Owners have reported 6 crashes and 4 injuries to NHTSA for the 2025 KIA Sportage. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report recurring issues with the electrical system of the 2025 KIA Sportage, primarily involving the instrument cluster and infotainment displays. Complaints frequently mention screens freezing, going blank, or resetting unexpectedly, often leading to loss of cruise control and inaccurate instrument readings. Some owners describe these issues occurring at various speeds and in different weather conditions, with mileage often under 4,000 miles. There are reports of the vehicle shutting off while driving and unexpected braking, posing potential safety risks like loss of control or near collisions. These patterns suggest that prospective buyers should be aware of these electrical concerns, especially given their potential impact on vehicle operation and safety.
Owner complaints7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2025 Kia Sportage frequently report issues with the sunroof, including instances where it implodes or shatters unexpectedly while driving, as described in three separate complaints. This issue often occurs at highway speeds and has been linked to a previous class action lawsuit. Another significant problem involves the vehicle's automated braking system, which one owner reports activates suddenly and without cause, leading to a dangerous stop that resulted in two injuries. Additionally, a complaint mentions overheating of the wireless charging pad during initial use, raising concerns about potential fire hazards. Paint peeling is also noted in a vehicle with less than 4,000 miles, with similarities to other Kia vehicles reported. These issues present potential safety risks, particularly the sunroof and braking system malfunctions, which could impact a buyer's decision.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints7
STEERING
Owners report several steering-related issues with the 2025 KIA Sportage. Complaints frequently mention the steering wheel decoupling from the steering column, leading to a complete loss of steering control. Some incidents involve the steering wheel detaching entirely, with one report noting it fell into the driver's lap. Additionally, multiple owners describe the lane assist system unexpectedly jerking the steering wheel, resulting in a crash in at least one case. These issues are reported at low mileages, with one vehicle having only 119 miles. Safety implications are significant, including crashes and injuries, indicating potential risks for used car buyers considering this model.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports
Owner complaints5
POWER TRAIN
Owners report several power train issues with the 2025 Kia Sportage, primarily involving transmission malfunctions. Complaints frequently mention unexpected gear shifts, failure to shift gears, and instances where the transmission shifts to neutral, leading to engine stalls. Symptoms such as engine revving without gear engagement and warning messages on the instrument panel are common, with failures occurring as early as 250 miles and up to 18,000 miles. Safety implications include sudden vehicle stalls and surges, posing risks of loss of control, though no crashes are reported. These issues often require dealership visits, but owners note that problems are difficult to replicate, complicating diagnosis and repair.
Owner complaints4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2025 KIA Sportage report issues related to vehicle speed control, including sudden unintended acceleration and problems with cruise control. Two complaints involve crashes where the vehicle unexpectedly surged forward while parking, causing damage to the front end and nearby structures. Another owner describes a violent bouncing effect during acceleration, while a separate report notes the cruise control becoming stuck at 110 mph without resolution from the dealership. These incidents highlight potential safety risks, specifically in low-speed parking situations and at high speeds on the road. No specific mileage or timeline patterns emerge from the complaints.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints3
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Owners of the 2025 KIA Sportage report issues with the forward collision avoidance system, particularly with aggressive auto-braking and unexpected steering assist activation. Complaints frequently mention that the auto-braking engages harshly without gradual deceleration, which can occur both in highway traffic and residential areas, leading to potential rear-end collisions. Additionally, the lane-keeping assist (LKA) feature reportedly activates unexpectedly when adaptive cruise control is reengaged, despite being turned off in settings, causing discomfort and possible steering overcorrection. Another concern involves the highway driving assist system, which disengages without warning, leaving drivers without steering and speed assistance unexpectedly. These issues are noted at various mileage ranges, and owners express concerns about the safety implications, particularly regarding potential loss of vehicle control.
Owner complaints2
VISIBILITY
Owners report issues with the panoramic sunroof on the 2025 KIA Sportage, specifically mentioning instances where the sunroof explodes while driving. Complaints frequently mention a loud noise, likened to a gunshot, followed by glass falling into the vehicle, leading to potential injuries from glass shards. Both reports describe this occurring while traveling at highway speeds, around 55mph, but do not specify mileage on the vehicles. These incidents have safety implications, as falling glass poses a risk of injury to occupants, including children. Prospective buyers should be aware of these reports when considering this model.
Owner complaints2
LANE DEPARTURE
Owners report issues with the 2025 KIA Sportage's lane departure and detection systems, specifically mentioning malfunctions in the Lane Assist and Blind Spot Detection System. Complaints frequently mention that these systems fail to provide warnings, which is intended to aid in safe lane changes. One owner describes a collision occurring when the system did not alert them to an approaching vehicle, while another notes repeated failures without incident. These issues are reported to occur shortly after vehicle purchase, though exact mileage is not specified. Safety implications include potential crashes due to the lack of timely alerts from the detection systems. Used car buyers should be aware of these reported inconsistencies in the vehicle's safety features.
Owner complaints2
STRUCTURE
Owners report that the 2025 Kia Sportage experiences issues with the vehicle's top molding blowing off, similar to problems noted in previous model years. One owner mentions that repairs involved gluing the molding back into place, but not all repairs have been completed. Additionally, another owner describes finding rodent damage to the air cabin filter, attributed to a hole between the engine compartment and the passenger area. This issue was observed at approximately 17,000 miles. While these complaints do not indicate direct safety implications like crashes or fires, they highlight potential structural vulnerabilities that may concern prospective buyers.
