Kia Sportage
Problems & Worst Years

Across five model years, the Sportage's complaint file keeps returning to engine oil consumption, though the years differ sharply in which additional problems join it. The 2017 model logged the highest total at 198 complaints and tied for the most safety-tagged entries at five: excessive oil consumption led with 40 reports, a window malfunction added 29, and engine failure showed up twice — due to seizure (24 reports, safety severity) and as a complete loss of power (21 reports, also safety severity) — while unexplained brake issues with a squeaking noise contributed 16 more. Recalls 18V907 and 21V137 apply to this year.

The earlier 2016 model ran lighter on both volume and severity, with no complaints reaching safety-severity status; its 112 total complaints centered on engine knocking or abnormal noise (24 reports), delays in getting recall parts (20), and general loss of power and stalling (16), with recall 22V051 on file. Oil consumption carried into 2018 (21 reports) alongside electrical failures that caused a loss of vehicle functions (8) and steering issues linked to vehicle instability (6), and 2020, at just 51 total complaints, still managed four safety-tagged entries out of 13 problem types, led by continuous oil consumption requiring top-offs (11 reports) and an engine catastrophic failure (10, safety severity). Recall 21V137 covers both 2018 and 2020.

By 2023, the complaint profile shifted toward electronics: an infotainment screen blanking out or malfunctioning was reported 26 times at safety severity, lane departure assist failures added 23, and engine misfire paired with stalling contributed 22 more, also safety-rated — that year tied 2017 for the most safety-tagged complaints at five. Sunroof explosions (9 reports) and brake vibration or pulsation (7 reports) rounded out the list, with recalls 22V651, 23V298, and 23V410 all applying. Given the spread of both mechanical and electronic issues across these years, confirming recall completion and getting an independent inspection matter more here than picking a year based on complaint totals alone — these figures are, after all, what owners chose to report, not a certified defect rate, and newer years simply haven't had as much time to accumulate their own history.