2019 Kia Sportage problems
The 2019 Kia Sportage has 106 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (37%) concerns engine. Next are electrical system (10%) and brakes (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 106 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 37% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 25,000 miles 34 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 17 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 34 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 25,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 60,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2019 ranks 17th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Kia Sportage with enough data (70 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
[XXX], I was driving alone on [XXX] in McAllen, TX. & intersection of [XXX] St. Weather was sunny, hot, and dry. My car was 1st in middle lane, speed about 20 mph. I applied the brakes for a red traffic light. Instantly, the brakes locked and 3 air bags deployed -driver and passenger side + passenger side windows. The windshield was blocked but it seemed like the car swerved slowly, about 10-15 mph, to the right. My car sideswiped the Chevy Equinox stopped at red light in right lane.
The tire suddenly exploded and the curtain air bag on the drivers side exploded too for some reason. I have a huge black eye and a concussion.
My kia sportage 2019 caught fire on the highway in new market md at around 10:30 am 9/26/19. We had previously taken the car to the dealership where we purchased it back in 12/2019. It had only 3900+/- miles on it. The oil, filter, tire rotation and 27 point inspection was done on 9/19/19. As I was in the left lane of rte 70 wb I noticed blue smoke coming from the back of the car. I put on my flashers and signaled over to the right shoulder.
In the range of 1200-1500 RPM and speeds in the 40 MPH range there is a vibration and hesitation especially on any degree of incline. More seriously, the problem repeats at 2000 rmp at highway speeds from 65 MPH upwards. There is a vibration and serious lack of response to increased pressure on the accelerator. It is worse on any incline but happens on level road as well. The car will not respond to trying to increase speed unless I really push hard on the accelerator and then it is still slow to respond.