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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2007 Kia SportageRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 77 owner complaints for the 2007 Kia Sportage. Most complaints involve electrical system (13) and air bags (13). The EPA rates it 19–22 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–22mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Apr 2013
Owner complaints
77
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: switch

Remedy pending

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V114000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 17, 2009NHTSA 09V130000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

77 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2007 – Aug 2025
  1. Electrical system13
  2. Air bags13
  3. Exterior lighting12
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  5. Steering10
  6. Service brakes9
  7. Engine8
  8. Vehicle speed control7
  9. Seat belts5

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

By model year

Complaints for each Sportage model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199657
1997187
1998303
1999284
2000304
2001228
2002237
200568
2006111
200777
200898
200980
201020
2011181
2012392
2013381
2014125
2015146
2016134
2017404
2018165
201971
2020166
202154
202247
2023194
202475
202555
202630
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
8
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

13 reports3 fires
“Just bought this vehicle Feb 16 and esc plus engine light came on replaced sensors they didnt go off pulling into drive at home it caught fire and burned totally destroyed panel on front passenger side at headlight near power box.Fire dept came they said it looks electrical and was the 2nd 2007 kia sportage they had put out today.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2023Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11514966

Air bags

13 reports4 crashes
“AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN OCCUPIED BY A PASSENGER, VERY CONCERN TOOK IT TO A SERVICE PLACE TO DIAGNOSE AND CAME BACK 2 CODES, SEE PIC PLEASE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2019Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11173860

Exterior lighting

12 reports
“The stop lamp switch was recalled & mine was replaced in 2010, but the part they replaced it with was faulty also and I’ve been driving without brake lights for years without knowing it. Then when I contacted KIA escalated customer “service,” they double-talked and gaslit me.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2023Exterior lightingODI 11523559
All 2007 Sportage problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Sportage 2WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202522$2,900404
Sportage 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$3,050423
Sportage 4WD
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
192421$3,050423
Sportage 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172320$3,200444
Sportage 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172119$3,400468
  • Sportage 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    20 city · 25 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Sportage 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sportage 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    19 city · 24 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Sportage 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    17 city · 23 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Sportage 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    17 city · 21 hwy · $3,400/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2007 Kia Sportage as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 2335
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2007 Sportage questions

How many recalls does the 2007 Kia Sportage have?

2 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2007 Kia Sportage problems?

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (13), air bags (13), exterior lighting (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2007 Kia Sportage get?

The EPA rates the 2007 Kia Sportage at 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026