2023 Kia Sportage Phev problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (3) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Sportage Phev model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Trailer Hitches 2025-12-17 · campaign 25V874000 · 5,046 vehicles
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk: An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2023-04-26 · campaign 23V298000 · 108,936 vehicles
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays," and 138, "Tire Pressure Monitorin
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.
Service bulletins (49)
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.
Suspension 2026-09-25 · WTY047_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: warranty extension campaign: rear shock absorber inspection & replacement (wty047) - this bulletin provides information associated with the ‘warranty extension program’ (wty047) to inspect, and if necessary, replace one or both left and right rear shock absorber assemblie
Suspension 2026-09-11 · WTY047_REIMB · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: reimbursement form (wty047) - this document is a reimbursement request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension campaign program launch.
Suspension 2026-09-11 · WTY047_OWNR · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: owner notification (wty047) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is extending the new vehicle limited warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear shock absorbers on the following vehicles that were originall
Suspension 2026-09-10 · WTY047_REIMB · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: reimbursement form (wty047) - this document is a reimbursement request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension campaign program launch.
Suspension 2026-09-09 · WTY047_QA · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: question and answer (wty047) – this document is the question and answer guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding warranty extension campaign wty047.
Suspension 2026-09-09 · WTY047_DPSM · Warranty Program/Extension
warranty extension campaign: dealer parts and service manager memo (wty047) - this document is the announcement to dealer parts and service managers advising that kia is extending the new vehicle limited warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear shock absor
Showing the 6 most recent of 49 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Power Train · 33,325 mi“the contact owns a 2023 kia sportage. the contact stated that while coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shifted into neutral and failed to properly shift into gear. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the failure could not be duplicated. the ve…”
2026-01-01 · Vehicle Speed Control“1. hybrid system failure and check engine light on . 2. car jerk while driving and gone to limp mode and my speed was reduced to 10 mph at traffic putting my self and other in danger . 3. my vehicle is currently at the dealership getting inspected this is the second time my hybrid warning light came on and the first time they told me nothing was …”
2025-10-30 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly“i had been driving on the freeway for about 5 minutes, and suddenly heard broken glass in my car. it was dark (around 8pm) so i looked around as i was driving and didn't see any of my visible windows broken. i then heard more glass shattering sound and realized it was my sunroof glass that had suddenly broken. the mesh cover beneath it was closed s…”
2025-08-13 · Vehicle Speed Control“when engaging the cruise control using the steering wheel button, the speed will set itself at 110 miles an hour, and the vehicle will in fact attempt to reach that speed and accelerate. the problem has occurred at speeds as low as 30 miles an hour and as high as 70 miles an hour, it happens intermittently pressing the cruise control button does no…”
2025-07-25 · Steering“kia opted for leather like material for the steering wheel cover. this material with only 14, 828 miles on the vehicle is starting to peel off causing a bad gripping scenario. the material is more like a vinyl instead of leather. i have brought the vehicle to the dealer who is attempted a warranty submission but i believe they will maybe only r…”
2025-04-07 · Engine“phev vehicle: charging interrupted in the middle of the night. when attempting to reconnect the charger, a "charging unsuccessful" message was given. a warning with "check hybrid system" appeared, as well as the check engine light. i cannot charge the car anymore and had to leave it at the dealership. …”
2025-01-01 · Engine“when driving, i get random flashing lights on the dashboard with a warning indicator: ”check hybrid system. stop safely”. it happened at least on 7 occasions while driving at high speed on a highway and while stopped at a traffic light. when the issue happens, the car triggers aggressive warning sounds forcing me to stop on the side of the road, pl…”
2024-10-08 · Vehicle Speed Control“i have experienced a dangerous bug where cruise control shoots immediately to 110mph. i have experienced three incidents in the last 15 months. too busy trying to disengage the accelerating vehicle to get a video, but many others have documented this bug: [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), …”
2024-08-22 · Unknown Or Other“see attached document for complaint…”
2024-06-04 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“at approximately 5:05pm today (6/4) as i was leaving a parking lot, i was reversing into the parking lot. the van directly opposite me also had their reverse lights on but was not moving. it was one of those whos-going-to-go-first situations. i had proximity warnings going off because of the cars parked around me and i started to reverse when i rea…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.