Fifth generation (NQ5) · first-year watch
2026 Kia Sportage, day 430
- 27complaints since Jul 29, 2025
- 1recalls
- 4involved a crash
- 2,431median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Changed since August
- 1 new complaint in September, about seats.
- Nothing filed yet on sticky steering, transmission failure, engine failure or fire.
- 28th most complaints of the 79 2026 models on this site.
What's been reported
NHTSA's own component codes. One report can cite several.
- Other8
- Collision avoidance8
- Electrical6
- Brakes6
- Fuel and propulsion4
- Structure4
- Lane keeping2
- Windshield and wipers1
Problems so far
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 6 reports
Recent reports
“Wiring harness keeps getting chewed up by rodents in engine bay. Had to have Kia fix 2 times for the parking distance sensors. Have done lots of prevention things to keep from engine bay, but attracted to this vehicle. My 2 other vehicles no problems. They are not Kias. It causes loss of driver assistance systems.”
Filed Aug 28, 2026
“While adaptive cruise was engaged, the vehicle read Alabama highway 80 west state road sign and incorrectly interpreted the sign for a speed limit sign which is 55 MPH.The vehicle displayed a â80 MPHâ speed limit sign on the instrument cluster and then began to accelerate. When I took it to the dealer for repair, the âturned off safety featureâ.”
Filed Jul 28, 2026
“When attempting to disengage the cruise control, I must apply sufficient force as to actually apply the brakes. My expectation is that a simple tap on the brake pedal would release the cruise control and begin a coasting mode. This is not the case; the SUV continues at the same forward speed until I press the brake pedal the second time a little harder.”
Filed Jun 12, 2026
“The glass piece that sits between the front windshield and the sunroof cracked from side to side of the car. When I called the dealership to get it repaired they said this has happened to a few models with this same type of glass between the windshield and the sunroof.”
Filed May 19, 2026
At a glance
- Next to the 2024
- The 2026 is too new for a fair per-year comparison. It has 27 complaints so far; the 2024, on sale longer, has 71.
- Top problem
- Brake wear is the one problem with a cluster of reports here: 6 of the 27 complaints (22%). Too few of the brake wear reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 5 of the 27 complaints (19%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 4 reports mention a crash and 1 person was hurt.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- 1 recall is on file, but no problem here has enough reports to set against it.
- When owners filed
- Every complaint so far came in during 2025. So far in 2026, 23 more have come in.
Recalls
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2025 Kia K4, 2025-2026 Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage PHEV, K5, EV9, Carnival, and Carnival Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays" and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
Risk and remedy
Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
The recall on the 2026 Kia Sportage, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Seeing this on your own car? How to file a complaint with NHTSA
The log
Complaints by the month NHTSA received them, newest first. Blue bars mark a month with a recall or an investigation.
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2026 Kia Sportage?
Brake wear, with 6 of the 27 complaints.
At what mileage do 2026 Kia Sportage problems start?
Of the 5 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 1,000 miles and half by about 2,000.
How many 2026 Kia Sportage complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
5 of them (19%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2026 Kia Sportage?
No recall on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.