Home · 2022 · Kia

2022 Kia Sportage

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

42 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall — the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

Engine problems dominate (45% of complaints, typically reported near 60k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)94
Severity (30%)74
Recall load (20%)90
Trend (10%)65

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20222026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2022 Kia Sportage, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~60k mi · 19 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (5) · Driver assistance (5)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Engine

45%

19 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 8 in the last 2 years

Engine failure at 93,000 miles. Timing chain jumped, causing internal engine damage. Dealer (Capitol Kia, San Jose CA) diagnosed engine as failed and quoted $11,843 fo…

Electrical system

12%

5 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years

While driving my 2022 Kia Sportage, the brakes suddenly stopped responding. I pressed the brake pedal hard several times and the vehicle did not slow down or stop at a…

Driver assistance

12%

5 complaints

My vehicle starting shaking while idling, check engine light came on. Turned car off and went to restart with push button start vehicle just kept cranking for a min an…

Visibility & wipers

10%

4 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard an explosion and observed that the moon roof gla…

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Park itTrailer Hitches · 22V703000

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Sorento, 2021-2022 Sorento Hybrid (HEV), 2022-2023 Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV), and 2017-2022 Sportage vehicles equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Kia dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect the vehicle, and, as necessary, replace the fuse and/or tow hitch harness module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC249.

Before you hand over money

Check the VIN for open recalls

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2022 Kia SPORTAGE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2022? See how every Sportage model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2022 Kia Sportage against another car →

What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2022 Kia Sportage as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.