YearToAvoid

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

50/100

#2 most-complained of 3 Sportage Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid has 13 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 2nd worst among the 3 model years with data. Top problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, and Steering, each at 31% of complaints; no recalls are on file.

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
40.5
40 city / 41 hwy

Top 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (31%)
  2. Engine4 (31%)
  3. Other4 (31%)
  4. Steering4 (31%)
  5. Fuel System3 (23%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (15%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain2 (15%)
  8. Brakes1 (8%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (8%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden forward lunging or acceleration while parking or driving at low speed, sometimes causing a crash into a fixed object.
  • Some describe cruise control sticking at a high set speed near 110 mph that would not clear even after cycling it off and on.
  • Lane assist or highway driving assist has reportedly jerked the steering wheel sharply to one side without warning while crossing an intersection.
  • One owner reported the transmission suddenly shifting to neutral with the engine going dead at low speed shortly after purchase.
  • Hybrid drivetrain lag between electric and gas power was reported when moving off from a stop, followed by a sudden lurch forward.
  • A reported loss of power with multiple electrical fault codes left one vehicle unable to move in traffic.
2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month6Dec 2024Jun 2025Aug 2025Oct 2025May 2026
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2024 to May 2026; peak Oct 2025 (6).

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
40 MPG
Highway
41 MPG
Combined
40.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,600
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2025 compared with other Sportage Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2023No verdict10098140.5
2024No verdict018040.5
2025No verdict5013040.5

All Kia Sportage Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid reliable?
NHTSA lists 13 complaints for the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid with a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 2nd worst of the 3 model years with data. There have been no recalls filed for this year.
What are the most common problems with the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid?
Electrical System, Engine, and Steering issues each account for 31% of complaints, followed by Fuel System at 23%. Owners have reported sudden acceleration, hybrid drivetrain lag, and unexpected steering assist inputs.
Does the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid have any recalls?
No. NHTSA shows zero recalls and zero do-not-drive recalls for the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid.
How does the 2025 Sportage Hybrid compare to other years?
The 2025 model has a Complaint Index of 50, worse than the 2024 model's index of 0 but far better than the 2023 model's index of 100, which had 98 complaints and 1 recall.
What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Kia Sportage Hybrid?
EPA rates it at 40.5 mpg combined (40 city / 41 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.