MYRModel Year Report

Kia Sportage — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

6 model years to avoid, 5 to watch and 10 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid6 years

Caution5 years

Best bets10 years

Complaint history

1995: 56 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 57 complaints, Recommended 1997: 181 complaints, Caution 1998: 303 complaints, Avoid 1999: 284 complaints, Avoid 2000: 304 complaints, Avoid 2000 2001: 228 complaints, Caution 2002: 234 complaints, Caution 2003: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 68 complaints, Recommended 2005 2006: 111 complaints, Recommended 2007: 77 complaints, Recommended 2008: 98 complaints, Recommended 2009: 80 complaints, Recommended 2010: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2010 2011: 181 complaints, Caution 2012: 392 complaints, Avoid 2013: 381 complaints, Avoid 2014: 123 complaints, Recommended 2015: 146 complaints, Recommended 2016: 132 complaints, Recommended 2017: 401 complaints, Avoid 2017 2018: 164 complaints, Recommended 2019: 70 complaints, Recommended 2020: 161 complaints, Recommended 2021: 53 complaints, Recommended 2022: 46 complaints, Recommended 2023: 192 complaints, Caution 2024: 72 complaints, Recommended 2025: 51 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2017 · 401
1995: 56 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 57 complaints, Recommended 1997: 181 complaints, Caution 1998: 303 complaints, Avoid 1998 1999: 284 complaints, Avoid 2000: 304 complaints, Avoid 2001: 228 complaints, Caution 2001 2002: 234 complaints, Caution 2003: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2004 2005: 68 complaints, Recommended 2006: 111 complaints, Recommended 2007: 77 complaints, Recommended 2007 2008: 98 complaints, Recommended 2009: 80 complaints, Recommended 2010: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2010 2011: 181 complaints, Caution 2012: 392 complaints, Avoid 2013: 381 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 123 complaints, Recommended 2015: 146 complaints, Recommended 2016: 132 complaints, Recommended 2017: 401 complaints, Avoid 2017 2018: 164 complaints, Recommended 2019: 70 complaints, Recommended 2020: 161 complaints, Recommended 2021: 53 complaints, Recommended 2022: 46 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 192 complaints, Caution 2024: 72 complaints, Recommended 2025: 51 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2017 · 401
1995: 56 complaints, Recommended 1995 1996: 57 complaints, Recommended 1997: 181 complaints, Caution 1997 1998: 303 complaints, Avoid 1999: 284 complaints, Avoid 1999 2000: 304 complaints, Avoid 2001: 228 complaints, Caution 2001 2002: 234 complaints, Caution 2003: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2003 2005: 68 complaints, Recommended 2005 2006: 111 complaints, Recommended 2007: 77 complaints, Recommended 2007 2008: 98 complaints, Recommended 2009: 80 complaints, Recommended 2009 2010: 20 complaints, Not enough data 2011: 181 complaints, Caution 2011 2012: 392 complaints, Avoid 2013: 381 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 123 complaints, Recommended 2015: 146 complaints, Recommended 2015 2016: 132 complaints, Recommended 2017: 401 complaints, Avoid 2017 2018: 164 complaints, Recommended 2019: 70 complaints, Recommended 2019 2020: 161 complaints, Recommended 2021: 53 complaints, Recommended 2021 2022: 46 complaints, Recommended 2023: 192 complaints, Caution 2023 2024: 72 complaints, Recommended 2025: 51 complaints, Recommended 2025 2026: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2017 · 401
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2026 ○ Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2025 ▲ Recommended 51 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2024 ▲ Recommended 72 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ◆ Caution 192 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ▲ Recommended 46 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 53 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ● Recommended 161 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2019 ▲ Recommended 70 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 164 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ■ Avoid 401 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 132 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ● Recommended 146 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 ● Recommended 123 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2013 ■ Avoid 381 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 ■ Avoid 392 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 ◆ Caution 181 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 ○ Not enough data 20 Only 20 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2009 ▲ Recommended 80 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 ● Recommended 98 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 ▲ Recommended 77 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ● Recommended 111 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2005 ▲ Recommended 68 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
2003 ○ Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2002 ◆ Caution 234 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 ◆ Caution 228 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2000 ■ Avoid 304 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1999 ■ Avoid 284 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1998 ■ Avoid 303 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1997 ◆ Caution 181 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 ▲ Recommended 57 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 ▲ Recommended 56 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

38

recalls on file across every Kia Sportage model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Kia models