Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia Sportage Reliability by Year
Reliability record for the KIA Sportage: rated good overall and cheaper to repair than most compact SUVs, with 2022 the best-value used year.
Kia Sportage Reliability Overview
Used Sportage buyers get a compact SUV that rates well against other SUVs and costs less to repair than most rivals. The 2022 is the safer pick, while 2018 and 2023 are the years to skip. Watch for heavy oil use that can end in engine knocking and failure, and for screens that go black or cut power while driving.
Current generation: 5th gen (2023–2023).
Best & Worst Kia Sportage Years
Best Kia Sportage Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreWith 1 recall and 39 owner complaints, 2022 sits far below 2023, which has 9 recalls and 257 complaints. It has also been on the road long enough for those counts to mean something. Its weak spot is oil running low between changes, so keep every oil change record.
Kia Sportage Years to Avoid
Electrical faults lead the complaints. Screens go black or reboot while driving, and cruise control and safety features stay off until a restart. Owners also report power loss, limp mode, and soft brake pedals. This year also carries 9 recalls, the most of any year tracked.
Kia Sportage Reliability Score Trend
Kia Sportage reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 78/100 compared to 72/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 67/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 82/100 | Excellent |
| 2026 | 83/100 | Excellent |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Kia Sportage
3 recalls · 4 complaints
Ranks first of nine scored Sportage years, though it has only four owner complaints so far and three electrical recalls to verify.
2025 Kia Sportage
2 recalls · 44 complaints
Excellent standing and lower repair costs than its class, but owners report stalls and power loss early, some within the first 1,325 miles.
2024 Kia Sportage
4 recalls · 83 complaints
Mid-pack among Sportage years, with far fewer complaints and recalls than 2023 but recurring reports of cluster blackouts, runaway cruise control and sunroof breaks.
2023 Kia Sportage
9 recalls · 257 complaints
The weakest scored Sportage year and the first of the fifth generation, with heavy complaints about electrical faults, cruise control surges and brakes, and nine recalls.
2022 Kia Sportage
1 recalls · 39 complaints
Final fourth-generation year and one of the stronger Sportage years, though owners report engine failures after oil runs low and a hitch recall with no repair part.
2021 Kia Sportage
2 recalls · 34 complaints
Rates good and above average for 2021 SUVs, with far fewer complaints than 2020, but oil burning and two park-outside recalls need checking.
2020 Kia Sportage
2 recalls · 139 complaints
Engine power loss and heavy oil burning, plus two park-outside fire recalls, leave this facelift year weaker than the 2019 and 2021 models around it.
2019 Kia Sportage
2 recalls · 63 complaints
Fewer complaints than the 2018 and 2020 models and a middle-of-the-pack standing, though oil burning and engine failure still show up.
2018 Kia Sportage
3 recalls · 147 complaints
Good standing and close to average for 2018 SUVs, but among the weaker Sportage years because of engine oil use, rod bearing failures, and fire reports.
Found Your Kia Sportage? Check Its History
Fuel propulsion system (1) problems come up most in Kia Sportage owner complaints, and 28 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Kia Sportage Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
4/5
Annual Repair Cost
$462
Repair Frequency
0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk
11%
$59 below the compact SUVs average of $521/yr.
Ranked #6 of 26 among compact SUVs.
Kia Sportage Resale Value
The Kia Sportage is estimated to retain about 63.6% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 63.6%
- Depreciation
- 36.4%
- Listings Analyzed
- 720
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Kia Sportage depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comKia Sportage Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
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Compare Kia Sportage With Similar SUVs
The Kia Sportage competes with other compact suvs such as Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Rogue.
Sportage vs Honda CR-V
9 years tracked · 5017 complaints
Sportage vs Toyota RAV4
8 years tracked · 2734 complaints
Sportage vs Nissan Rogue
9 years tracked · 2539 complaints
Sportage vs Hyundai Tucson
9 years tracked · 1838 complaints
Sportage vs Mazda CX-50
4 years tracked · 96 complaints
More Kia Sportage comparisons
- Sportage vs Chevrolet Equinox
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- Sportage vs GMC Terrain
- Sportage vs Honda Civic
- Sportage vs Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Sportage vs Hyundai Kona
- Sportage vs EV6
- Sportage vs Sorento
- Sportage vs Mazda CX-5
- Sportage vs Nissan Murano
- Sportage vs Nissan Sentra
- Sportage vs Subaru Forester
- Sportage vs Tesla Model Y
- Sportage vs Toyota Corolla
- Sportage vs Toyota Corolla Cross
- Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the KIA Sportage reliable?
- Yes, overall standing is good, and it ranks above average among SUVs on this site. Results vary a lot by year, though. Heavy oil use and engine failure show up in older years, and electrical faults cluster in 2023. Pick the year carefully.
- What is the best KIA Sportage year to buy used?
- The 2022 is the site pick among years that have been on the road at least two years. The 2025 and 2026 score highest, but they have had little time to collect complaints, so their clean records say less than 2022's does.
- What are the most common KIA Sportage problems?
- Engine complaints lead, mostly heavy oil consumption with no visible leak, which can progress to knocking, misfires, and lost compression. Electrical complaints come next, including overheated wiring harnesses with melted plugs and no-start problems that persist even when the battery tests fine.
- How much does it cost to repair a KIA Sportage?
- Independent repair-cost data puts the estimated annual repair cost at $462. That is below the $521 average for compact SUVs. A bad engine or a recurring electrical fault can still cost far more than that figure suggests.
- Does the KIA Sportage have fire risk?
- Some fire reports exist. Owners describe smoke under the hood, a stall, then flames, and wiring plugs that melted near the battery, alternator, and cooling fan. Fire reports appear in 2018 through 2022. Check recall status by VIN before buying.
How we score the 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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