Is the 2023 Kia Sportage a bad year?
197 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sportage years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2023 Kia Sportage are in line with other Sportage years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2023 Sportage owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 48 (24%) | too few with a mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 39 (20%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 34 (17%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 24 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 197 complaints: 24 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 13 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
53 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2023 Kia Sportage: 6
The roof molding may loosen and detach. A detached roof molding can create a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat. An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist. A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. A blank instrument cluster display will not show critical information, such as tire pressure, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation. A twisted air bag can deploy improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 53
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2023 Kia Sportage. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Itm replacement and ECM logic improvement (CA2509)
4WD coupling actuator assembly replacement
Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter
SC239_stkr: voluntary emissions service campaign completion sticker
Neighbouring years
2022 Sportage: 47 complaints, keep it · 2024 Sportage: 74 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Sportage year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sportage years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Sorento · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2023 Kia Sportage a bad year?
197 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sportage years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Sportage?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (48), engine (39), brakes (34), collision avoidance (24), transmission and drivetrain (19).
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Sportage have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Body structure (NHTSA 24V-025), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 23V-531), Brakes (NHTSA 23V-410), Electrical system (NHTSA 23V-298) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.