The Lemon Index2025 Kia Sportage.
The 2025 Kia Sportage is so far one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 54 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 49, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 1 recall, 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 54 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Sportage year. 2025 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 2K to 84K miles on the car (6 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- trailer hitches 2025
Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail.
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 15 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
- Technical service bulletin: customer action: ecu logic improvement for dtc p2b59f0 (ca2516) -…
- Over-the-air: voluntary service campaign: software update for parking distance warning (sc350)
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 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
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
car is 119 miles. I was driving and steering wheel stopped working out of nowhere.
2025 Kia Sportage owner · NHTSA complaint 11652796
Quick answers
Is the 2025 Kia Sportage reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 2× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2025 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 49; 100 is average). The best Kia Sportage year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2025 Kia Sportage problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (28%), automatic emergency braking (22%) and engine (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2025 Kia Sportage have?
1 safety recall (latest: trailer hitches). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Kia Sportage get?
25 to 43 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2025 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.
Does the 2025 Kia Sportage have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2025 Kia Sportage cost in fuel a year?
About $1500 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2025 Kia Sportage have?
1.6L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Kia Sportage year is better than the 2025?
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