STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2023 Kia Sportage
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
NHTSA has issued a “park outside” advisory affecting this model year.
Campaign 23V531000. Confirm whether your specific vehicle is covered using its VIN before acting on this.
Check your VIN on NHTSA.govOverview
Our database contains 192 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2023 Kia Sportage, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and engine categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 67 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 2022 | 2 | 3 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2022 | 2 | 6 |
| Oct 2022 | 3 | 9 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 2022 | 4 | 14 |
| Jan 2023 | 4 | 18 |
| Feb 2023 | 3 | 21 |
| Mar 2023 | 2 | 23 |
| Apr 2023 | 7 | 30 |
| May 2023 | 6 | 36 |
| Jun 2023 | 9 | 45 |
| Jul 2023 | 8 | 53 |
| Aug 2023 | 9 | 62 |
| Sep 2023 | 8 | 70 |
| Oct 2023 | 4 | 74 |
| Nov 2023 | 2 | 76 |
| Jan 2024 | 3 | 79 |
| Feb 2024 | 3 | 82 |
| Mar 2024 | 1 | 83 |
| Apr 2024 | 7 | 90 |
| May 2024 | 6 | 96 |
| Jun 2024 | 5 | 101 |
| Jul 2024 | 1 | 102 |
| Aug 2024 | 2 | 104 |
| Sep 2024 | 4 | 108 |
| Oct 2024 | 1 | 109 |
| Nov 2024 | 2 | 111 |
| Dec 2024 | 3 | 114 |
| Feb 2025 | 1 | 115 |
| Mar 2025 | 5 | 120 |
| Apr 2025 | 2 | 122 |
| May 2025 | 2 | 124 |
| Jun 2025 | 6 | 130 |
| Jul 2025 | 1 | 131 |
| Aug 2025 | 3 | 134 |
| Sep 2025 | 6 | 140 |
| Oct 2025 | 4 | 144 |
| Nov 2025 | 2 | 146 |
| Dec 2025 | 5 | 151 |
| Jan 2026 | 7 | 158 |
| Feb 2026 | 3 | 161 |
| Mar 2026 | 6 | 167 |
| Apr 2026 | 6 | 173 |
| May 2026 | 4 | 177 |
| Jun 2026 | 5 | 182 |
| Jul 2026 | 2 | 184 |
| Aug 2026 | 2 | 186 |
| Sep 2026 | 6 | 192 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical4619.2%
- Driver assistance4217.5%
- Engine3715.4%
- Brakes3514.6%
- Powertrain (other)187.5%
- Fuel system145.8%
- Visibility135.4%
- Airbags114.6%
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
6 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.govPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
When driving at speeds slightly above 50 mph between 1,700 and 1,900 RPM, maintaining light pressure on the accelerator pedal causes a noticeable physical vibration and shaking throughout both the pedal and the vehicle. To mitigate these concerning symptoms, I intentionally have to press down harder on the gas pedal, which helps immediately stop the shaking. This issue has been occurring consistently over time. While it has not resulted in an accident so far, it could raise safety concerns. I have reported this condition to Kia Customer Care twice, but no appropriate action or resolution has been provided.
- NHTSA ID
- 11764939
- Incident
- Sep 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the message "Brake Carefully" was displayed. The contact slightly depressed the brake pedal to test the brakes and continued driving; however, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the failure was an electrical issue. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and DTC: P1BB200 was retrieved. The contact was informed that the hybrid braking system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V410000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11764793
- Incident
- Sep 3, 2026
- Mileage
- 43,000 mi
I am reporting a recurring and unresolved acceleration issue with my 2023 Kia Sportage. The vehicle intermittently continues to accelerate or maintains elevated RPMs even after I release the accelerator pedal. This has occurred multiple times and creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle does not decelerate as expected. The vehicle has been taken to an authorized Kia dealership multiple times for the same concern. Several components have been replaced, including the throttle body, but the acceleration problem continues to occur. The issue has also been observed during a dealership visit. Because the problem continues despite repeated repair attempts, I would like to formally document and investigate this safety concern and provide a permanent resolution. I am increasingly concerned about the safety and reliability of the vehicle.
- NHTSA ID
- 11763894
- Incident
- Sep 8, 2026
My daughter’s 2023 Kia Sportage SX Prestige has an instrument cluster that intermittently goes completely black while the vehicle is being driven. When this occurs, the driver cannot see the speedometer, warning indicators, or other critical vehicle information. Ferguson Kia inspected the vehicle and documented that the “cluster side of screen [is] INOP.” The technician reset the screen, performed variant coding, verified systems were up to date, removed and inspected the head unit/connectors, verified pin tension and fuses, and found no DTC codes. The screen remained inoperative. Ferguson Kia diagnosed an “internal electrical failure” and recommended replacement of the head unit. I paid $199 for this diagnosis and was advised the replacement would cost approximately $10,000. I am concerned because Kia previously issued Safety Recall SC270/NHTSA Recall 23V-298 involving instrument clusters that may become blank in certain 2023 Kia Sportages. I understand this vehicle may not be included in that recall and may use a different instrument cluster. I am not claiming it is necessarily the identical defect. However, this is a documented blank instrument-cluster failure in the same model year that creates a similar safety hazard. I am reporting this because loss of the instrument cluster while driving prevents the driver from seeing critical driving and safety information. I am concerned that 2023 Sportages not included in the existing recall may also be experiencing blank instrument-cluster failures.
- NHTSA ID
- 11763798
- Incident
- Aug 20, 2026
My child is [XXX] old, and as he has grown, I have noticed significant problems with the way he is positioned and supported in this car seat. He frequently sits too far forward and does not appear to have adequate support to keep his head and body in a safe, comfortable position.There have been multiple occasions during car rides when my child has choked or struggled because he is positioned so far forward. The design of the base does not seem to allow him to lean back sufficiently, which causes him to slump forward rather than remain properly supported. This is especially concerning when he falls asleep. His head falls completely forward, and the seat does not appear to provide adequate head, neck, or upper-body support to prevent this.This was not something I noticed when my child was younger. He previously tolerated the car seat without significant issues. However, as he has gotten bigger, the positioning and lack of support have become increasingly obvious. His discomfort has also increased considerably.I have also experienced a separate concern with the installation of the car seat. After connecting the base to the vehicle's lower anchors and tightening the straps as instructed, I have noticed that the straps gradually loosen slightly during a car ride. While the amount of movement may appear minor, I consider any loosening of the installation system during use to be a serious safety concern. A car seat base should remain securely installed throughout the entire trip and should not become less secure during normal use.The combination of these issues is extremely concerning to me as a parent. I purchased this product with the expectation that it would securely restrain and properly support my child during a vehicle crash or sudden stop. Instead, I have observed my child repeatedly being placed in a forward-slumped position, including while sleeping, as well as an installation component that appears to lose some tension during use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C
- NHTSA ID
- 11761992
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2026
I own a 2023 Kia Sportage Pro While driving to work, I heard an explosive sound that sounded like a gunshot on the top of my vehicle. I pulled over to see that my sunroof had exploded. I checked for any objects that may have hit it, and the only thing that was in the top of the roof was glass. Thankfully, my cover was closed on my sunroof for a glass would have been all over causing possible injury.
- NHTSA ID
- 11761797
- Incident
- Sep 3, 2026
I was driving my 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid when the vehicle displayed a "Check Hybrid System"/ "Stop Safely" warning and suddenly lost motive power/acceleration. I was unable to accelerate normally. I had luckily pulled of the road that I was going 55 mph into a parking lot prior to the lass of power or I would have stopped right on the roadway with cars going the same speed directly behind me. This created a serious safety concern because if this had occurred while traveling at highway speed or in heavy traffic, the sudden loss of power could have resulted in a collision. There had been no indication to me that the vehicle was about to lose motive power before the hybrid-system warning appeared. The vehicle is currently at an authorized Kia dealership for inspection and diagnosis. The cause has not yet been provided to me. The vehicle is available for inspection. I am reporting this because a sudden loss of motive power associated with a broad-system warning presents a significant safety risk. I have also learned that other Kia Sportgage Hybrid owners have reported similar hybrid-system warning and loss-of-ower incidents.
- NHTSA ID
- 11760098
- Incident
- Aug 27, 2026
Main 12V electrical system failed completely. The engine stalled, the entire dashboard blacked out, and all auxiliary safety power was lost. The vehicle is currently located at Parkway Family Kia and is fully available for inspection. At rush hour freeway speeds, the engine stalled and total electrical failure occurred. Navigating across active lanes without engine power or power steering was extremely difficult. The total blackout killed my hazard lights, preventing me from warning other high-speed drivers. The dead car blocked an active lane on the feeder road, and an inattentive driver nearly struck my stalled, unlit vehicle. With zero hazards, I had to abandon the car and flee to the roadside to avoid a rear-end collision. Additionally, all passenger doors permanently locked, creating a severe entrapment hazard. Not yet. The vehicle was towed to Parkway Family Kia on Tuesday and is currently awaiting an official manufacturer diagnostic inspection by their service technicians. No advance symptoms prior to the day of the incident. At the moment of failure, the dash suddenly lit up with multiple warning lights. Within a tight 1 to 2-minute window, I completely lost power steering, making the vehicle extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver off the highway. Immediately after those 2 minutes, the dashboard and all electrical components went completely dark.
- NHTSA ID
- 11756745
- Incident
- Aug 11, 2026
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN GEN 5.0 WIDE SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin provides information on the Audio Video Navigation (AVN) system software update for certain vehicles equipped with AVN5W and Navigation System listed in the table below. Affected vehicles may overestimate travel times during route calculation.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the driver’s door lock and trunk lid key cylinders on some 2019-2024MY Kia vehicles listed below. On affected vehicles, the stored key code may not correspond to the mechanical key profile, which can result in incorrect key cutting when the original key is lost or damaged.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at update.kia.com. The software update may improve system performance, enhance existing features, and apply the latest operating software for supported vehicles (2021-2026MY All Models).
SERVICE BRAKES
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FRONT BRAKE DISC REPLACEMENT & BURNISHING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the front brake discs on certain 2021-2024MY Sorento (MQ4a) vehicles produced from July 26, 2021 through March 28, 2024 and 2023-2024MY Sportage (NQ5a) vehicles produced from January 7, 2022 through May 20, 2024 to address a customer’s complaint of brake judder. The affected vehicles may exhibit a vibrating and/or pulsing sensation (front brake disc judder) in the steering wheel, brake pedal, and/or seat when the brakes are applied during driving.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE PROCEDURE - This bulletin provides information on the process for downloading infotainment software updates and preparing USB for installation on applicable Kia vehicles. The software downloads and USB preparation process is similar across all supported platforms; however, in‑vehicle installation procedures vary by head unit type.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or foreign substances while driving. Damage to the cover of the ultrasonic sensor can also lead to damage to the internal circuit. As a result of this external damage, the PDW system may not receive the proper signal from the ultrasonic sensor. In some cases, the system may cause a false alarm, no alert, or phantom warnings by a “Warning Lamp’ to be displayed on the cluster. The ultrasonic sensor membrane film should be always inspected for external damage and if any part replacement should be treated as a general repair, not as a warranty claim repair for this concern. (Please note that this Pitstop only applies to models/trims that are equipped with the ultrasonic sensors.)
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 56.2 |
| 2025 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 2024 | 71 | 3 | 0 | 58.2 |
| 2023Viewing | 192 | 6 | 0 | 62.5 |
| 2022 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 54.7 |
| 2021 | 51 | 2 | 2 | 72.3 |
| 2020 | 160 | 2 | 2 | 70.2 |
| 2019 | 70 | 2 | 2 | 65.6 |
| 2018 | 164 | 3 | 1 | 66.3 |
| 2017 | 399 | 4 | 2 | 70.2 |
| 2016 | 131 | 2 | 2 | 59.8 |
| 2015 | 146 | 2 | 2 | 59.6 |
| 2014 | 122 | 3 | 2 | 56.6 |
| 2013 | 381 | 3 | 4 | 63.8 |
| 2012 | 392 | 5 | 4 | 64.0 |
| 2011 | 181 | 6 | 4 | 61.6 |
| 2010 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2009 | 80 | 3 | 1 | 56.6 |
| 2008 | 98 | 3 | 1 | 61.7 |
| 2007 | 77 | 2 | 0 | 51.1 |
| 2006 | 111 | 1 | 0 | 42.2 |
| 2005 | 68 | 3 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 234 | 3 | 4 | 59.0 |
| 2001 | 228 | 2 | 2 | 57.2 |
| 2000 | 304 | 4 | 6 | 61.6 |
| 1999 | 284 | 5 | 8 | 62.4 |
| 1998 | 303 | 5 | 6 | 60.4 |
| 1997 | 181 | 3 | 4 | 65.0 |
| 1996 | 57 | 3 | 2 | 65.4 |
| 1995 | 56 | 2 | 1 | 49.8 |
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.