← New search
2026 Kia Sportage Phev Phev
The verdict
Several concerns worth a close look before buying.
Cons
2 of 2 owner complaints are about the engine. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
Pros
Nothing in this category from the official data.
Neutral
We couldn't reach the government recall source, so we're making no recall claims either way. Check back shortly.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
The government hasn't published a crash-test rating for this exact vehicle. We won't invent one.
Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings
Take this with you:
—Crash-test safety
—Safety recalls
0Owner complaints
0% involved a crash or fire
—Combined MPG
ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.
Safety Recalls
Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.
What is a recall, really?
A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.
We couldn't reach the government recall source just now, so we can't say whether this vehicle has recalls. Try again shortly — we never guess.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
Where Owners Report Problems
Where owners report the most trouble — based on 2 complaints. Tap a part to read the real reports.
Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.
Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?
Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
On start up (date 6/10/26) the dash warned "Check Driver Assistance System," but the car started. Turned off the car, restarted, and this warning was replaced by a yellow "check engine" light, and a remark that the hybrid controller had a fault; the Kia app on my phone indicated the trouble as well. Called for roadside assistance; just before the tow truck operator arrived the faults cleared. Dealer found the stored error code C186387 (CAN BUS time out to navigation error). The error did not cause any safety issues as the car was parked. Another similar error occurred on 6/15/26, this time with check engine lights; the car would not go into drive. Restarting seemed to fix the issue, and my OBD scanner showed no faults in the ECUs.
On 7 March 2026 our Kia Sportage PHEV died its first time on the highway with less than 1000 miles on it. There were no warning lamps or messages before the issue happened. The car's acceleration pedal stopped working and it slammed us from 70mph to less than 20mph. It had a loud grinding noise and the check engine light came on. My family was almost hit by a semi truck because of this. The car was immediately taken to the Kia dealership we purchased it from. A few days later they told us it was the "high pressure fuel pump" that failed. I asked them to check the fuel system or the engine oil to see if there was any glitter, then, because the grinding noise we would have heard is metal on metal. And any small metal shavings in the wrong place would cause another catastrophic issue. I also asked them if they checked the cam lobe for damage. They did not inspect any of these and told me so. Yet, their paperwork stated they did a 21 point inspection. They told me all that was is checking codes. The dealership is now claiming the car is repaired, without those concerns inspected, and neither my wife nor I feel safe taking the VIN back.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
On start up (date 6/10/26) the dash warned "Check Driver Assistance System," but the car started. Turned off the car, restarted, and this warning was replaced by a yellow "check engine" light, and a remark that the hybrid controller had a fault; the Kia app on my phone indicated the trouble as well. Called for roadside assistance; just before the tow truck operator arrived the faults cleared. Dealer found the stored error code C186387 (CAN BUS time out to navigation error). The error did not cause any safety issues as the car was parked. Another similar error occurred on 6/15/26, this time with check engine lights; the car would not go into drive. Restarting seemed to fix the issue, and my OBD scanner showed no faults in the ECUs.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
On start up (date 6/10/26) the dash warned "Check Driver Assistance System," but the car started. Turned off the car, restarted, and this warning was replaced by a yellow "check engine" light, and a remark that the hybrid controller had a fault; the Kia app on my phone indicated the trouble as well. Called for roadside assistance; just before the tow truck operator arrived the faults cleared. Dealer found the stored error code C186387 (CAN BUS time out to navigation error). The error did not cause any safety issues as the car was parked. Another similar error occurred on 6/15/26, this time with check engine lights; the car would not go into drive. Restarting seemed to fix the issue, and my OBD scanner showed no faults in the ECUs.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
On 7 March 2026 our Kia Sportage PHEV died its first time on the highway with less than 1000 miles on it. There were no warning lamps or messages before the issue happened. The car's acceleration pedal stopped working and it slammed us from 70mph to less than 20mph. It had a loud grinding noise and the check engine light came on. My family was almost hit by a semi truck because of this. The car was immediately taken to the Kia dealership we purchased it from. A few days later they told us it was the "high pressure fuel pump" that failed. I asked them to check the fuel system or the engine oil to see if there was any glitter, then, because the grinding noise we would have heard is metal on metal. And any small metal shavings in the wrong place would cause another catastrophic issue. I also asked them if they checked the cam lobe for damage. They did not inspect any of these and told me so. Yet, their paperwork stated they did a 21 point inspection. They told me all that was is checking codes. The dealership is now claiming the car is repaired, without those concerns inspected, and neither my wife nor I feel safe taking the VIN back.
Many crash/fire reportsSome crash/fire reportsNo crash/fire in reports
Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
Crash-Test Safety Ratings
Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.
How to read these stars
These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.
Source: NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings · re-checked about every 24 hours
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Official EPA estimates — the real numbers, not the brochure.
No official EPA fuel-economy match for this exact model. Rather than show a guess, we're leaving it blank.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov · re-checked about every 24 hours