2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle stalled. The check engine and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11754033

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Mileage

104,000 mi

On XXX and XXX, while driving on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete loss of motive power. Flashing warning lights appeared on the instrument cluster, accompanied by a safety warning message instructing the driver to pull over and "Check Hybrid System" immediately. This sudden, uncommanded drop in propulsion on active, high-speed roadways created an immediate safety hazard, forcing emergency maneuvering to coast the vehicle safely to the shoulder. The vehicle was delivered to an authorized franchise dealer (Arapahoe Kia in [XXX]) on XXX, where it has now remained grounded for 31 consecutive days. The service department has verbally communicated extreme diagnostic confusion, stating they lack an on-site hybrid specialist to properly diagnose the high-voltage powertrain/HPV/hybrid battery system. The vehicle has historically received software updates under Campaign SC335A, and the symptoms reported here closely align with the loss of motive power issues addressed in Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign SC338. To date, neither the dealership nor the manufacturer (under Case #XXX) has provided a formal written diagnosis, a repair schedule, or an active resolution. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11750948

Incident

Jun 12, 2026

Over the past 11 weeks, my 2023 Kia Sportage has experienced sudden, complete loss of acceleration on at least three separate occasions while driving at highway speeds. Each incident is accompanied by the battery gauge dropping to zero. I was forced to stop on the highway to restart my vehicle in order to drive it again. No error codes are stored because the fault clears on restart. I have taken the vehicle for inspection to a mechanic and Kia Dealership Marin, neither were able to diagnose or repair the issue.

NHTSA ID

11742981

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The vehicle developed a “Check Hybrid System” warning and was diagnosed by a Kia dealership as having a failure involving the high-voltage hybrid system, specifically the MCU (Motor Control Unit). The dealership informed me that the vehicle may be unsafe to drive due to the possibility of fire risk associated with the high-voltage system. I was told technicians had to use specialized protective equipment while diagnosing the issue and that the diagnosis process took nearly a week. The repair estimate was approximately $5,000, in addition to approximately $750 charged for diagnostics alone. The vehicle is reportedly out of warranty due to mileage, even though this appears to involve a major hybrid system component and a potential safety defect. This concerns me because: - the vehicle is a relatively new 2023 model, - the failure involves the high-voltage hybrid system, - Kia advised the vehicle may catch fire, - and independent mechanics generally cannot service or repair these proprietary hybrid components. I believe this may represent a broader safety issue or defect involving the hybrid system or MCU components in Kia hybrid vehicles. I am requesting that this matter be investigated for possible safety defects, recall eligibility, or manufacturer responsibility.

NHTSA ID

11739664

Incident

May 14, 2026

When driving on the highway, warning lights activated on the dash with the message "Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely." Seconds later, the vehicle lost all propulsion power. The hybrid battery indicated it had a half charge and the combustion engine was running. Depressing the accelerator caused the engine to increase RPMs but little to no power was output to the wheels. I turned the car off and all electrical systems were disconnected and the car would not start. I pressed the "12V Battery Reset" button and electrical systems were restored and I was able to start the car. The failure then repeatedly occurred. This issue has presented multiple times now, all while driving on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11738039

Incident

May 15, 2026

I would welcome making my vehicle available for inspection on this issue. Year/Make/Model: 2023 Kia Sportage EX HEV AWD 4-Door SUV Color: Black Powertrain: Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Number of occupants: 2 (driver and passenger) Injuries: None, but fatalities could have occurred. Vehicle turned off completely – no power, no hazard lights, and although driver miraculously made it to the shoulder, most of it was blocked by a snowbank and sat in a dead car with no hazard lights. Passenger (recovering from leg surgery in full leg brace) was forced to exit onto a snow bank and enter a tow truck cab, risking re-injury. Crash: No — vehicle was somehow brought to shoulder and aid protected by two state trooper vehicles until a tow arrived. Our car suddenly emitted a loud alarm at highway speed on I-84 -the instrument panel displayed an "stop vehicle immediately" warning. There was no prior warning, unusual noise, or dashboard indication of any problem. The car shut completely down while still on the highway. Car was towed to the nearest KIA dealer - Columbia Ford/Kia [XXX] ). After diagnosis, the authorized Kia dealer documented the following on Repair Order Invoice W7403: • Concern: "TOW IN. DIED WHILE DRIVING. SEPARATED" • Diagnostic fault code: BMS P1BB20 • Failed/replaced parts: ◦ DECOUPLER-BASFILTR, Part No. SPO 25290 2MHD0 ◦ BOLT-CRANKSHAFT, Part No. KIA 23127 2MHA0 ◦ BATTERY MODULE ASSY, Part No. SPO 37507 L5000 • Parts total: $835.54 • Vehicle in dealer possession: March 5, 2026 – March 20, 2026 (15 days) complete loss of motive power at highway speed. Based on my subsequent research, this failure mode appears consistent with a documented similar issue in the United Kingdom and European markets - which did result in a recall. -hybrid belt/tensioner system. Kia issued revised parts and ECU updates in those markets. No equivalent safety recall or consumer notification has been issued in the US. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.

NHTSA ID

11736258

Incident

Mar 5, 2026

3 times in the last two days, and dozens of times over the last six months, while driving or while idling, the "check hybrid system" warning has flashed. When it happens the car does into limp mode, where it will go no faster than 13mph. this has happened in the left lane of a highway where there is no where to pull over except the lane, since there is no time to get over before the vehicle shuts down. the car essentially will shut down in the middle of driving, no matter where it is. Especially with my kids in the car it is terrifying hazard. I have brought the car to the Kia service and since its not easily reproducible they have not been able to help and have offered no solutions.

NHTSA ID

11719154

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

While driving, the vehicle repeatedly displays “Check Hybrid System – Stop Safely”, followed by loss of acceleration and shutdown of the 12V system, rendering the vehicle unable to drive. These incidents occurred on both freeways and local roads. To avoid a collision, I was forced to activate hazard lights, pull over, shut the vehicle off, and attempt recovery using the 12V reset procedure or an external jump starter. The issue has persisted despite multiple dealer inspections and repairs and presents a serious safety risk.

NHTSA ID

11712146

Incident

Jan 6, 2026

Ev battery system threw up back back to earnings and codes of overcharge and then all lights on dash came on started beeping and then dash went red saying check hybrid system , hybrid system failure stop vehicle. Engine wouldn’t kick back on. I had literally just left my local Kia for a routine checkup and there report is nothing is wrong. Even tho I’ve called them now a few times about it shaking and idling super hard and going limp very often. Towed back to Kia and they have now had it for 4 days and still no results.

NHTSA ID

11710264

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

Vehicle flashed with a "check hybrid system. Stop safely" warning and then forced me to slow until my vehicle stopped - I could no longer press the gas pedal. I was on a highway and luckily was able to pull over safely before the vehicle came to a complete stop, but that was not guaranteed. I ended up being towed to a Kia Dealership where they informed me this was an issue under recall, but that recall is not listed on your system nor was I ever informed of the recall by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11704090

Incident

Dec 7, 2025

Fails to move when going from stopped to apply gas and moving forward there is a large delay and weak power. Shakes when idles and is really forcful switching from gas to battery or battery to gas,

NHTSA ID

11693000

Incident

Aug 23, 2025

On October 3rd, 2025 I was driving at approximately 15mph when my dash started to flash red while beeping. It displayed a message that stated "Check Hybrid System" Within 15 seconds the car shut off. There was no power to utilize the flashers to warn drivers behind me. The abrupt stop caused a near collision and left my car stranded in an intersection. After about 5 minutes I was able to utilize the 12v battery reset button and get the car safely to the side of the road. My car had an all points inspection in September and no issues were noted at that time. I searched 3 websites, including NHTSA, and all noted I had 0 recalls on my vehicle. However, there were multiple reports of this happening to other 2023 Kia Sportage owners over the past 2 years. Some reported that this happened to them on the highway. On October 6th, 2025 I took my car to the dealership to be serviced. Upon check-in the advisor stated I had 2 active recalls on my vehicle. (Safety Recall: Hybrid Control Unit Sw Upgrade (vesc) OEM code SC322 from January 2025 and Saftey Recall: Bms S/w Upgrade (vesc) OEM Code SC338 from June 2025) The first recall has to do with emissions, the second causes the exact scenario that happened to my vehicle. My concern is that Kia failed to report all affected VIN numbers, or failed to notify all affected customers within 60 days reporting the recall as mandated by the NHTSA and they should be held responsible for that. A car shutting off within 10 seconds could be catastrophic when traveling on busy highways. This could result in multiple injuries or even fatalities and needs to be further investigated.

NHTSA ID

11691738

Incident

Oct 6, 2025

February 2024 (27,813 mi): Vehicle lost acceleration while driving, would not transition from EV to engine mode, entered limp mode. Dealer replaced high-pressure fuel pump under warranty after consulting Kia Tech Line (case #[XXX]). September 2025 (58,000 mi): Vehicle will not start without manually resetting 12v battery module integrated in hybrid battery system. Pattern suggests hybrid control system defects, not resolved by previous repair. Car has now been with dealer for 4+ days figuring out this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11690800

Incident

Feb 11, 2024

I will be driving 70mph on the freeway and suddenly the "check hybrid system" alert flashes and I have about 20 seconds to safely pullover. Once stopped it will not drive over 5-10 mph for about a half a mile, then completely dies. If I jump start it, it will start, but the car is limited to ~40mph and may not start again once turned off. Has been to the Kia dealership three times in the past month and they say there are no codes to fix regarding the Hybrid battery or system and keep returning it to us. It is exceedingly dangerous to drive and we are afraid to drive on the highway now.

NHTSA ID

11682126

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

Car shuts off as alert start flashing and beeping. Get a red flashing screen and a hazard message that states "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP SAFELY". So far this has only happened while I was at a stop, but I have read in forums where it has happened to people while they are driver.

NHTSA ID

11675948

Incident

Jul 12, 2025

After driving for roughly 7 hours upon activating my cruise control, after using the entire drive with no issues, it went up to 110 mph as soon as I hit the button and would not allow me to adjust the speed down. It would turn off upon pressing pause, cruise control, or brakes but would rise to 110 mph everytime. I searched for recalls for this and could find none. But I did find posts of other people with the same issue. The only thing I could find was an emissions campaign that seems like it may be related. This appears to me to be much more of a safety issue especially if the driver is not paying attention. Or for example let's say you're driving behind someone and turn cruise control on you could very easily rearend someone at a high rate of speed. I will be trying to get my car into the dealership to try and resolve the issue, but my main point for filing a report is to see if this rises to the level of a safety recall versus a tsb or emissions campaign. My vehicle is available for inspection if needed. No warning lights came on or anything of the sort. I do have a video of this but does not appear I can upload it. Any assistance is greatly appreciated thank you and have a great day

NHTSA ID

11674921

Incident

Jul 20, 2025

The hybrid powertrain system failed. Specifically, the vehicle remains stuck in EV mode and does not switch to the gasoline engine under acceleration, leading to complete loss of power while driving. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction caused the vehicle to lose all forward power in traffic. I had to pull over into emergency lanes and restart the vehicle multiple times. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to a crash, especially on highways or during merging. It puts both myself and others on the road at risk. The Kia authorized service center was able to reset the adaptive system, and the hybrid warning light turned off temporarily. However, the issue reappeared the same day. The dealer claims they cannot reproduce it and refuses further diagnosis without replication. The vehicle was only inspected by a Kia-authorized dealership. Kia Consumer Affairs has not yet conducted a manufacturer-level inspection or assigned a field technician. Yes. A “Check Hybrid System. Stop Safely” warning message appears before the failure occurs. Then check engine light was on. It first appeared immediately after a routine service (oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection) on 26th June 2025, just 2 days after my regular service. The warning disappears after restarting but returns intermittently, typically after the EV battery is fully drained and the car fails to switch to gas mode.

NHTSA ID

11670660

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

I was driving my vehicle on the freeway when all of a sudden I got a warning light that came on that said check hybrid system it looked up my brakes and steering the car completely shutdown in the middle of the freeway it happened so fast I couldn't get to the shoulder my car completely just stopped. I spoke to kia and took it to the dealership and they ended up saying because it needed a update which I then called kia and let them know the situation that I almost got in a accident and that I didn't feel safe in that car and they didn't want to help.

NHTSA ID

11644973

Incident

Nov 26, 2024

Traveling at 70 MPH on [XXX] in traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power and I was forced to unsafely maneuver to the shoulder of the road as the vehicle decelerated through the traffic. As soon as I stopped, the vehicle lost all power. I had difficulty engaging the parking brake as I was on a hill and the vehicle started to roll back. The brake pedal did work so I could stop the car but I could not exit the vehicle in fear of it rolling back into traffic. I called 911 to explain the situation. After 20 more minutes I engaged/disengaged the parking brake several times and it finally held. I still would not leave the vehicle because I could not trust it at that point. Another 20 minutes passed and a road ranger arrived and placed a wooden block behind the wheel and at that point I felt comfortable to get out of the car. I was told by Kia service the issue was related to recall SA553A but I was never notified. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11639376

Incident

Jan 26, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at 13 MPH from an exit and entering a roundabout, a right turn on an incline was attempted to be made when the vehicle veered in the left direction independently violently. The contact also stated the driver assist was engaged and the vehicle went off to the side of the road and over an embankment where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact mentioned that the driver assist failed to disengage to give the contact control of the vehicle and the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. In addition, the wheels locked. The contact sustained bruising on the left side of the body. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but no diagnosis was completed. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed. The contact mentioned there was a case filed with the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11637785

Incident

Jan 21, 2025

Mileage

8,000 mi

My 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, with only 22,000 miles, has been experiencing a recurring "Check Hybrid System Stop Safely" error, causing sudden and complete loss of acceleration while driving. This issue first occurred in November 2024, while I was driving at highway speeds (60 mph), and has recurred multiple times since. The sudden loss of power puts my safety and others’ at serious risk by leaving the vehicle stranded in traffic, increasing the chance of accidents. On December 30, 2024, I brought the car to Kia of West Nyack for diagnosis and repair, providing video evidence of the error. However, the dealership claims they cannot replicate the issue and has not completed any repairs. While the dealership has stated since last week that a Techline case was opened, Kia Corporate confirmed no such case exists, highlighting a lack of accountability and coordination. For over two weeks, no progress has been made, and the issue has not been escalated to a specialist. Despite being under warranty, I have not been offered a loaner vehicle, significantly impacting my daily life, work, and family responsibilities. This issue is further complicated by Kia’s inability to log intermittent errors, as the "Check Hybrid System Stop Safely" message disappears when the car is restarted. This design flaw has allowed the dealership to dismiss the error as unreproducible, despite video evidence provided. This situation has left me questioning whether my car is safe to drive and when it will be repaired. This defect is not isolated to my vehicle. Many other Kia and Hyundai hybrid owners have reported the same error, highlighting a widespread safety issue. Despite its warranty obligations, Kia has failed to act promptly to address this defect. Immediate action is needed to ensure the safety of this vehicle and others affected by this recurring problem.

NHTSA ID

11635831

Incident

Nov 5, 2024

Often hesitates when accelerating. Stalls from stopped position. LCD Screen changes by itself. Drops calls. Turns off if you make volume adjustment. Most recently, filled gas tank with full tank, just over 13 gallons. Gauge read only 1/2 tank and showed I had only 289 miles rather than normal 520 miles or so. That number kept changing throughout the next couple of days. ATTACHMENTS: show gas receipt at gas station that tank is filled. Gauge shows 1/2 tank. See subsequent photos. Safety issue for sure. This car cannot be trusted. Multiple problems with electrical system and engine stalling.

NHTSA ID

11623133

Incident

Oct 28, 2024

I was driving east from Austin, Tx on [XXX], and as I approached a major intersection in Elgin, Tx., a warning light appeared on my dashboard that said "hybrid system failure: pull over safely". I was able to pull over into the left turn lane and then was barely able to make it over a curb and onto a highway median strip, before my car engine stopped and all dashboard lights went out. This happened in about 30 seconds. My two year old car with fewer than 30,000 miles on it went completely dead. It would not start even after several attempts. I called Kia roadside assistance, and was told I needed to have the car towed to a dealership. The tow truck driver backed the car into the space they indicated at the dealership, and it started to roll forward as it was apparently in neutral. He had to borrow a board to put under the back wheels. Days later I was told to come get the car, as it had been repaired. When I got there, it was in the same space with the board still under the wheels. I was told it just had needed a software update. (SA553A). I was never notified that my vehicle needed this update, and would just stop wherever: i.e. on a hwy with no shoulders, at night, etc. and that I would be unable to brake the car, or drive it, or put on emergency warning lights after 30 seconds. This was unbelievably unsafe. I am [XXX]. What if I were a family with children on board and it happened on a highway at night??? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11621797

Incident

Oct 16, 2024

Often times the dash/screen won’t turn on.(the screen with gps, settings, and the lower a/c controls) The car has to be power cycled in order to get it to come on.

NHTSA ID

11602114

Incident

Jul 12, 2024

Good Morning Over the last 6 months or more the computer panel that controls the back up cameras heat radio maps and other things have gone off and on while driving then cuts back on. today was the last straw the monitor was out the whole time i was driving to work. I have video of this happening oh and this happens in both our 2023 Kia And anytime i go to dealer they cant seem to get to do the same things for them

NHTSA ID

11571800

Incident

Sep 12, 2023