2015 Kia Sportage problems and recalls

58% of owner complaints on the 2015 Kia Sportage related to the Engine (84 of 146).

146
Complaints
2
Recalls
7
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
5
Injuries
79.3
Severity index

Severity index 79.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 79.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 47 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 67% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 84 complaints (57.5%)84 58%Service BrakesService Brakes: 31 complaints (21.2%)31 21%HydraulicHydraulic: 28 complaints (19.2%)28 19%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 25 complaints (17.1%)25 17%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 18 complaints (12.3%)18 12%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 7 complaints (4.8%)7 5%Power TrainPower Train: 6 complaints (4.1%)6 4%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 5 complaints (3.4%)5 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE8457.5%
SERVICE BRAKES3121.2%
HYDRAULIC2819.2%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2517.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1812.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM74.8%
POWER TRAIN64.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL53.4%

Complaints filed per year

030592015: 32016: 52017: 72018: 62019: 102020: 92021: 102022: 592023: 172024: 122025: 52026: 3 (partial year)15161718192021225923242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20153
20165
20177
20186
201910
20209
202110
202259
202317
202412
20255
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (34 against 78).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V90700019/12/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The h
22V05100002/02/2022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

Other Kia Sportage model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 15 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.