← New search

2010 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Sportage years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2018
Seat Belts

I FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE KIA CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE SEAT BELT AS A COURTESY BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY LABOR, DEALER SAID A MOUSE CHEWED IT, I HAD 2 PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND IT IS FRAYED, ONLY ONE, NO OTHER SEAT BELT, COAT, TOWELS, WALMART TOTES NOTHING NOT EVEN THE PAPERS THAT CAME WITH CAR AND I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT DR…

Read full complaint

I FILED A COMPLAINT BEFORE KIA CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE SEAT BELT AS A COURTESY BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY LABOR, DEALER SAID A MOUSE CHEWED IT, I HAD 2 PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND IT IS FRAYED, ONLY ONE, NO OTHER SEAT BELT, COAT, TOWELS, WALMART TOTES NOTHING NOT EVEN THE PAPERS THAT CAME WITH CAR AND I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES IT EXCEPT FOR DEALERSHIP MECHANICS. I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS THEIR FAULT. I FILED IN SEPTEMBER, AND THEY JUST CALLED A WEEK AGO AND TODAY, IF YOU CAN'T HELP ME I WILL TAKE THE MATTER TO THE STATE POLICE FOR THE SEATBELT FRAYED IS RIGHT ACROSS MY CHEST . NOTHING HAPPENED YET BUT IF I AM IN A ACCIDENT I WILL BE HURT

NHTSA ODI #11144546

14,000 miles · Sep 6, 2018
Seat Belts

INSIDE RIDER SEATBELT IS FRAYED BAD, WHEN ON IT IS ACROSS CHEST WHEN NOT USED FRAYED PART IS DOWN INSIDE, THE KIA GARAGE IS BLAMING A MOUSE CHEWED, NO WAY COULD A MOUSE GET IN THAT TINY PLACE THAT IS ONLY SIZE OF A THIN PAPER PLATE, KIA WHEN I CALLED HE HUNG UP ON ME,IF I AM IN A ACCIDENT INJURED OR DIE FROM THIS THEY WILL BE SU…

Read full complaint

INSIDE RIDER SEATBELT IS FRAYED BAD, WHEN ON IT IS ACROSS CHEST WHEN NOT USED FRAYED PART IS DOWN INSIDE, THE KIA GARAGE IS BLAMING A MOUSE CHEWED, NO WAY COULD A MOUSE GET IN THAT TINY PLACE THAT IS ONLY SIZE OF A THIN PAPER PLATE, KIA WHEN I CALLED HE HUNG UP ON ME,IF I AM IN A ACCIDENT INJURED OR DIE FROM THIS THEY WILL BE SUED, I DROVE FRIDAY,SATURDAY AND MONDAY WITH AIR ON NO SMELL, TUESDAY DRIVER SAID AS SOON AS HE GOT IN HE COULDN'T STAND THE SMELL ,THEY SAID ON MY COPY OF SERVICE PAPER THEY FOUND 2 MICE LIVING NONE DEAD, BUT PERSON AT GARAGE SAID HE FOUND 1DEAD, ONE LIVING, MY PAPER I GOT FROM GARAGE SAYS 2 LIVING NONE DEAD, THIS IS BESIDE THE POINT FOR I KNOW AND SO DOES GARAGE AND KIA MFG. KNOW THERE IS NO WAY A MOUSE COULD GET IN THERE AND CHEW, IT IS FRAYING LIKE IT IS CATCHING ON VERY THIN SPACE WHERE YOU GET IT OUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET KIA TO LISTEN AFTER KIA SERVICE SAID MICE PROBLEM,WHAT IS REALLY BAD IS KIA MFG. HANGING UP ON ME , GARAGE SAYING WHAT THEY SAID, AND SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROTECT ME IN A ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11127973

83,000 miles · Dec 19, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WERE BOTH DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WERE BOTH DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10556636

Official recalls

2

23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 25, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment 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 replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

Go deeper into Kia Sportage problems