Short answer
Among Kia Sportage model years through 2024, 2002, 2006 and 2022 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2023 has the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Kia Sportage: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 30
- Fewest recalls
- 2002, 2006 and 2022 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2023 (7)
- Most recalled system
- Service brakes, hydraulic (15)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2017, 2018, 2019 and 7 more years
Kia Sportage Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Electrical system |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 stars | Steering, Structure, Trailer hitches |
| 2023 | 7 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Air bags, Power train |
| 2022 | 1 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2019 | 2 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic, Trailer hitches |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Trailer hitches, Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2016 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2015 | 2 | 4–5 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2014 | 3 | 4–5 stars | Engine, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2013 | 3 | 4–5 stars | Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 5 | 4–5 stars | Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2011 | 6 | Not rated | Engine, Exterior lighting, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Exterior lighting |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Electronic stability control, Fuel system, gasoline, Parking brake |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2000 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20251 recall
- 20243 recalls
- 20237 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20212 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20192 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20125 recalls
- 20116 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20053 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20002 recalls
Kia Sportage: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Kia Sportage recalls are service brakes, hydraulic (15), engine (11), trailer hitches (10), exterior lighting (8) and electrical system (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 24 model years, and 2017, 2018, 2019 and 7 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Kia Sportage Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Kia Sportage?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002, 2006 and 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Kia Sportage model years have the most recalls?
2023 has the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Sportage", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy