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What 146 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (146)Crash / fire / injury (18)Engine (84)Brakes (31)Electrical system (18)Fuel system (7)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Airbags (5)Speed control (5)Lights (3)Steering (3)Body & structure (2)

7 of 146 complaints match · Engine · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jun 13, 2026EngineFire

Engine fire which led to explosion and total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11743850

Aug 16, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

This car was electronically going crazy tenants calling police cause alarm wouldn't stop going off Smelled gasoline but no leaks o roll the windows down engine ram n lights get dim no check light ever came on car shutting off child locked in car behind this then it goes up in smoke while driving on the freeway what the hell should I say more we could have list our lives in that car I have 2 kids 1 and 2. I need justice asap I have kids with astma is it due to this faulty vehicle

NHTSA ODI 11479658

Apr 25, 2022EngineFire

Engine stalled at a stop sign. Smoke started coming from the front of the vehicle and engine burst into flames. No warning lights, no sign of something going wrong. My safety and that of my husband was out at risk due to risk of burning to death, being badly burned, others being injured from being in the vicinity etc.

NHTSA ODI 11462157

Mar 29, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THEN EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS THEY WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA OF CERRITOS DEALERSHIP ((562) 860-2424 LOCATED AT 18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11082031

Mar 12, 2018Electrical systemEngineFire

THE 2015 KIA SPORTAGE WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE MEDICAL CENTER WHERE MY WIFE HAD A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT. SHE WAS INSIDE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES WHEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ABOUT A RED KIA IN THE PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE LOOKED, IT WAS HER CAR & THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALREADY ON SCENE & THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11078775

Oct 27, 2017Electrical systemEngineFire

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.

NHTSA ODI 11040471

Sep 22, 2015Electrical systemBrakesEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THE ODOMETER ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. ....UPDATED 10-27-15 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10767409

Working with the data? Download all 146 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid verdict →