The Used Car Index

2010 Kia Sportage problems

NHTSA lists 20 complaints for the 2010 Kia Sportage, 3 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 4 complaints mention an injury, with 6 injuries and 1 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as KIA SPORTAGE.

At a glance

Complaints
20
With crash
3
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
4
Injuries
6
Deaths
1
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
1
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,730,192
Investigations
1
Open investigations
1
Manufacturer communications
24

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS420.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC420.0%
SEAT BELTS315.0%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)210.0%
ENGINE210.0%
POWER TRAIN210.0%
SERVICE BRAKES210.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER210.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING15.0%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIRANTILOCK1
STRUCTUREBODY1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCRUISE CONTROL1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

23V652000

Date: 2023-09-25. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driv (excerpt)

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. (excerpt)

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: Yes.

13V114000

Date: 2013-04-01. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model (excerpt)

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash. (excerpt)

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 1 open.

AQ23002

Opened: 2023-11-17. Closed: Not listed.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect

Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

24 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY8
STRUCTURE8
EQUIPMENT6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
TRA2

11026698

Date: 2025-12-09. Type: Other. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION.

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal

11017172

Date: 2025-04-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty

11000787

Date: 2024-05-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.

10226555

Date: 2022-11-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart

10201529

Date: 2021-09-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models tha

10179255

Date: 2020-08-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.

10133170

Date: 2018-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.

10109855

Date: 2017-03-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, VISIBILITY.

TSB: DEFOGGING LOGIC ? NORMAL OPERATION, DISABLING, AND ENABLING - Starting with 2010MY, all Kia vehicles, except Rio (JB), incorporate a defogging logic to prevent the interior windows from becoming excessively fogged. Depending on the specific model, the HVAC control head monitors ambient temperat

10109812

Date: 2017-01-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washe

10109777

Date: 2016-11-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
SPORTAGE20

Same model, other years

All model years | All Kia models

Other Kia models, 2010

Sources

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