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND NO POWER WHEN YOU APPLY GAS PEDAL. DEALER PULLED CODES FOR OB2 AND FOUND P2562 TURBO BOOT CONTROL/POSITION SENSOR. REST BOTH ADPAT VALUES. AFTER RESTING AND REBOOTING ECM DRIVERS WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP. ASKED DEALER IF CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVER. DEALER STATED YES AND SAID T
2018 Kia SPORTAGE
221 complaints (276% of segment average)
Main issue: I PICKED UP A BRAND NEW KIA SPORTAGE SX TURBO AWD WITH 34 MILES ON IT TODAY. IT WAS DRIVING KIND OF HESITANTLY, SEEMING LIKE IT WAS MISFIRING. ABOUT 30 MILES LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. THEY ADVIS
2020 Kia SPORTAGE
197 complaints (246% of segment average)
Main issue: KIA SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME MY CAR IS SUBJECT TO A "PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM" WHICH REQUIRES A PROGRAM UPDATE TO MY CARS ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THIS IS BECAUSE MY ENGINE MAY EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC BEARING FAILURE POSSIBLY DESTROYING THE ENGINE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE A REC
2015 Kia SPORTAGE
193 complaints (241% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2016 Kia SPORTAGE
182 complaints (228% of segment average)
Main issue: MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2016 KIA SPORTAGE THAT WE HAD BOUGHT ON 05/23/2018 (JUST MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT THE DAY BEFORE) TO MYRTLE BEACH SC, WE HEARD A POP, I LOST FUNCTION TO THE GAS, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND FIRE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WE GRABBED
2014 Kia SPORTAGE
154 complaints (193% of segment average)
Main issue: WHILE DRIVING MY LEASED 2014 KIA SPORTAGE, THERE WAS NONSTOP CONTINUOUS HESITATION "BUCKING", WITH WHITE SMOKE BLOWING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE, LOSS OF SPEED THEREFORE HAVING TO PRESS HARD ON GAS PEDAL TO AVOID ACCIDENT BY TRYING PULL OFF ROAD. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAY. NO DASHBOARD LI
2019 Kia SPORTAGE
99 complaints (124% of segment average)
Main issue: PURCHASED CAR ON JULY 28 2019 FROM HOLLYWOOD KIA. TOOK IT TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER ON NOVEMBER 26 FOR COMPLIMENTARY OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. ON DECEMBER 5 ON THE I-75 EXPRESSWAY GOT AN ALARM SOUND AND SIGN THAT THE "ENGINE HAS OVERHEATED". MANAGED TO GET HOME, NEXT DAY WAITED ALL DAY FOR TOWING COMPANY