Is the Kia Sportage Reliable?

20052026 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

61/100
Fair

Reliability Score

17
Total Recalls
891
Owner Complaints
58
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Own a Kia Sportage? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Kia Sportage Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
2026010
90
Excellent
2025145
65
Good
202426518
51
Fair
2023622119
31
Poor
2022130
65
Good
20211262
68
Good
20201824
63
Fair
20191514
63
Fair
2018299
60
Fair
2017226211
55
Fair

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Sportage Compares to Similar Vehicles

Kia Sportage61/100
Suv Category Average68/100

The Sportage scores 7 points below the average suv. Consider checking years with lower complaint volumes.

Known Kia Sportage Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

ENGINE
243
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
124
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
105
POWER TRAIN
50
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
47
SERVICE BRAKES
41

Based on 891 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Kia Sportage reliable?+

The Kia Sportage scores 61/100 on our reliability index — rated "Fair." Across 10 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 17 recall campaigns and 891 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Sportage is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2026 Sportage achieved the highest reliability score of 90/100 with 0 recalls and 10 complaints.

How many miles does a Sportage last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Kia Sportage owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Sportage will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Kia Sportage Research

Check a Specific Kia Sportage VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

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