Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2023 as the Sportage years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 87, 80, 93 and 100 respectively, the highest in the lineup.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as the Outlander years to avoid, led by 2022 with a complaint index of 100 and 215 complaints.

Which model has more total complaints, the Sportage or the Outlander?

The Sportage has 2,575 total complaints (161 per model year) versus the Outlander's 879 (59 per model year), but these totals are not normalized for sales volume.

Which model has better fuel economy?

The Outlander averages 25 mpg combined across its years versus 23.5 mpg combined for the Sportage.

What are the top problem areas for each model?

For the Sportage, Engine complaints dominate at 60% of all complaints. For the Outlander, complaints spread more evenly across Engine (19%), Electrical System (17%), Transmission & Powertrain (17%) and Structure & Body (17%).

Kia Sportage vs Mitsubishi Outlander: Which Years to Avoid

Kia Sportage owners should avoid 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2023; Mitsubishi Outlander owners should avoid 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Sportage logs 2,575 total complaints (161 per model year) across 16 years versus Outlander's 879 (59 per model year) across 15 years, though totals aren't sales-normalized.

Head to head

Kia Sportage

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 2,575
Per model year: 161
Recall campaigns: 20
Years to avoid: 2012, 2013, 2017, 2023
Best years: 2010, 2014, 2019, 2022
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 23.5
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 5.0 ★

Mitsubishi Outlander

Model years: 2010–2025 (15)
NHTSA complaints: 879
Per model year: 59
Recall campaigns: 30
Years to avoid: 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024
Best years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 25.0
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Sportage				Outlander
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Best	20	2	21	Best	60	10	21.5
2011	Good	181	6	23	Best	58	8	23
2012	Avoid	392	5	23	Best	22	6	23
2013	Avoid	381	3	23	Good	26	5	23
2014	Best	122	3	22.5	Caution	45	4	26
2015	Good	146	2	22	Best	52	5	26
2016	Good	131	2	22	Avoid	145	8	26
2017	Avoid	399	4	23	Good	51	6	26
2018	Caution	164	3	23	Caution	57	6	25.5
2019	Best	70	2	23	Good	29	5	25.5
2020	Caution	160	2	23	Caution	31	3	25.5
2021	Good	51	2	23	—	—	—	—
2022	Best	46	1	23	Avoid	215	7	26
2023	Avoid	190	6	28	Avoid	47	2	26
2024	Caution	71	3	27	Avoid	26	1	26
2025	Caution	51	1	27	Caution	15	1	26

Complaint Index by year

Kia Sportage

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Mitsubishi Outlander

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2023 as the Sportage years to avoid, with complaint index scores of 87, 80, 93 and 100 respectively, the highest in the lineup.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as the Outlander years to avoid, led by 2022 with a complaint index of 100 and 215 complaints.
Which model has more total complaints, the Sportage or the Outlander?: The Sportage has 2,575 total complaints (161 per model year) versus the Outlander's 879 (59 per model year), but these totals are not normalized for sales volume.
Which model has better fuel economy?: The Outlander averages 25 mpg combined across its years versus 23.5 mpg combined for the Sportage.
What are the top problem areas for each model?: For the Sportage, Engine complaints dominate at 60% of all complaints. For the Outlander, complaints spread more evenly across Engine (19%), Electrical System (17%), Transmission & Powertrain (17%) and Structure & Body (17%).