MODELYEARINDEX

Kia Sportage

1,568 complaints across 11 scored model years and 20 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Kia Sportage Full report
F
Grade 2011–2021
2017 vs model median 3.9×
Model median3× median
Engine 56
Electrical 21
Drivetrain 20
Avoid

2017 · 2020

Best

2012 · 2014

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2011
1.00× 69 C
2012
0.57× 29 C
2013
0.68× 42 C
2014
0.36× 20 B
2015
1.09× 41 C
2016
1.09× 51 C
2017
3.92× 202 F
2018
1.58× 99 D
2019
0.93× 44 C
2020
1.80× 98 F
2021
0.67× 38 C
2022 P
1.24× 67 C
2023 P
8.58× 495 F
2024 P
2.72× 147 F
2025 P
2.09× 122 D

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG33
City / Highway31.5 / 35
Engine2.05L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$1,900

Recalls

20 campaigns on record, 5 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V652000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2011–2013 1,730,192
13V114000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH 2011 980,377
17V224000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 2011–2013 618,160
21V137000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2017–2021 379,931
20V750000 ENGINE 2012 294,756
22V051000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2014–2016 126,747
23V298000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 2023 108,936
24V025000 STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS 2023, 2024 101,049

+ 12 further campaigns

Others in Compact SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura RDX
20192020
C
Audi Q5
20182021
C
Audi SQ5
none flagged
C
BMW X3
20132019
C
Buick Envision
2017
C
Cadillac SRX
2013
C
Cadillac XT5
2017
C
Chevrolet Blazer
none flagged
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2017 Sportage
Complaints in window
202
Severity-weighted
372.5
Model median (weighted)
95
vs model median
3.92×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
1
Score 6.7 F