Problems · NHTSA complaints

2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid problems

Owners filed 23 complaints about the 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid with NHTSA between Mar 2024 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (8).

Complaints
23
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control8
  2. Electrical system5
  3. Service brakes4
  4. Fuel/propulsion system3
  5. Forward collision avoidance3
  6. Hybrid propulsion system2
  7. Visibility/wiper2
  8. Engine2
  9. Steering1
  10. Power train1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Seat belts1
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Wheels1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
202410
20254
20269

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

8 reports1 crash
“While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of propulsion and significantly reduced acceleration. At the same time, the climate control system stopped producing heat. A red warning message appeared instructing me to stop safely. The vehicle would barely accelerate, creating a dangerous situation while driving. This issue has occurred three separate times, including twice in the same day. Each occurrence happened while the vehicle was in motion. The condition resolved only after turning the vehicle off and restarting it. The issue is intermittent and cannot be predicted. The reduced acceleration and loss of propulsion placed my safety at risk, especially at highway speeds, as the vehicle could not respond normally to traffic conditions. The vehicle was taken to a Kia dealership and inspected. A manufacturer tech line case was opened, and testing was performed, including a smoke test. The dealership stated they were unable to duplicate the issue. No repair was made, and the manufacturer closed the tech line case despite the reported loss of propulsion events. The vehicle is currently being retained at the dealership because I do not feel it is safe to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11711940

Electrical system

5 reports
“First of all, what I am about to write put my husband and I in great danger.Driving on a two way, busy, rural highway, traveling approximately 65 mph, my Kia suddenly displayed a warning to pull over immediately and something about the battery. I barely had time to pull on to a narrow shoulder before it completely died. Nothing electrical worked. It was running fine one second, then it was completely dead.Not knowing what to do, I described the situation to CHATgpt. It said to push the battery reset button located to the left of the steering wheel and at the same time push start. Relief, I thought we were good to go, but 2 miles down the road, in a worse road situation, it happened again. This time we were in heavy 65 mph traffic with no shoulder to pull over to.The road had been under construction to create a new lane but it wasn't completed. I had to quickly steer between two red/orange traffic drums from the black top to gravel construction area. I barely had enough time to pull over before it completely died again. We were lucky to escape being rear ended by a line of cars behind us going at least 65 mph. We had it towed to our home town 20 miles away, only…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2026Electrical systemODI 11769453

Service brakes

4 reports1 crash
“While driving downhill, the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of power steering assist and service braking assist with no warning lights on the dashboard. The brake pedal had no initial response and had to be pushed with full force completely to the floor to bring the vehicle to an emergency stop right before an intersection. The steering wheel became locked/unresponsive due to loss of power assist. The vehicle was taken to Lee Johnson Kia in [XXX] (Repair Order #XXX) and remained out of service for 37 days (XXX). The technician confirmed there were zero stored DTC codes, but noted on the official invoice: 'THERE IS NO TSB OR PITSTOP FOR THIS CONCERN AS I SAID THIS IS IN WORK OF ENGINEERING SO THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED ANYTHING YET.' The dealer replaced the valve cover/PCV assembly per internal engineering guidance for 1.6T hybrids exhibiting this condition, but root cause remains under active manufacturer investigation. A total loss of steering and braking assist at speed without warning is an extreme safety defect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 11767525

Fuel/propulsion system

3 reports
“While navigating the highly dangerous downhill descent of the Tejon Pass, LEBEC, CA , the vehicle experienced a complete throttle disengagement. The accelerator pedal became entirely unresponsive, leaving the vehicle without power on a steep, high-speed highway descent. I was traveling with my young daughter inside the vehicle. Due to the sudden loss of propulsion, I was forced to make an emergency maneuver and pull over onto the shoulder on the left side, right next to the high-speed passing lane. This situation put our lives in immediate danger of a catastrophic high-speed rear-end collision. A highway patrol that drove by within 5 mins was able to assist by blocking the downhill highway cars so I can drive down on Neutral Gear until a safe spot ( which it was a very stressful life endangering maneuver). Only Warning light I got was the Yellow engine light but no text indication of failure. Car was tolled to the dealership today for scanning. This is the first time that an event like this occured. Car has around 35 K miles and under warranty. All services have been performed ( last was 2 months ago)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11745626

Forward collision avoidance

3 reports
“Car brakes automatically applied, for no reason. I was driving in a city street, around 20 or 30 mph. The car randomly applied the brakes (hard) then released the brakes. I was able to continue driving after. But the braking made me jerk forward to the point that it locked my seatbelt. It was raining. But the road was completely open, no obstacle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2024Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11629660

Hybrid propulsion system

2 reports
“The contact owns a 2024 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle experienced a total loss of automotive power. The message "Check Hybrid System - Stop Immediately" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and DTC: P1BB2 was retrieved and a software update was performed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign: SC338; as a possible cause for the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Hybrid propulsion systemODI 11772782
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.