Kia Sportage years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 29 model years of the Kia Sportage by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2023, 2017, 2025, 2013, 2012, 2024, 2020 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30 | 30 | — | 1 | 4 | Too new to judge |
| 2025 | 55 | 28 | 2.7 | 1 | 5 | Most complaints |
| 2024 | 75 | 25 | 2.5 | 3 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 2023 | 194 | 49 | 4.8 | 6 | 24 | Most complaints |
| 2022 | 47 | 9 | 0.9 | 1 | 6 | Typical |
| 2021 | 54 | 9 | 0.9 | 2 | 3 | Typical |
| 2020 | 166 | 24 | 2.3 | 2 | 11 | Most complaints |
| 2019 | 71 | 9 | 0.9 | 2 | 3 | Typical |
| 2018 | 165 | 18 | 1.8 | 3 | 7 | Typical |
| 2017 | 404 | 40 | 4.0 | 4 | 14 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 134 | 12 | 1.2 | 2 | 8 | Typical |
| 2015 | 146 | 12 | 1.2 | 2 | 7 | Typical |
| 2014 | 125 | 10 | 0.9 | 3 | 3 | Typical |
| 2013 | 381 | 27 | 2.7 | 3 | 5 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 392 | 26 | 2.6 | 5 | 7 | Most complaints |
| 2011 | 181 | 11 | 1.1 | 6 | 7 | Typical |
| 2010 | 20 | 1 | 0.1 | 2 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 80 | 4 | 0.4 | 3 | 4 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 98 | 5 | 0.5 | 3 | 2 | Typical |
| 2007 | 77 | 4 | 0.4 | 2 | 10 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 111 | 5 | 0.5 | 1 | 8 | Typical |
| 2005 | 68 | 3 | 0.3 | 3 | 6 | Fewest complaints |
| 2002 | 237 | 9 | 0.9 | 3 | 16 | Typical |
| 2001 | 228 | 9 | 0.9 | 2 | 25 | Typical |
| 2000 | 304 | 11 | 1.1 | 4 | 23 | Typical |
| 1999 | 284 | 10 | 1.0 | 5 | 27 | Typical |
| 1998 | 303 | 10 | 1.0 | 5 | 19 | Typical |
| 1997 | 187 | 6 | 0.6 | 3 | 33 | Typical |
| 1996 | 57 | 2 | 0.2 | 3 | 12 | Fewest complaints |
- 202630 complaints · 1 recallToo new to judge
- 202555 complaints · 1 recallMost complaints
- 202475 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2023194 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 202247 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 202154 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2020166 complaints · 2 recallsMost complaints
- 201971 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2018165 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2017404 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2016134 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2015146 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2014125 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2013381 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2012392 complaints · 5 recallsMost complaints
- 2011181 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 201020 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 200980 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 200898 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 200777 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 2006111 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 200568 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 2002237 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2001228 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2000304 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 1999284 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1998303 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1997187 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 199657 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 2010, 1996, 2005, 2007, 2009.
About this comparison
What Kia Sportage years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2023, 2017, 2025, 2013, 2012, 2024, 2020 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 29 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.