2010 Kia Sportage problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (4) · Seat Belts (3) · Service Brakes (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sportage model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V114000 · 980,377 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 20
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Service bulletins (24)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Power Train 2024-05-16 · TSB_TRA046_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced.
Power Train 2022-11-18 · TSB_TRA046_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart
Structure 2021-09-13 · TSB_BOD055_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: information for headlamp condensation and moisture - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to some kia models tha
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper 2020-08-25 · PS675 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pitstop - brake caliper leak inspection - this pitstop provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
Showing the 6 most recent of 24 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-05-24 · Unknown Or Other“i received notification of recall associated with my vehicle. i scheduled appointment and dealer needed to order part. when i showed up for repair, i was turned away and advised that kia is no longer repairing vehicles for recall 23v652000. can you verify that the recall is no longer occurring and that the risk of encountering the problem is bei…”
2024-04-30 · Service Brakes · 66,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact stated while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle was jerking, and the electronic stability control warning light was illuminated. the failure recurred intermittently. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the reca…”
2024-02-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated that while driving at an …”
2024-02-06 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated that when the vehicle was…”
2024-01-17 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue…”
2023-12-15 · Engine“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 service brakes, hydraulic however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts are not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou…”
2023-12-01 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic“the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a…”
2021-02-09 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control · 96,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2010 kia sportage. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control failed to deactivate while depressing the brake pedal. the contact stated that the electronic stability control warning light was illuminated. the contact had not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed nor repaired. the manufacture…”
2020-03-20 · Structure:body · 156,550 mi“when turning on the vehicle it sounds like someone is pushing on the gas pedal .sometime the start up and some times it doesn't. now all the interior lights went out and also the brake lights and the regular lights are not working . they just stop…”
2018-10-31 · Seat Belts“i filed a complaint before kia called and said they would replace seat belt as a courtesy but i would have to pay labor, dealer said a mouse chewed it, i had 2 people look at it and it is frayed, only one, no other seat belt, coat, towels, walmart totes nothing not even the papers that came with car and i am the only one that drives it except for d…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.