Model year guide

2023 Kia Sportage

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2023 Kia Sportage is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1,439 on record.

2023 Kia Sportage — representative photo
Representative photo

2023 Kia Sportage at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints191
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined25–43 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2023 Kia Sportage recalls 6

Structure:body:roof And Pillars NHTSA Campaign #24V025000 · manufacturer #SC292 · 18/01/2024

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Sportage and 2022-2024 Carnival vehicles. The roof molding may loosen and detach.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof molding and replace or secure it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 15, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC292.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:fluid/lubricant:pump NHTSA Campaign #23V531000 · manufacturer #SC275 · 31/07/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Soul, Sportage, and 2023-2024 Seltos vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump to overheat.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 28, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer …

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist NHTSA Campaign #23V410000 · manufacturer #SC272 · 07/06/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake booster as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC272.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel NHTSA Campaign #23V298000 · manufacturer #SC270 · 26/04/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage, Sportage Hybrid, Sportage Plug-in Hybrid, Niro Hybrid, Niro Plug-in Hybrid, Soul, and Telluride vehicles equipped with a digital instrument cluster containing a 4.2" LCD screen.  The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safet…

Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC270.

Air Bags:side/window:curtain NHTSA Campaign #22V878000 · manufacturer #SC257 · 28/11/2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been twisted during installation.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC257.

Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator NHTSA Campaign #22V651000 · manufacturer #SC248 · 29/08/2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the alternator battery positive terminal nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC248.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 7 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2023 Kia Sportage common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

2023 Kia Sportage safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 16.9% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Frontal crash test — 2023 Kia Sportage SUV AWDFrontal crash test
Side barrier test — 2023 Kia Sportage SUV AWDSide barrier test
Side pole test — 2023 Kia Sportage SUV AWDSide pole test

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2023 Kia Sportage SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2023 Kia Sportage MPG & running costs

Combined25–43 mpg
City33 mpg
Highway35 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,060
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S6) or Automatic (S8)
Electric range430 mi
Charge time (240V)2 hours
Forced inductionTurbocharged
Engine start-stopYes
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,300 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 5 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2023 Kia Sportage costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,300
Fuel only$10,300
Per mile$0.14

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
183.5 in
Width
73.6 in
Height
65.7 in
Wheelbase
108.7 in
Curb weight
3,373–3,543 lb
Front track
63.8 in
Rear track
64.2 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2023 Kia Sportage — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 74

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be free. Showing the 10 most recent of 74.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REAR SHOCK ABSORBER INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT (WTY047) - This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY047) to inspect, and if necessary, replace one or both left…

Bulletin WTY047_TSB · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY047) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension…

Bulletin WTY047_REIMB · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY047) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear shock absorbers on th…

Bulletin WTY047_OWNR · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY047) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the Warranty Extension…

Bulletin WTY047_REIMB · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY047) – This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding Warranty Extension Campaign WTY047.

Bulletin WTY047_QA · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY047) - This document is the announcement to dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related…

Bulletin WTY047_DPSM · Suspension · Sep 2026

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY047) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage to owners for certain repairs related to oil leakage from the rear…

Bulletin WTY047_DP · Suspension · Sep 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: AVN GEN 5.0 WIDE SOFTWARE UPDATE - This bulletin provides information on the Audio Video Navigation (AVN) system software update for certain vehicles equipped with AVN5W and Navigation System listed in the table below. Affected vehi…

Bulletin TSB_ELE426 · Electrical System · Aug 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: KEY AND CYLINDER SET REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides information to replace the driver’s door lock and trunk lid key cylinders on some 2019-2024MY Kia vehicles listed below. On affected vehicles, the stored key code may not cor…

Bulletin TSB_BOD336 · Structure · Jun 2026

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM - This bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable Kia vehicles using the Kia Navigation Updater available at upda…

Bulletin TSB_ELE422 · Electrical System · May 2026

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SPORTAGE FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 5

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Sportage. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Lights And Instruments

Issue: On certain vehicles, the tow hitch harness control module software could cause the instrument cluster to reboot while driving. If this happens, you may not be able to see certain information about the vehicle, including the speedometer, warnings, and tell-tales. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with a 4.2-in screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness. Saf…

Transport Canada #2025708 · Dec 2025

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safet…

Transport Canada #2024549 · Aug 2024

Powertrain

Issue: On certain vehicles, the circuit board in the electric oil pump assembly for the transmission may be damaged. As a result, the circuit board could short circuit and overheat. Safety Risk: A short circuit could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the transmission elect…

Transport Canada #2023421 · Aug 2023

Lights And Instruments

Issue: On certain vehicles, the instrument cluster screen could remain blank when the vehicle is started. If this happens, you may not be able to see certain information about the vehicle, including the odometer, warnings, and malfunction tell-tale graphics. Safety Risk: Warnings and malfunction tell-tale information that doesn't display could increase the risk of a crash. Corr…

Transport Canada #2023251 · Apr 2023

Electrical

Issue: On certain vehicles, a bracket for the folding rear seats can damage the wiring for the rear seat heater. If this happens, the wiring could short circuit. Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with fold-and-dive rear seats with the seat heater option. Safety Risk: A short circuit could create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off. Correc…

Transport Canada #2022500 · Sep 2022

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage is a compact SUV manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia through five generations. At its launch in 1993, the nameplate was used for a vehicle produced under a joint venture with Mazda, and shared its platform with the Mazda Bongo.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2023 Kia Sportage vehicles on record

Other Kia Sportage model years

2023 Kia Sportage — frequently asked questions

Does the 2023 Kia Sportage have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2023 Kia Sportage. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2023 Kia Sportage?

Across all 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, engine, service brakes.

What is the 2023 Kia Sportage safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2023 Kia Sportage an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Sportage get?

The 2023 Kia Sportage has U.S. EPA estimates of 25–43 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (5 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.