Kia Sportage: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Kia Sportage problems by model year, from 2,559 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2012 (88%, 341 drivetrain complaints), 2013 (85%, 321 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (67%, 251 drivetrain complaints). 13 of the 13 Kia Sportage years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 9 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Kia Sportage year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2023 (35%).
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (341 of 1,632 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Kia Sportage year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Sportage | too few to score | – | 4 | 20 | – | 2 |
| 2011 Sportage | very high | 60% | 101 | 181 | 9/13 | 6 |
| 2012 Sportage | very high | 88% | 341 | 392 | 1/13 | 5 |
| 2013 Sportage | very high | 85% | 321 | 381 | 2/13 | 3 |
| 2014 Sportage | very high | 63% | 75 | 123 | 8/13 | 3 |
| 2015 Sportage | very high | 66% | 91 | 146 | 4/13 | 2 |
| 2016 Sportage | high | 54% | 67 | 131 | 11/13 | 2 |
| 2017 Sportage | very high | 67% | 251 | 401 | 3/13 | 4 |
| 2018 Sportage | very high | 65% | 104 | 164 | 6/13 | 3 |
| 2019 Sportage | very high | 66% | 42 | 70 | 5/13 | 2 |
| 2020 Sportage | high | 56% | 88 | 161 | 10/13 | 2 |
| 2021 Sportage | very high | 63% | 32 | 53 | 7/13 | 2 |
| 2022 Sportage | high | 52% | 23 | 46 | 12/13 | 1 |
| 2023 Sportage | elevated | 35% | 96 | 290 | 13/13 | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Kia Sportage years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Kia Sportage engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Kia Sportage involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 18 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2017 | 17V224000 | engine and engine cooling: engine | 2011–2013 |
| Dec 2018 | 18V907000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 2011–2018 |
| Feb 2019 | 19V101000 | engine | 2011–2012 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V750000 | engine | 2012 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V531000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
13 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 13V114000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2011 |
| Jan 2014 | 14V023000 | equipment: other: labels | 2014 |
| Jun 2015 | 15V360000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2011 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V862000 | trailer hitches | 2017 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V137000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2017–2021 |
| Feb 2022 | 22V051000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2014–2016 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V651000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2023 |
| Sep 2022 | 22V703000 | trailer hitches | 2017–2022 |
| Nov 2022 | 22V878000 | air bags: side/window: curtain | 2023 |
| Apr 2023 | 23V298000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2023 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V410000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist | 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V652000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2011–2013 |
| Jan 2024 | 24V025000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Kia Sportage
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Kia Sportage
What are the worst years for the Kia Sportage?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Kia Sportage years are the 2012 (88% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2013 (85% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2017 (67% of relevant complaints, very high). 13 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Kia Sportage?
No Kia Sportage year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2023 (35%).
Does the Kia Sportage have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 1,632 of 2,473 relevant NHTSA complaints (66%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Kia Sportage reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 13 of 13 Kia Sportage years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 66% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Kia Sportage?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Kia Sportage years we track, out of 18 in total: 19V101000 (Feb 2019, 2011–2012), 20V750000 (Dec 2020, 2012), 23V531000 (Jul 2023, 2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.