2014 Kia Sportage reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2014 Kia Sportage holds 122 complaints after 13 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 13 Sportage years on this site. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Brake control module, Hoses and fittings, and Labels.

2012 Kia Sportage — Photo by Alexander Migl, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

122

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (71 of 122), then Hydraulic brakes (21) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Sportage has 381 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2015 has 146 complaints, 5 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2014 Kia Sportage. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (3)

Recall Brake control module 2022-02-02 · NHTSA campaign 22V051000

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.

Remedy 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.

Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2018-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 18V907000

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.

Remedy 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.

Recall Labels 2014-01-27 · NHTSA campaign 14V023000

Summary Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured September 30, 2013, through January 11, 2014. The certification label has incorrect tire pressure information printed on it, listing a specification that is 1 or 2 psi below the correct information. Thus, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will correct the label information, and owners will also receive a sticker to put into the owners manual, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2014. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC103.

Complaints by component (122 total)

Engine

Hydraulic brakes

Electrical system

Fuel and propulsion system

Powertrain

Speed control

Visibility

Air bags

Service brakes

Structure

Visibility and wipers

Engine and engine cooling

Fuel system, gasoline

Suspension

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Equipment

Tires

Show 9 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My vehicle stalled (104000mi) bought in 2024 looked up online was known between 2023-2024 engine recall I wasn't told or shown on Car Fax anything about this So [XXX] worked on engine 2. Mths no charge was to get new…"
Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-05-09
"Engine went out , starter went out got it replaced been having issues since I purchased it . Makes a noise my engine oil and gasoline was mixing my engine is locked now"
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-04-26
"My Kia engine was replaced under recall. The replacement engine triggered P1326 KSDS failure while I was traveling overseas, placing the vehicle in limp mode. Kia USA refuses to assist or authorize diagnosis, leaving me…"
Engine · filed 2025-12-14
"The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was…"
Engine · filed 2025-10-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2014 Kia Sportage SUV AWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars
2014 Kia Sportage SUV FWD	4 stars	5 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Sportage two-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	20	26	23 MPG	$2800
Sportage two-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	28	23 MPG	$2800
Sportage four-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Four-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$2950
Sportage four-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Four-wheel drive	19	24	21 MPG	$3100

Specs and fitment

4th generation (QL), 2012–2021

Body styles SUV

Oil 0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.8 qt capacity

Tire size 225/60R17 to 245/45R19 (trim dependent)

Towing capacity 2,000 lbs

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V907000. 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. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2013 Kia Sportage Next year 2015 Kia Sportage See every Kia Sportage model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Kia Sportage reliable?

What are common problems with a 2014 Kia Sportage?

Is the 2014 Kia Sportage more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2014 Kia Sportage been recalled?

The 2014 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2014 Kia Sportage?

Owners have filed 122 complaints about the 2014 Kia Sportage with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 Kia Sportage get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 Kia Sportage is 22.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Sportage take?

0W-20 (2.4L and 1.6L turbo where equipped)

What does NHTSA recall 18V-907 cover on the Kia Sportage?

NHTSA campaign 18V907000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Sportage?

4th generation (QL) (2012-2021).