Last updated: 2026-10-10
Dodge Hornet vs Kia Sportage: Reliability Compared
Dodge Hornet
Kia Sportage
Reliability favors the KIA Sportage by a wide margin over the Dodge Hornet. Owners filed far fewer complaints per car sold. The Hornet's electrical faults, from door latches to sudden power loss, drag its standing down, while the Sportage's engine and cruise control problems are serious but less widespread.
How Do the Dodge Hornet and Kia Sportage Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Kia Sportage is more reliable than the Dodge Hornet, scoring 75/100 vs 59/100.
The more reliable pick is clearly the Kia, and the gap is large. Owners filed complaints against the Dodge at about four times the rate per car sold, and its worst problems hit basic functions: door latches, dead batteries, and sudden power loss. The Kia has serious faults of its own, mainly engine failures and a cruise control surge, but it holds a good standing across a long record. The Dodge's standing is mixed, and owners report dealers with no fix or no parts.
Key Differences
- 1Kia Sportage has 16.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 2Kia Sportage scores 16 points higher in reliability
- 3Dodge Hornet has 15 fewer total recalls
Category Scoreboard
Dodge Hornet vs Kia Sportage: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Dodge Hornet | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 59/100 | 75/100 |
| Years Tracked | 3 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 13 | 28 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 21.7 | 5.3 |
| Year Wins | 0 | 3 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Kia Sportage?
Electronics drive the Dodge's trouble. Door latches fail, batteries drain, the center screen stays dark after a jump start, and power steering can drop out along with the rest of the car. Driver-assist systems shut off or brake hard on an open highway. The Kia's trouble is more mechanical. Engines run low on oil and lock up, rotors warp early, and cruise control can set itself to 110 mph. The Kia also has far more crash-linked areas: brakes, speed control, engine, power train, and electrical. The Dodge has single crash-linked reports in electrical, back over prevention, and forward collision avoidance.
| Component | Dodge Hornet | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6.8Average | 0.9Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2.5Low | 0.3Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.8Low | 0.8Very Low |
| ENGINE | 1.3Low | 1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 2Low | —None |
| STEERING | 1.8Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1.5Low | 0.1Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 0.5Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.5Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| SEATS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Dodge Hornet vs Kia Sportage Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Dodge Hornet | Kia Sportage | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64/1002R / 1C | 82/1002R / 44C | Kia Sportage |
| 2024 | 54/1007R / 60C | 78/1004R / 83C | Kia Sportage |
| 2023 | 59/1004R / 25C | 67/1009R / 257C | Kia Sportage |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Kia Sportage scored 78/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Kia Sportage?
Dodge Hornet vs Kia Sportage: Common Questions
- Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the KIA Sportage?
- No. The Sportage is clearly more reliable. It has a good standing, while the Hornet's is mixed. Hornet owners filed 21.7 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 5.3 for the Sportage. The Hornet's electrical problems, including door latches and power loss, are the main reason.
- Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the Sportage?
- The Sportage has more in total, with 28 recalls across 9 model years. The Hornet has 13 across only 3 model years, so its recalls are heavier per year on the road. Owners also report waiting on back-ordered recall parts for the Hornet.
- What are the most common Kia Sportage problems?
- Engine trouble leads, with 151 complaints. Oil runs low between changes, and the engine then knocks or locks up, often ending in replacement. Electrical faults come next, including stalling and no-start. Early rotor wear and cruise control surging also show up in owner complaints.
- Is the Dodge Hornet's electrical system a real concern?
- Yes. It is the top Hornet complaint area, with 27 complaints. Owners report door latches that fail, batteries that drain, and total power loss. After a jump start, the screen can stay dark and take the camera and heat controls with it. Owners say dealers often cannot find a fix.
- Which Sportage years should I be careful with?
- Be careful with 2018 and 2023, which rank among the weakest Sportage years. The newest years, 2025 and 2026, rank well, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. Whatever year you pick, check oil change records and test the cruise control.
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Decided between Dodge Hornet and Kia Sportage? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Dodge Hornet and Kia Sportage
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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