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2023 Kia Sportage problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2023 Kia Sportage are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Kia Sportage have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 96 of 290 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Sportage concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (63). For comparison, the 2022 scores 52%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2023 compares with other Kia Sportage years
Of the 13 Kia Sportage years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the best on engine and transmission share (35%). The worst is the 2012 (88%). By volume, the 2023 drew 290 complaints (96 drivetrain), against 46 for the 2022.
Kia Sportage years to avoid and best years →
2011 Sportage problems · 2012 Sportage problems · 2013 Sportage problems · 2014 Sportage problems · 2015 Sportage problems · 2016 Sportage problems · 2017 Sportage problems · 2018 Sportage problems · 2019 Sportage problems · 2020 Sportage problems · 2021 Sportage problems · 2022 Sportage problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 Kia Sportage
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2023 Kia Sportage said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 96 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Kia Sportage transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Kia Sportage involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
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…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2023 Kia Sportage? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2023 Kia Sportage
Does the 2023 Kia Sportage have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 96 of 290 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Kia Sportage concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Sportage?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Kia Sportage is electrical system: 82 of 290 complaints (28%) name it, followed by engine (63) and service brakes (48). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 35% of the relevant total.
Is the 2023 Kia Sportage reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Kia Sportage years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Kia Sportage?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Kia Sportage involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 23V531000 (power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Kia Sportage years are better?
The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Kia Sportage years we track (35%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/kia-sportage
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.