KnownCarProblems2015 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (57% of complaints, typically around 91,000 miles). It is 11th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2015 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
84 complaints · 57%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with a cracked rod bearing. The contact was…
Brakes
31 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 85,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v051000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the ABS control module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact…
Other or unspecified
25 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles.
Drove vehicle approx 10 minutes smelled a burning smell, thought it was the vehicle driving in next lane, about 5 minutes later while stopped at a red light light, I noticed the heavy smoke coming from engine, I exited vehicle and just 1-2 minutes engine was fully engulfed in flames.
After heavy rain drove through large amount water slowly. Once I got threw the water all of my dashboard lights went off for 6 mins, so I pulled over and checked the switches. They came on, but as drove the smell of wires burning was very heavy in the cabin, I had to open all windows until the smell cleared. There has…
Electrical
18 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
Drove vehicle approx 10 minutes smelled a burning smell, thought it was the vehicle driving in next lane, about 5 minutes later while stopped at a red light light, I noticed the heavy smoke coming from engine, I exited vehicle and just 1-2 minutes engine was fully engulfed in flames.
After heavy rain drove through large amount water slowly. Once I got threw the water all of my dashboard lights went off for 6 mins, so I pulled over and checked the switches. They came on, but as drove the smell of wires burning was very heavy in the cabin, I had to open all windows until the smell cleared. There has…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 5%Transmission
6 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
When I accelerate sometimes the car will jerk and the engine will try to stall. The car will still go but starts to sputter and start to lose power. You have to pull over and shut the engine off and set there for a bit and restart the engine and it may do it again 2 or 3 more times and it might not do it for awhile.…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not accelerate as designed. The contact depressed the brake pedal however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality.…
Speed control
5 complaints · 3%When I accelerate sometimes the car will jerk and the engine will try to stall. The car will still go but starts to sputter and start to lose power. You have to pull over and shut the engine off and set there for a bit and restart the engine and it may do it again 2 or 3 more times and it might not do it for awhile.…
Had vehicle worked on, on 4/11/2023 ( oil change &tuneup). On 4/17/2023 exiting 151 hwy vehicle slowed down on me, then regained speed to safety at a shell gas station. Vehicle started with a loud noise coming from the engine compartment. Got worried, had vehicle towed home. Have been trying to get a hold of Kia but…
Air bags
5 complaints · 3%The contact owns a 2015 Kia Sportage. While driving approximately 20 MPH, another vehicle crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a concusion, sprained neck, and sprained shoulder that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company…
I was traveling approx. 50 MPH and a woman pulled out in front of me and I (t boned ) her. My chest hit the steering wheel and then the air bag deployed immediately all functions stopped working.the car filled with white smoke from the air bag. My windows were up and I could not roll them down nor steer.I could not…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Kia Sportage recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
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 descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Questions about the 2015 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (84 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); brakes (31 complaints, typically around 85,500 miles); other or unspecified (25 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Sportage have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 2, 2022 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is 11th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints, with 146 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.