Last updated: 2026-03-04
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: Reliability Compared
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sportage
Choosing between the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two compact suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Kia Sportage currently leads with an average score of 74/100 compared to 73/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Kia Sportage is more reliable than the Hyundai Tucson, scoring 74/100 vs 73/100.
The Kia Sportage slightly outperforms the Hyundai Tucson in reliability with an average score of 84/100 compared to Tucson's 83/100. Despite having more recalls, the Sportage has a lower owner complaint rate of 5.3 per 10,000 sold versus Tucson's 8.9, indicating fewer issues per unit sold. While the Tucson offers a lower estimated annual repair cost at $426 compared to the Sportage's $462, the Sportage's better complaint rate makes it a marginally more reliable choice. Both vehicles share common issues with engines and electrical systems, but the Sportage's overall owner satisfaction is slightly stronger.
Key Differences
- 1Hyundai Tucson costs $36 less per year to repair
- 2Hyundai Tucson has 5 fewer total recalls
- 3Kia Sportage has 3.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 73/100 | 74/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 23 | 28 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 8.9 | 5.3 |
| Annual Repair Cost | $426/yr | $462/yr |
| Repair Frequency | 0.3/yr | 0.2/yr |
| Major Repair Risk | 10% | 11% |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 3 (1 tied) | 4 (1 tied) |
What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage?
The Hyundai Tucson exhibits a higher total number of complaints compared to the Kia Sportage, with significant issues in the engine and power train categories, both having notable crash-linked incidents. The Tucson's service brakes also present a concern with 15 crash-linked complaints, surpassing the Sportage in this area. The Kia Sportage, while having fewer overall complaints, reveals a notable concentration of issues in the electrical system and vehicle speed control, with the latter having a high crash-linked ratio. Both models share challenges in engine-related complaints, but the Tucson's higher incidence of power train and forward collision avoidance issues suggests a more pronounced concern in these areas.
| Component | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1.9Low | 1Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1.1Low | 0.9Very Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1Very Low | 0.8Very Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.3Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1.1Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 0.5Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.3Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.4Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| TRAILER HITCHES | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
| LANE DEPARTURE | —None | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
| SUSPENSION | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage?
How Does Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sportage | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 75/1006R / 251C | 82/1002R / 44C | Kia Sportage |
| 2024 | 77/1004R / 87C | 78/1004R / 83C | Kia Sportage |
| 2023 | 75/1002R / 142C | 67/1009R / 257C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2022 | 66/1003R / 433C | 79/1001R / 39C | Kia Sportage |
| 2021 | 78/1001R / 58C | 76/1002R / 34C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2020 | 73/1001R / 153C | 69/1002R / 139C | Hyundai Tucson |
| 2019 | 68/1001R / 349C | 74/1002R / 63C | Kia Sportage |
| 2018 | 68/1001R / 362C | 68/1003R / 147C | Tie |
| 2026(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | 76/100(predicted) | Tie |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2021 Hyundai Tucson scored 78/100 and the 2025 Kia Sportage scored 82/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Hyundai Tucson vs the Kia Sportage?
Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: Common Questions
- Is the Hyundai Tucson more reliable than the Kia Sportage?
- Based on our data, the Kia Sportage is more reliable with an average score of 74/100 compared to 73/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage?
- The Kia Sportage has more recalls (28) compared to the Hyundai Tucson (23). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Kia Sportage has a lower complaint rate at 5.3 per 10,000 sold versus 8.9 for the Hyundai Tucson. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Which is cheaper to maintain, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage?
- Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Hyundai Tucson is cheaper to maintain at $426/year versus $462/year for the Kia Sportage.
- Is the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage safer?
- Both the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Hyundai Tucson comparisons
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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