2019 Kia Sportage Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2019 Kia Sportage has a Caution verdict, ranked 16th of 21 model years, with 70 complaints and a complaint index of 25. It carries a Caution rating mainly because two park-outside fire-risk recalls capped its score despite a relatively low underlying complaint index.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #16 of 21 Sportage years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 70
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- 2 Park Outside
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 21 city / 25.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2019 Kia Sportage problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine40 (57%)
- Other14 (20%)
- Electrical System13 (19%)
- Brakes7 (10%)
- Fuel System7 (10%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (10%)
- Structure & Body5 (7%)
- Airbags3 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)
- Steering2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report the brake pedal failing to respond during low-speed maneuvers, in one case leading to a crash into a building.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a moderate-speed collision with an animal.
- Electrical gremlins are described, including a fire that produced blue smoke near the rear of the vehicle and stopped clock and other components after washing the car.
- Owners describe the engine overheating with warning smoke coming from the hood, sometimes with no dashboard warning lights.
- Drivers report a vibration and hesitation felt around 1,200 to 1,500 rpm and again at highway speeds, along with a lack of throttle response on inclines.
- Some report headlights casting a partial shadow that makes it hard to see objects at night, especially when turning or on hills.
2019 Kia Sportage recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 22V703000Sep 19, 2022Structure & Body70,887 vehiclesPark Outside
Trailer hitches
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Risk: A 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 inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.
- NHTSA 21V137000Mar 4, 2021Brakes379,931 vehiclesPark Outside
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
2019 Kia Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 25.5 MPG
- Combined
- 23 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,800
- 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.
2019 compared with other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Kia Sportage reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2019 Sportage a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 25 and 70 complaints logged, ranking 16th out of 21 model years for this model.
- Does the 2019 Kia Sportage have a recall?
- Yes, it has two recalls: one for a tow hitch harness fire risk (campaign 22V703000) and one for a brake control unit that can short-circuit and cause an engine bay fire (campaign 21V137000). Both are park-outside recalls.
- Why is the 2019 Sportage rated Caution instead of based only on complaints?
- Its complaint index of 25 alone would suggest a lower-risk rating, but the verdict was capped to Caution because it has a park-outside recall tied to fire risk.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2019 Kia Sportage?
- Engine complaints are the largest category, accounting for 40 of 70 complaints (57%), with a median failure mileage of 32,000 miles for the model year overall.
- How does the 2019 Sportage compare to other Sportage years?
- It ranks 16th worst of 21 years, better than 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2025, which all carry Avoid verdicts with higher complaint indexes.