CarBrief

NHTSA has 38 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage[1]. It also has one recall, a software fix for the instrument panel display[2].

38owner complaints[1]
1recalls[3]
24–42MPG combined (EPA)[4]
5★NHTSA overall rating[5]

Most reported problems

Owners filed 38 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Five mention a crash, one mentions an injury, and none mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts of the car.

Here is how the complaints split by component group:

Component group Complaints Crashes mentioned
Optional: add a note that crash counts come from the same facts as each row.
Electrical system[6] 9 0
Brakes[7] 9 3
Forward collision avoidance[8] 8 4
Fuel/propulsion system[9] 5 1
Engine[10] 5 0
Structure[11] 4 0
Power train[12] 3 0

We also read a small sample of the complaint texts. These themes come from that sample only, so they do not tell you how common a problem is.

Brakes (3 crashes), forward collision avoidance (4) and fuel/propulsion system (1) are the groups with crash mentions[7][8][9]. The counts are small, so read them as reports worth checking, not as proof of a pattern.

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for this model year.

Before you buy, ask the seller or a Kia dealer whether this update was done on the exact car.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the version. Hybrids use the least fuel.

Version City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
Sportage FWD, 2.5L[13] 25 / 33 / 28 $2,400
Sportage AWD, 2.5L[14] 24 / 30 / 26 $2,600
Sportage X-pro, 2.5L[15] 23 / 26 / 24 $2,800
Hybrid FWD, 1.6L turbo[4] 41 / 44 / 42 $1,600
Hybrid AWD, 1.6L turbo[16] 35 / 36 / 35 $1,900

The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is rated 36 MPGe combined, with 470 miles of range[17].

EPA fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the Sportage and the Sportage Hybrid, in both AWD and FWD, 5 stars overall, 5 stars frontal and 5 stars side[5][18][19][20]. Rollover is 4 stars, with a rollover risk of 16.9%[5][18][19][20]. The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is not rated by NHTSA[21].

Engine and size

EPA lists two engines for this model year:

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

AWD FWD
Length[24][25] 184 in 184 in
Width[24][25] 74 in 74 in
Height[24][25] 66 in 66 in
Wheelbase[24][25] 109 in 109 in
Curb weight[24][25] 3,618 lb 3,486 lb

How 2026 compares with other years

1995: 56 complaints, 2 recalls19951996: 57 complaints, 3 recalls1997: 181 complaints, 3 recalls1998: 303 complaints, 3 recalls19981999: 284 complaints, 3 recalls2000: 304 complaints, 2 recalls2001: 228 complaints, 0 recalls20012002: 234 complaints, 1 recalls2005: 68 complaints, 3 recalls2006: 111 complaints, 1 recalls20062007: 77 complaints, 2 recalls2008: 98 complaints, 3 recalls2009: 80 complaints, 3 recalls20092010: 20 complaints, 2 recalls2011: 181 complaints, 6 recalls2012: 392 complaints, 5 recalls20122013: 381 complaints, 3 recalls2014: 124 complaints, 3 recalls2015: 146 complaints, 2 recalls20152016: 134 complaints, 2 recalls2017: 402 complaints, 4 recalls2018: 164 complaints, 3 recalls20182019: 71 complaints, 2 recalls2020: 162 complaints, 2 recalls2021: 54 complaints, 2 recalls20212022: 46 complaints, 1 recalls2023: 308 complaints, 7 recalls2024: 107 complaints, 3 recalls20242025: 73 complaints, 1 recalls2026: 38 complaints, 1 recalls3820262027: 1 complaints, 0 recalls2027
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Sportage model year. The 2026 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
1995562
1996573
19971813
19983033
19992843
20003042
20012280
20022341
2005683
20061111
2007772
2008983
2009803
2010202
20111816
20123925
20133813
20141243
20151462
20161342
20174024
20181643
2019712
20201622
2021542
2022461
20233087
20241073
2025731
2026381
202710

The 2026 Sportage has 38 complaints and 1 recall on file[3]. Only the 2027 model year (1 complaint) and 2010 (20 complaints) have fewer complaints[3].

The highest complaint counts are 402 for 2017, 392 for 2012 and 381 for 2013[3]. For recalls, only 2001 and 2027 list none. The 2002, 2006, 2022 and 2025 model years also list 1[3].

Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so use them as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2026 Sportage?

The complaint count is low next to most earlier Sportage years[3], and the safety ratings are strong for the rated versions[5][18][19][20]. The one recall has a software fix at no cost, so confirm it was done[2]. The brake, driver-assist and power-loss reports in our sample are small in number but serious in what they describe[7][8][10]. Test drive the exact car and ask a dealer to check for open recalls. Fuel economy varies a lot by version, from 24 combined MPG for the X-pro to 42 for the Hybrid FWD[15][4].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 38 complaints on file[1]. The largest named groups are electrical (9) and brakes (9), and 10 name an unknown or other group[26][6][7].
Is there a recall on the 2026 Kia Sportage?
Yes. Recall 26V046 covers an instrument panel software error. The fix is a free software update[2].
How many miles per gallon does the 2026 Kia Sportage get?
EPA combined ratings run from 24 MPG for the X-pro to 42 MPG for the Hybrid FWD[15][4]. The plug-in hybrid is rated 36 MPGe combined[17].
What is the 2026 Kia Sportage safety rating?
NHTSA rates the Sportage and Sportage Hybrid 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover[5][19]. The plug-in hybrid is not rated[21].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 38 owner complaints on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage (5 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Recall 26V046, filed January 26, 2026: Electrical System › Instrument Cluster / Panel. NHTSA recall database
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Kia Sportage model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Sportage Hybrid FWD, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 41 city / 44 highway / 42 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 9 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 9 complaints name the brakes component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 8 complaints name the forward collision avoidance component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 5 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 5 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 4 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 3 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Sportage FWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Sportage AWD, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 30 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. EPA rating for Sportage X-pro, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 26 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Sportage Hybrid AWD, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 35 city / 36 highway / 35 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Regular Gas and Electricity: 36 MPGe combined, 470 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  19. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  22. EPA Test Car List, 2026 Kia Sportage with 1.6L 4-cylinder: rated 178 hp. www.epa.gov
  23. EPA Test Car List, 2026 Kia Sportage with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 188 hp. www.epa.gov
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SPORTAGE AWD 4DR SUV: length 184 in, width 74 in, height 66 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,618 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  25. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, SPORTAGE FWD 4DR SUV: length 184 in, width 74 in, height 66 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,486 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  26. 10 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.