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: 9 of 46 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.
Engine. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
46 reports
51,000 miles · Apr 25, 2024
EngineFire
The contact owned a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, where she opened the hood of the vehicle and observed flames coming from the engine. The fire department extinguished the fire an…
Read full complaint
The contact owned a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, where she opened the hood of the vehicle and observed flames coming from the engine. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined that the fire originated from the driver side of the engine. A fire department and police report were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
NHTSA ODI #11585257
33,000 miles · Apr 19, 2024
Engine
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact heard an abnormal clicking sound. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle was not revving and failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle sl…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact heard an abnormal clicking sound. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal but the vehicle was not revving and failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed to approximately 15 MPH and would not accelerate beyond 15 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was flashing. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.
NHTSA ODI #11584079
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2024
Engine
Radiator hose needs repair already and engine over heating. Kia will not cover it.
NHTSA ODI #11571832
Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2024
Forward Collision Avoidance
I recently filed a safety problem concerning my brakes activating for no reason. It had happened 3 times before I filed. It want to report that it happened a 4th time. On New Year's Eve, at approximately 6:20PM, I was driving on a 4 lane road about 35-40 MPH when my brakes slammed down hard. There was a long beeping sound only w…
Read full complaint
I recently filed a safety problem concerning my brakes activating for no reason. It had happened 3 times before I filed. It want to report that it happened a 4th time. On New Year's Eve, at approximately 6:20PM, I was driving on a 4 lane road about 35-40 MPH when my brakes slammed down hard. There was a long beeping sound only while the car was breaking but no other indicators. It was raining and dark. I braced myself for impact. I thought for sure my car was going to slide into something. There were no cars in front of me in either direction nor where any cars behind. Nothing obstructing the road. Nothing to give my car a reason to do that. Luckily there wasn't anyone behind me or else I absolutley would have been rear ended. The brakes locked for approximately 3-4 seconds before they let up. I am very happy that I wasn't on the highway at the time. I called Kia the day after New Year's. This time I was offered to bring in the car and get a loaner to drive while they take a look at it. This is the 4th time in 3 months this has happened.
NHTSA ODI #11562998
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2023
Visibility/wiper
I purchased my 2022 Kia Sportage on September 15, 2021. In February 2022, there was a deep freeze. When then weather warmed up, there was a crack in my windshield. I took the car in for it's 6 month service and the window was replaced. On Christmas morning 2023, there was a crack in my windshield again. in the same place. Both t…
Read full complaint
I purchased my 2022 Kia Sportage on September 15, 2021. In February 2022, there was a deep freeze. When then weather warmed up, there was a crack in my windshield. I took the car in for it's 6 month service and the window was replaced. On Christmas morning 2023, there was a crack in my windshield again. in the same place. Both times the crack started on the driver's side in the bottom black area of the windshield. We haven't had any deep freezes this winter. Now, I have to get the window replaced a second time. This time, I may have to pay for it, and I cannot and will not be able to come up with $1000 to have the window replaced. I will have to either not drive, or drive with it cracked. I am pointing this out because in all of my life, I have never experienced a cracked windshield. It seems very odd to have two cracked windshields in 1 year and 10 months. If Kia's windshields are that fragile under normal driving conditions, then I feel that Kia's windows are not safe if any normal road debris hits the windshield. I am experiencing a braking issue with my car as well that I filed under a different safety complaint. Between the thought of my windshield cracking while driving and my brakes slamming for no reason, I feel that my car has serious safety concerns.
NHTSA ODI #11561907
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2023
Forward Collision Avoidance
The last 3 months, 3 times the brakes of my 2022 Kia Sportage activated without warning or reason while I was accelerating at about 35mph under different conditions. First time, my brakes slammed hard. I didn't know what was going on or why. I ended up trying to slam on my brakes which were already fully to the floor, but the ca…
Read full complaint
The last 3 months, 3 times the brakes of my 2022 Kia Sportage activated without warning or reason while I was accelerating at about 35mph under different conditions. First time, my brakes slammed hard. I didn't know what was going on or why. I ended up trying to slam on my brakes which were already fully to the floor, but the car wouldn't stop. My lower body ended up under the steerling wheel, and I had to get myself back into position and figure out what was going on while the car was still moving. Second time, I took the car in to Kia. They couldn't find anything wrong and sent me on my way. I called back upset because I felt that this is a serious safety concern and demanded they look again. They kept my car for a few days and gave me a loaner. Even the loaner Soul had an issue. No automatic breaking, but it just turned off the forward collision assistance and the radar on it's own. Kia drove my car 9 miles and couldn't replicate the problem. I was told that if it happens again to call in with a description. I wrote to Kia headquarters that by driving the car under the advisement of Kia representatives, I will not be responsible for anything happening to me, my car or any other person that is ever in my car, or to another vehicle or person or property outside my car. I filed a claim with Kia Customer Support. They denied my claim of having my car repurchased or replaced without giving me a reason. They refused to give me a denial letter. I was told that information had to stay in the computer for legal reasons and that my state has a Lemon Law. My car seems to falls outside the time frame for that. Meanwhile waiting for Kia's decisions, the issue happened a third time, this time with a chime, but still nothing in the road. I called and reported that to Kia. I was given no offer to bring it in. Another time, while waiting on Kia's decision, I was driving on the highway and there was a deer literally standing right in front of me and my car did nothing to warn me.
NHTSA ODI #11561897
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2023
Trailer Hitches
Kia had come out with a recall immediately after purchasing and installing our tow hitch on our 2022 Kia Sportage. It has been almost 18 months with no remedy. I've taken it to the dealer multiple times and called Kia themselves both say they can't do anything. Every single aftermarket tow hitch is completely safe to use other t…
Read full complaint
Kia had come out with a recall immediately after purchasing and installing our tow hitch on our 2022 Kia Sportage. It has been almost 18 months with no remedy. I've taken it to the dealer multiple times and called Kia themselves both say they can't do anything. Every single aftermarket tow hitch is completely safe to use other than the Kia branded one. I paid almost $700 to get a tow hitch installed at 14k miles and now nearing 40k miles and haven't used it a single time. I have been running in circles trying to get any information. They say it's a short circuit but why they haven't adopted the method all other aftermarket parts have that have no issues makes zero sense after all this time.
NHTSA ODI #11557755
20,000 miles · Aug 2, 2023
Trailer Hitches
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while stop…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle shuddered. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA ODI #11536006
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2023
SteeringCrash
Vehicle compromised by tick tok theft trend causing crash a
NHTSA ODI #11525513
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2023
Unknown Or Other
My Kia has been stolen twice because it is able to be started with a USB cord. Kia Motors did not install appropriate security when it was manufactured. First theft 11/18/2022 Second theft 05/15/2023
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗