Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · 8 model years, 2014 to 2026

Honda CR-V vs Kia Sportage: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Sportage split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).

Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V

6,476 complaints · 16 recalls

Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

1,337 complaints · 13 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2026CR-VSportage
Complaints that report a crash3.8%5.8%
Complaints that report a fire0.4%5.2%
Complaints that report an injury2.5%4.1%
Median miles when problems are reported20,00055,000
Recall campaigns per model year2.01.6
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations61

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system CR-V owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Sportage. Complaints citing steering make up 13% of all CR-V complaints, against 2.9% on the Sportage. The Sportage leans the other way on engine: 47% of its complaints, against 26% for the CR-V.

Honda CR-VKia Sportage

Engine26%47%
Electrical15%15%
Fuel and propulsion14%5.8%
Steering13%2.9%
Collision avoidance13%2.9%
Transmission and drivetrain8.0%7.3%
Brakes7.6%5.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic0.3%8.0%
Speed control3.6%4.2%
Structure2.6%4.3%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the CR-V is stalling (9.2% of its complaints). On the Sportage it is engine failure (20% of its complaints), against 2.5% on the CR-V.

ProblemCR-VSportage
Engine stalls or loses power while driving9.2% 599most in 2018 · 23k mi15% 197most in 2017 · 70k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing2.5% 159most in 2017 · 34k mi20% 273most in 2017 · 82k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early7.9% 514most in 2018 · 18k mi14% 181most in 2016 · 40k mi
Check engine light or misfire5.4% 350most in 2017 · 56k mi12% 166most in 2017 · 87k mi
Burns oil or oil level rises4.5% 294most in 2017 · 9k mi7.9% 106most in 2017 · 64k mi
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)8.0% 516most in 2018 · 27k mi0.7% 9
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks7.7% 499most in 2023 · 36k mi0
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails4.5% 292most in 2017 · 14k mi2.5% 33most in 2023

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

CR-V owners report problems earlier. Half the CR-V complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the Sportage the halfway point is 55,000. 78% of CR-V reports and 47% of Sportage reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Honda CR-VKia Sportage

Under 25k55%34%
25k to 50k22%13%
50k to 75k11%18%
75k to 100k5.9%16%
100k to 150k4.2%17%
Over 150k1.3%2.9%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 3,212 for the CR-V and 551 for the Sportage.

Worst and best years

The 2018 CR-V draws 4.3 times the complaints of a typical CR-V year for its age. The 2023 Sportage draws 3.9 times the complaints of a typical Sportage year for its age.

Honda CR-V

Every CR-V model year

Kia Sportage

  • Years to avoid: 2017, 2023 and 2024
  • Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better

Every Sportage model year

Honda CR-VKia Sportage

Each model year against its own model's median. CR-V: 2014 0.7, 2015 1.0, 2016 0.6, 2017 3.2, 2018 4.3, 2019 2.5, 2020 0.9, 2021 1.0, 2022 0.9, 2023 2.3, 2024 2.4. Sportage: 2014 0.8, 2015 1.0, 2016 1.0, 2017 3.3, 2018 1.5, 2019 0.7, 2020 1.9, 2021 0.7, 2022 0.8, 2023 3.9, 2024 1.9.2014 CR-V: 0.7 times its median2014 Sportage: 0.8 times its median'142015 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2015 Sportage: 1.0 times its median'152016 CR-V: 0.6 times its median2016 Sportage: 1.0 times its median'162017 CR-V: 3.2 times its median2017 Sportage: 3.3 times its median'172018 CR-V: 4.3 times its median2018 Sportage: 1.5 times its median'182019 CR-V: 2.5 times its median2019 Sportage: 0.7 times its median'192020 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2020 Sportage: 1.9 times its median'202021 CR-V: 1.0 times its median2021 Sportage: 0.7 times its median'212022 CR-V: 0.9 times its median2022 Sportage: 0.8 times its median'222023 CR-V: 2.3 times its median2023 Sportage: 3.9 times its median'232024 CR-V: 2.4 times its median2024 Sportage: 1.9 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The CR-V draws more recalls: 2.0 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the Sportage. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Honda CR-V

16 recall campaigns and 6 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (4), airbags (3) and steering (2).

  • 23V-858 (fuel system) covers 7 model years
  • 23V-158 (seat belts) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • EA24002: Inadvertent automatic emergency braking (open)
  • EA23003: Momentary increased steering effort (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE22011: Rear differential seizure (closed)

Kia Sportage

13 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: service brakes, hydraulic (3), electrical (3) and trailer hitches (2).

  • 18V-907 (fuel system) covers 5 model years
  • 22V-051 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of Sportage complaints report a crash: 5.8%, against 3.8% for the CR-V. Fire reports: 27 for the CR-V and 69 for the Sportage. Complaints on file report 4 deaths in the CR-V and 0 in the Sportage for these model years.

Honda CR-VKia Sportage

Report a crash3.8%5.8%
Report a fire0.4%5.2%
Report someone hurt2.5%4.1%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Honda CR-V or the Kia Sportage more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the CR-V and the Sportage split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the CR-V has 6,476 complaints and the Sportage 1,337 for the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the CR-V or the Sportage?

The CR-V has 16 recall campaigns and the Sportage 13 across the 8 model years from 2014 to 2026 that both have on file. The CR-V draws more recalls: 2.0 campaigns per model year against 1.6 for the Sportage.

What are the most common problems on the CR-V and the Sportage?

The most reported problem on the CR-V is stalling (9.2% of its complaints). On the Sportage it is engine failure (20% of its complaints), against 2.5% on the CR-V.

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