YearToAvoid

2015 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 Sportage years

The 2015 Kia Sportage has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Sportage years. NHTSA lists 146 complaints, 2 recalls, and 11 fire reports, with Engine issues making up 59% of complaints.

Complaints
146
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
7 / 11
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2015 Kia Sportage problems

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

  1. Engine86 (59%)
  2. Brakes32 (22%)
  3. Other27 (18%)
  4. Electrical System20 (14%)
  5. Fuel System7 (5%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain6 (4%)
  7. Airbags5 (3%)
  8. Steering3 (2%)
  9. Structure & Body2 (1%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power steering and braking accompanied by dashboard warning lights and visible smoke or flames under the hood.
  • Some drivers describe a burning smell followed within minutes by heavy smoke and the engine compartment becoming fully engulfed in flames while driving or parked.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low- and moderate-speed collisions, including a head-on crash at 20 mph and a 65 mph highway spin-out.
  • In other cases, airbags deployed in low-impact crashes and caused hand, wrist, or arm injuries to occupants sitting close to the wheel.
  • Owners who received the brake hydraulic control unit recall notice reported the vehicle caught fire before replacement parts became available.
  • Some owners were told by dealers that rough engine performance required a full engine replacement.
2015 Kia Sportage complaints: complaints filed per quarter292015 Q22017 Q22018 Q32020 Q12021 Q22022 Q32023 Q42025 Q1
190 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q2 (29).

2015 Kia Sportage recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V051000Feb 2, 2022Brakes126,747 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse for the HECU circuit board, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC227.

  2. NHTSA 18V907000Dec 19, 2018Engine71,653 vehicles

    Engine

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

2015 Kia Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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.

2015 compared with other Sportage years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid80381323
2014Best13122322.5
2015Good40146222
2016Good33131222
2017Avoid93399423

All Kia Sportage years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Kia Sportage reliable?
Relative to other Sportage model years, the 2015 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst of 16 years, giving it a 'Good' verdict. It has fewer complaints (146) than the worst years like 2017 (399) and 2023 (190).
What are the main problems with the 2015 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints dominate at 59% of all reports (86 complaints), followed by Brakes at 22% (32 complaints) and Electrical System at 14% (20 complaints). Median mileage at failure across all issues is 77,500 miles.
Does the 2015 Kia Sportage have a fire risk?
NHTSA lists 11 fire reports for the 2015 Sportage, several tied to the engine and electrical system, and one linked to a brake recall part shortage.
Does the 2015 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for the brake hydraulic control unit (campaign 22V051000) that tells owners to park outside, and one for an engine-related fuel pipe inspection (campaign 18V907000).
How does the 2015 Sportage compare to other years?
The 2015 model (Complaint Index 40) is better than avoid-rated years like 2012 (87), 2013 (80), and 2017 (93), but worse than best-rated years like 2014 (13) and 2019 (7).

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.