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What 42 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 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 (42)Crash / fire / injury (8)Engine (19)Driver assistance (5)Electrical system (5)Trailer Hitches (4)Visibility & wipers (4)Fuel system (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Airbags (2)Brakes (2)Seats (2)

3 of 42 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Jan 30, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Vehicle developed a cylinder 3 misfire that progressed to engine failure. The engine began running rough and lost power during normal operation. Dealer diagnosed internal engine damage and advised that a complete engine replacement is required. Prior to failure, the vehicle experienced significant oil loss, with oil leaking and rapidly depleting despite proper maintenance. Oil levels dropped abnormally between services. No adequate warning was provided before the engine condition worsened. Failure resulted in loss of engine performance and required towing. Vehicle was properly maintained. Repair cost exceeds reasonable expectations for vehicle age and mileage. Dealer advised that required engine parts are on backorder, leaving the vehicle inoperable for an extended period.

NHTSA ODI 11714581

May 25, 2024Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The car lost engine strength wouldn't go above 60 and I received a code p1326. Now it's just blinks and moves at a crawl. I was on the freeway luckily I was able to get out the freeway without incident.

NHTSA ODI 11590783

Apr 17, 2023Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

Was traveling northbound on I5 between Lacey and Dupont, Washington. Vehicle was in cruise at 65, then it suddenly went into limp mode. I was in the furthest right lane possible on the highway, and RPMs drastically dropped to below 1,000. I was able to get the vehicle pulled over to the right shoulder safely while the vehicle dropped to approximately 10mph on the freeway. The vehicle died as soon it was placed in park. When attempting to turn the vehicle on, all engine light warnings displayed (this was not present when the vehicle went into limp mode) and would not start. I checked for oil levels, which showed they were only slightly low. No leaks in engine compartment and no leaks underneath the vehicle. Vehicle would attempt to start after the 5th consecutive attempt, and began knocking. RPMs would not exceed 1,500RPMs with the gas pedal compressed. Towed to KIA, KIA rejecting warranty. Vehicle is a 2022 Kia Sportage EX, only 60,000 miles on it. Still waiting on official denial letter, but this issue was prevalent in previous models of Sportage vehicles from KIA. I'm thankful I was able to maneuver safely to the shoulder of a busy highway during dark hours, I could have been killed if a vehicle hit me from behind with how suddenly the vehicle's speed dropped, almost coming to a complete stop.

NHTSA ODI 11517522

Working with the data? Download all 42 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 2022 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid verdict →