2023 Kia Sportage · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

34owner reports
12,000median miles
7involved a crash

Newest report Jun 15, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

34 of the 187 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2023 Sportage.

Tick what matches of 34 reports

grinding or squealing

pulsing or shaking when braking

pedal goes soft or to the floor

pads or rotors replaced early

a brake warning light

the car did not stop in time

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the pads and rotors (9 reports) and the booster (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the brakes covers the 2023 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

23V-410Jun 7, 2023

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake booster as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC272.

NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Sportage

AQ23-002opened Nov 17, 2023

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2008 to 2021

Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kiaâs defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

None of these investigations covers the 2023 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 11,000 and 16,000 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.

1523

1024

625

326

What owners wrote

“I took my car in several times to complain about the rotors and brakes. They said everything was fine but then the vehicle failed on the road so we had it taken to the nearest repair shop since we were on a road trip. Now Kia which has a fix to the damaged parts refusing to replace the defective parts.”
Filed Dec 18, 2025

“I feel shaking when I apply the brakes. I took it to Vision Kia in Canandaigua, NY, where I purchased it brand new, and they said the rotors are warped because of braking and heating up. They said that they are not under warranty. My car has 16,000 miles on it, the brakes should not be bad already.”
Filed Jun 27, 2024 · 16,000 miles

“The brakes become extremely stiff, making it difficult to start the vehicle. Once the vehicle is running, the brakes leak air when pressed, and stopping distance has been noticeably increased.”
Filed Jun 12, 2024

“On 05/13/24, the infotainment screen blanked out and the brake lights warning indicator appeared twice on the instrument panel while driving. This happened on two separate occasions.”
Filed May 15, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 7 of 34 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.