YearToAvoid

2015 Kia Sportage Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 32 brake complaints for the 2015 Kia Sportage, 22% of that year's 146 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 82,830. A related recall, 22V051000, covers the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) that can short and start a fire.

Brakes complaints
32
22% of 146
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
82,831 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) shorting out, causing smoke or fire in the engine compartment, sometimes even before a recall repair could be scheduled.
  • Several owners describe waiting for recall parts under Campaign 22V051000 to become available, with the manufacturer taking longer than a reasonable time to complete the repair.
  • One owner reported losing power steering and braking ability at once while all instrument panel lights illuminated, followed by smoke and flames under the hood.
  • One owner reported the vehicle losing brake function while driving after being told parts for the recall repair were unavailable.

When 2015 Kia Sportage brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 22, 2015, latest Feb 14, 2025.

2015 Kia Sportage brakes complaints: complaints filed per month6Sep 2015Apr 2022Jun 2022Aug 2022Oct 2022Dec 2023
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2015 to Feb 2025; peak Jun 2022 (6).

Brakes recalls for the 2015 Kia Sportage

  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.

Brakes complaints by Sportage model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20107 (35%)
  2. 201129 (16%)
  3. 201213 (3%)
  4. 201326 (7%)
  5. 201425 (20%)
  6. 201532 (22%)
  7. 201638 (29%)
  8. 201728 (7%)
  9. 201812 (7%)
  10. 20197 (10%)
  11. 202012 (8%)
  12. 20210 (0%)
  13. 20222 (4%)
  14. 202334 (18%)
  15. 20247 (10%)
  16. 20255 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

Are there a lot of brake complaints for the 2015 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA lists 32 brake complaints for the 2015 Sportage, which is 22% of the 146 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2015 Kia Sportage?
Yes. Recall 22V051000 covers the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) in certain 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles, which can short electrically. Owners are told to park outside away from structures until the repair is done.
At what mileage do brake problems tend to show up on the 2015 Sportage?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake-related complaints is 82,830.
Have the brake issues caused crashes or fires?
Within this brake complaint set, NHTSA records 1 crash and 3 fires and 2 injuries tied to this problem area for the 2015 Sportage.

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.