RoadVitals

2023 Kia Sportage PHEV

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
+1 complaint in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Dec 17, 2025
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 49 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance522.7%
  • Engine418.2%
  • Electrical313.6%
  • Body & structure29.1%
  • Fuel system29.1%
  • Powertrain (other)29.1%
  • Other / unspecified14.5%
  • Visibility14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL; TRAILER HITCHES

Dec 17, 2025
5,046 units potentially affected
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The risk: An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
Kia America, Inc.Manufacturer number SC359View on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Apr 26, 2023
108,936 units potentially affected
The defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
The risk: A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
Kia America, Inc.Manufacturer number SC270View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shifted into neutral and failed to properly shift into gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,325.

NHTSA ID
11772724
Incident
Jul 5, 2026
Mileage
33,325 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 1, 2026

1. Hybrid system failure And check engine light on . 2. Car jerk while driving and gone to limp mode and my speed was reduced to 10 mph at traffic putting my self and other in danger . 3. My vehicle is currently at the dealership getting inspected this is the second time my hybrid warning light came on and the first time they told me nothing was wrong with my vehicle. 4. All of these symptoms happened at the same time while driving.

NHTSA ID
11708252
Incident
Dec 24, 2025
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 30, 2025

I had been driving on the freeway for about 5 minutes, and suddenly heard broken glass in my car. It was dark (around 8pm) so I looked around as I was driving and didn't see any of my visible windows broken. I then heard more glass shattering sound and realized it was my sunroof glass that had suddenly broken. The mesh cover beneath it was closed so I was not injured. When I went home and did a quick google search, several other incidents of this happening popped up. There were no warning lamps or messages or symptoms of the problem prior to failure. It has been 2 weeks of calling my local Kia as well as Kia Customer care and my car is still sitting idle with the broken glass on top.

NHTSA ID
11696583
Incident
Oct 14, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2025

When engaging the cruise control using the steering wheel button, the speed will set itself at 110 miles an hour, and the vehicle will in fact attempt to reach that speed and accelerate. The problem has occurred at speeds as low as 30 miles an hour and as high as 70 miles an hour, it happens intermittently pressing the cruise control button does not disengage the cruise control every time sometimes it is necessary to press the brakes for the cruise control to be shut back off.

NHTSA ID
11680392
Incident
Feb 13, 2024
Steering
Filed Jul 25, 2025

Kia opted for Leather like material for the steering wheel cover. This material with only 14, 828 miles on the vehicle is starting to peel off causing a bad gripping scenario. The material is more like a vinyl instead of leather. I have brought the vehicle to the Dealer who is attempted a warranty submission but I believe they will maybe only replace it with the same material and it will do it again. In all my years of driving I have never seen a wheel cover peel like this material is doing. It has been slowly failing over time and not all at once.

NHTSA ID
11676103
Incident
Jul 25, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 7, 2025

PHEV vehicle: charging interrupted in the middle of the night. When attempting to reconnect the charger, a "Charging unsuccessful" message was given. A warning with "Check Hybrid System" appeared, as well as the check engine light. I cannot charge the car anymore and had to leave it at the dealership.

NHTSA ID
11653278
Incident
Apr 5, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 1, 2025

When driving, I get random flashing lights on the Dashboard with a Warning indicator: ”Check Hybrid system. Stop safely”. It happened at least on 7 occasions while driving at high speed on a highway and while stopped at a traffic light. When the issue happens, the car triggers aggressive Warning sounds forcing me to stop on the side of the road, placing the car into Park and having to turn the vehicle off. On every occasion, the vehicle appears to have corrected itself after being shutoff. In all cases while driving on a highway, the issue happened when driving on gas mode (not EV) and the RPM’s show 0.0 for more than 2 minutes. In the cases when I am stopped at a traffic light, the car is in EV mode and RPM’s are fluctuating. There should not be any RPMs when stopped. Due to theses multiples dangerous situations while driving, I took it to the dealership to get fixed ASAP. On October 5th 2024, Coral Springs Kia (dealer) accepted my car with same complaint mentioned on this letter, and they told me that this is a known issue, that another Kia owner came earlier that day with exactly the same problem. The dealer issued the service invoice# [XXX]- miles in 10636/miles out 10649-, stating: “Code 10643 Inspected the customer concern by checking the engine performance. Found the vehicle performance normal and no warning symbol came on when performing a long road test. Check for DTC and found no codes within the system, found the vehicle operating normal and was unable to duplicate customer concern”. After retrieving my car from the dealership on October 5th 2024, I continued to have the exact same scenario of Warning indicators. Since [XXX], the issue has happened at least 3 more times. This is clearly a glitch on the PHEV system and very dangerous to deal with, mostly when you are driving in a highway on high speed. A simple Google search indicates that is a known a common complaint from Kia owners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

NHTSA ID
11633522
Incident
Sep 3, 2024
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 8, 2024

I have experienced a dangerous bug where cruise control shoots immediately to 110mph. I have experienced three incidents in the last 15 months. Too busy trying to disengage the accelerating vehicle to get a video, but many others have documented this bug: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11618640
Incident
Jul 1, 2024

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

WTY047_TSB

SUSPENSION

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REAR SHOCK ABSORBER INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT (WTY047) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY047) to inspect, and if necessary, replace one or both left and right rear shock absorber assemblies on certain 2023-2025MY Sportage (NQ5), Sportage Hybrid (NQ5 HEV), and Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (NQ5 PHEV) vehicles listed in the table below and were originally sold or are currently registered in one of the 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used. The 28 states where heavy amounts of road salt are used are: AK, CT, DC, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WI and WV. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the replacement of the rear shock absorbers due to corrosion or oil leakage will be extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 7 years / 90,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service.

WTY047_REIMB

SUSPENSION

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY047) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension campaign program launch.

WTY047_OWNR

SUSPENSION

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY047) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear shock absorbers on the following vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used on certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 15, 2021 through January 21, 2025, certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage Hybrid (HEV) vehicles manufactured from March 2, 2022 through January 25, 2025, and certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles manufactured from June 16, 2022 through January 22, 2025.

WTY047_REIMB

SUSPENSION

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY047) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the Warranty Extension Campaign program launch.

WTY047_DP

SUSPENSION

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY047) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear shock absorbers on the following vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently registered in states where heavy amounts of road salt are used on certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 15, 2021 through January 21, 2025, certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage Hybrid (HEV) vehicles manufactured from March 2, 2022 through January 25, 2025, and certain 2023-2025 MY Sportage Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles manufactured from June 16, 2022 through January 22, 2025.

WTY047_QA

SUSPENSION

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY047) – This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding Warranty Extension Campaign WTY047.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kia Sportage PHEV by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027000—
2026210—
2025610—
2024121051.1
2023Viewing162041.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.