Diagsheet

Fifth generation (NQ5) · first-year watch

2026 Kia Sportage, day 411

  • 26complaints since Jul 29, 2025
  • 1recalls
  • 4involved a crash

Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Sep 13, 2026

Changed since July

  • 2 new complaints in August, about electrical, backup camera and collision avoidance.
  • Nothing filed yet on sticky steering, transmission failure, engine failure or fire.
  • 24th most complaints of the 69 2026 models on this site.
2026 Kia Sportage
Photo: Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What's been reported

NHTSA's own component codes. One report can cite several.

  • Other
    8
  • Collision avoidance
    8
  • Electrical
    6
  • Brakes
    5
  • Fuel and propulsion
    4
  • Structure
    4
  • Lane keeping
    2
  • Windshield and wipers
    1

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 “80 MPH” speed limit sign on the instrument cluster and then began to accelerate. When I took it to the dealer for repair, the “turned off safety feature”.”

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

Recalls

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

26V-046Jan 27, 2026
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

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
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
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 log

Complaints by the month NHTSA received them, newest first. Dark bars mark a month with a recall or an investigation.

Aug 2026
2Electrical, Backup camera
Jul 2026
7Fuel and propulsion, Electrical
Jun 2026
1Brakes, Collision avoidance
May 2026
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Brakes
Apr 2026
4Electrical, Structure
Mar 2026
3Brakes, Lane keeping
Feb 2026
1
Jan 2026
0 recall 26V-046: Electrical
Dec 2025
2Windshield and wipers, Lane keeping
Nov 2025
1Electrical
Oct 2025
0
Sep 2025
0
Aug 2025
0
Jul 2025
1

Other model years