Kia

Sportage

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 1995 to 2027

Includes Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD, Sportage AWD and 4 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 141 Sportage trims All Kia cars

The verdict

Best year: 2027. complaints: 1, below this model's typical 143; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 1999. complaints: 284, about 2.5x this model's typical 114; recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Kia Sportage
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1995	3Gas	18	no data	$3,450	2	56	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, SEAT BELTS 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 56, below this model's typical 86 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	3Gas	18	no data	$3,450	3	57	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 16%, POWER TRAIN 13%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12%
complaints: 57, below this model's typical 86 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	18	no data	$3,450	3	181	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 20%, AIR BAGS 14%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 181, about 1.6x this model's typical 114 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	19	no data	$3,300	3	303	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, POWER TRAIN 13%
complaints: 303, about 2.7x this model's typical 114 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 6 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	19	no data	$3,300	3	284	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 18%, POWER TRAIN 13%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 10%
complaints: 284, about 2.5x this model's typical 114 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	2	304	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 11%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%
complaints: 304, about 2.7x this model's typical 114 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	8Gas	18	no data	$3,450	0	228	0	no data	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 15%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 8%
complaints: 228, in line with this model's typical 228 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	18.5	no data	$3,375	1	234	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 13%, POWER TRAIN 7%
complaints: 234, about 2.1x this model's typical 114 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	3	68	0	no data	AIR BAGS 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, STRUCTURE 9%
complaints: 68, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 58 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	1	111	0	no data	AIR BAGS 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 111, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	77	0	no data	AIR BAGS 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%
complaints: 77, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	3	98	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, ENGINE 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 98, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 24 NHTSA advised parking the 2008 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 28 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	5Gas	21	no data	$2,950	3	80	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, AIR BAGS 13%, STEERING 12%
complaints: 80, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 8 NHTSA advised parking the 2009 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 31 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	5Gas	21	140	$2,950	2	20	1 (1 open)	24	AIR BAGS 14%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, SEAT BELTS 11%
complaints: 20, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 NHTSA advised parking the 2010 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	6Gas	23	173	$2,700	6	181	4 (1 open)	166	ENGINE 29%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 181, above this model's typical 171 recalls: 6, about 3x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 8 NHTSA advised parking the 2011 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	6Gas	23	176	$2,700	5	392	4 (1 open)	171	ENGINE 72%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5%
complaints: 392, about 2.3x this model's typical 171 recalls: 5, about 2.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 16 NHTSA advised parking the 2012 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	6Gas	23	no data	$2,700	3	381	4 (1 open)	161	ENGINE 67%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5%
complaints: 381, about 2.2x this model's typical 171 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 22 NHTSA advised parking the 2013 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	4Gas	22.5	221	$2,775	3	123	2 (1 open)	175	ENGINE 46%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9%
complaints: 123, above this model's typical 114 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2014 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 17 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	4Gas	22.5	182	$2,775	2	146	2 (1 open)	151	ENGINE 43%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 146, above this model's typical 114 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 11 NHTSA advised parking the 2015 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 18 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	22.5	182	$2,775	2	133	2 (1 open)	125	ENGINE 33%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 133, about 2.3x this model's typical 57 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2016 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	4Gas	23	181	$2,700	4	401	2 (1 open)	183	ENGINE 39%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 401, about 3.5x this model's typical 114 recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 27 NHTSA advised parking the 2017 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	4Gas	23	181	$2,700	3	164	1 (1 open)	130	ENGINE 40%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8%
complaints: 164, above this model's typical 114 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 12 NHTSA advised parking the 2018 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 3 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	4Gas	23	no data	$2,700	2	70	2 (1 open)	81	ENGINE 35%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 70, below this model's typical 114 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 3 NHTSA advised parking the 2019 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 34 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	4Gas	23	248	$2,700	2	161	2 (1 open)	92	ENGINE 36%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 161, above this model's typical 114 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 12 NHTSA advised parking the 2020 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 11 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	4Gas	23	248	$2,700	2	54	2 (1 open)	67	ENGINE 34%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%
complaints: 54, below this model's typical 114 recalls: 2, in line with this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 7 NHTSA advised parking the 2021 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	4Gas	23	248	$2,700	1	46	0	51	ENGINE 33%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8%
complaints: 46, below this model's typical 114 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2022 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	188	$1,800	7	306	0	101	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ENGINE 14%
complaints: 306, about 2.1x this model's typical 143 recalls: 7, about 3.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 18 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2023 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	188	$1,800	3	106	0	70	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10%
complaints: 106, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 3, about 1.5x this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	188	$1,900	1	71	0	16	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10%
complaints: 71, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	no data	$1,900	1	37	0	no data	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12%
complaints: 37, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2027	5Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	35	no data	$1,900	0	1	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, ENGINE 33%, POWER TRAIN 33%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 143 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1995: 18 to 2027: 35

Owner complaints1995: 56 to 2027: 1

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Kia Sportage to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.