10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 7
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 39,662 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While the vehicle is in motion interstate or city street, the engine revs up without putting more pressure onto the gas peddle. On several occasions I had to hit the brake peddle to avoid hitting another vehicle and once pulled into the side of the road as a precaution. We first noticed this problem about a couple of months after purchasing the vehicle. I previously reported this to Kia dealership, however he indicated that it would be the alternator or something that is causing the engine to not know what gear it's actually on. This happens randomly and at any speed. The seat belt light flashes occasionally although no one else is sitting in the vehicle and my seat belt is attached.
- Uniontown, PA, USA
This happened twice in 10 days. Once while driving and once in parking mode with vehicle on - suddenly the vehicle loses power, cannot accelerate, power steering is lost, and 3 panel lights turn on simultaneously: Battery, oil, check engine. Both times by turning off and restarting engine I have been able to continue driving, power is restored and panel lights turn off. Have taken both times to Kia service southside/jacksonville fl and they have not been able to identify the cause, therefore unable to fix a potentially very dangerous and life-threatening situation if this continues to happen, especially while driving. Extremely concerned!
- Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA
The passenger side rear door fails to open from both inside and outside of the vehicle. This happened unexpectedly and without provocation. There are numerous filed complaints siting this very same issue on the NHTSA.gov website and should be investigated.
- Riverview, FL, USA
2017 Kia Sportage lost all power as I was driving down the road. No power steering no braking nothing. Smoke and fumes filled the cab of SUV. Once I got off the road smoke was boiling out of hood of car.
- Murphy, NC, USA
My parking brake no longer sets, it just pumps and never locks. So I hope I don't have to park on any hills for a while. Also, my heating and air goes wonky sometimes and won't show me the actual temp or give me the option to increase or decrease in temp or mode unless I park and turn the engine off, start it again, then turn off the whole cooling or heating system and then mess with it more. My car is also often times in drive, and it'll rev up for no reason to the red line, then stall and coast to a stop. I've been lucky my kids have yet to be with me with this happening and it's been on back roads with little traffic. All these things while car is in drive/motion, except parking brake, that is obviously while in park that I've noticed.
- Belton, TX, USA
All four power window regulator/motors have had to be replaced. Vehicle placed in service May 2016 and currently has 34,000 miles. Driver side and passenger side regulator/motor's failed while vehicle still under warranty. Both rear window regulator/motor's failed December 2019 and were replaced February 2020 by the dealer at a cost to the owner of $1044.63.
- Hagatna, GU, USA
Power window motors failing. This car has less than 55,000 mile one it and only 2 years old but three out of the four power window motors have failed in the past two months.
- Deerfield Beach, FL, USA
Sometimes when we accelerate the car stalls & revs up, then it will act fine, but the check engine light will stay on for a bit. Then goes off and it acts normal. This is all while driving. This has been happening over a few months, ,,it's just every so often.
- Gilmer, TX, USA
Starter stopped working after 80000 miles. It was the issue with solenoid but I had to replace the starter. My safety concern was that I was ate gas station at sams club and I was not able restart the car after fueling gas.
- Arnold, MO, USA
Car won't start for no reason at all on some occasions
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA
On sat morning my SUV caught fire without warning. This occurred in indianapolis on harding St. Near the interstate exit. We were at a complete stop when smoke started coming out of the car then flames. I got my kids and dogs out. Then I realized our medications were in there. I then went back to try to grab the bag. I couldn't because of how fast it went up. In the process I ended with two small burns and a slight abrasion. There was no warning. The SUV has been maintenance and given all required maintenance. In fact in June it was taken in for an oil change.and 15000 mile maintenance. Currently it suspected that this was electric fire. I also have a video of someone that was passing by. The SUV was towed by the indianapolis police department to their lot were it is currently.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
After several complaints of rough idle, burnt oil and drive-ability issues starting at 7128 miles, 16066 miles, 21000 miles,22711 miles & 29356 miles, the engine was required replacement. After the engine was replaced (short block we were told), the brake assist system (bas) & the forward & rear collision warning system are intermittent in their operation. Randomly when sitting still the sensors will alert or when cross traffic (front or rear) the sensors fail to detect. This was a definite change of behavior since the engine was replaced. The local dealer said they checked it and after a few miles of driving declared it to be working properly. This random behavior occurs several times a day.. attached is a car fax report of our vehicle reflecting the problems.
- Snellville, GA, USA
With only 6762 miles on the odometer, going 79-80 mph on cruise control, the following happened all at once without warning: (1) loud thunk under the hood (2) engine stopped (3) electrical system shut down, including audio, dashboard, and headlights (4) rapid deceleration, as if I had slammed on the brakes (though I had not). (5) approaching the shoulder, I noticed that the power steering and power brakes were also inactive. After putting in park, it miraculously started right back up and got me home. But this is unacceptable, and a very serious safety issue, because the next time it happens, it'll be during rush hour and then I'll get rear-ended by the ubiquitous tailgater, going 70 mph. Even if the brake lights work when I get a chance to apply them, there would still be a delay of a second or two during which the vehicle would be rapidly decelerating on its own, without brake lights. Not to mention the undoubtedly accelerated wear and tear on internal parts.
- Denver, CO, USA
The contact rented a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while pulling into an army base at approximately 30 mph there was smoke coming from the vehicle. A witness informed the contact that there were flames coming from under the vehicle. The flames spread to the hood and wrapped around to the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle as it engulfed in flames. The contact observed that there was a trail of fuel coming from the vehicle. The fire was distinguished by the local fire department. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed back to the rental company. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,044. Updated 02/03/17 updated 09/07/2017
- Stafford, VA, USA
2017 Kia Sportage. Driver remote starts vehicle, unlocks vehicle and immediately shifts from park to any other gear, without pushing start/stop button, and within 10 seconds engine shuts off while in drive, neutral or reverse. Anti-theft programmed to shut off engine 10 seconds after unlocking doors unless the start/stop button has been pushed. There is no way that driver should be capable of shifting out of park until the after the start/stop button has been activated. Note: This is a correction for complaint # 10872312, reference 970797
- Murrysville, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. After starting the vehicle with the remote starter and shifting from the park position to reverse, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000. Updated 07/12/16
- Murrysville, PA, USA

- Riverview, FL, USA