The Lemon Index2023 Kia Sportage.
The 2023 Kia Sportage is so far about average by owner complaints: 192 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 115, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 25 to 43 mpg combined. The best Kia Sportage year is 2010.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 192 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sportage year. 2023 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 7K to 63K miles on the car (29 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 6
- body structure 2024
The roof molding may loosen and detach.
- transmission & drivetrain 2023
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.
- brakes 2023
The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.
Show all 6 recalls
- electrical 2023
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
- airbags 2022
The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.
- electrical 2022
The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 74 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Technical service bulletin: service action: transmission wire harness upgrade and related dtc…
- Technical service bulletin service action: transmission wire harness upgrade and related dtc…
- Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter - this bulletin…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sportage SUV FWD | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | not rated |
| Kia Sportage HEV SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sportage HEV SUV FWD | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1500–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Engine oil has gotten very low to the point of the low oil light alert shows on dashboard. This incident has occurred 3 times since weâve bought the vehicle new in October of 2022. The vehicle has 3,500 miles on it.
2023 Kia Sportage owner · NHTSA complaint 11523213
More owner reports
While driving on the engine turned off without warning The car stalled in the middle of traffic.
NHTSA complaint 11501842
On 3/9/25, the infotainment panel and media system blanked out. After pulling the vehicle over, the infotainment panel cluster buffered after restarting.
NHTSA complaint 11653999
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Kia Sportage reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.1× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 115; 100 is average). The best Kia Sportage year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2023 Kia Sportage problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (23%), engine (20%) and automatic emergency braking (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sportage have?
6 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Sportage get?
25 to 43 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 Kia Sportage safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2023 Kia Sportage problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 7,000 and 63,700 miles. The middle report was at 26,900 miles, from 29 complaints.
Does the 2023 Kia Sportage have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 10% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Kia Sportage cost in fuel a year?
About $1500 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Kia Sportage have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sportage year is better than the 2023?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2022 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works