The Kia Sportage fits the saying “ the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”. With the previous generations, notoriously the 2013 Kia Sportage being all terrible, the current MY is no better. Sure, it has a decent ranking in the affordable compact SUV segment, its usual upscale interior design and sharp handling keep it there. As of the date, this article was written, there are 2 recalls, and 60 official complaints. The recalls and most complaints are related to the vehicle’s engine catching on fire, a mistake, or a defective product. How reliable is the Kia actually? Is it better or parallel with the likes of the Mazda CX-5, the Subaru Forester, and the Honda CR-V? Let’s find out.
2015 Kia Sportage User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Problems
- Engine is the jack of all problems -. With the excessive oil consumption and engine stalling being the least of their worries, you know the Kia engine is the least reliable one out there. With many users mentioning the above complaints more than enough, the vehicle’s engine also catches fire. Currently, Kia is doing a mass recall due to this and you can refer to NHTSA id: 22V051000 and 18V907000 for more details.
- Brakes are taking longer than expected to get fixed -. As a part of the recall NHTSA Id: 18V907000, which needs the HCEU system’s fuse replaced, many users have found that the parts are taking longer than expected to arrive at the dealership so that they can fix it
- Powertrain assisting the engine is making the owner’s life hell - With the powertrain failing to start up and the disturbing sounds that come from the engine bay, the powertrain is truly assisting the engine in making the vehicle hell for owners.
Electrical Problems
- Electrical malfunction - The electrical system issues vary from A/C not working to the windows not rolling up and the random illumination of the “check system “ lights.
Safety Problems
- Airbags failed to deploy - Enough users have faced the situation where they got into an accident and the airbag failed to deploy, with almost all of them getting serious injuries to them or their occupants as a consequence.
2015 Kia Sportage Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional remarks. |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
2nd February 2022 |
22V051000 |
Engine compartment catching fire. |
The HCEU system might malfunction and cause an electrical short, leading to a fire in the engine compartment. |
Owners are advised to park the vehicle away from any structure till the repair is made. Once the parts are available, your dealership will change the fuse in the HCEU, free of charge. |
|
2 |
19th December 2018 |
18V907000 |
High pressured fuel pipe might leak. |
Vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under Kia recall 17V224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaigns are subjected to this recall. The high-pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged in some form during the engine replacement procedure and can lead to a fuel leak. |
Your dealership will replace the fuel pipe if necessary, free of charge. |
Should you buy the 2015 Kia Sportage
We would highly recommend you to stay away from a brand new or fairly new 2015 Kia Sportage. Why? In short, because of the engine catching fire with no prior warnings, and also because it is either that or the engine losing motive power mid-operation, leading to an accident where the airbags do not deploy. Finally, if you make it out alive after all that, there is the unreliable KIA service which will take ages to repair the mistake “they made”, which made you wish you didn’t return the SUV at all. The Mazda Cx-5, though far from being good themselves, is way better than the current state of the Kia Sportage.
