2022 KIA Sportage

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
โš ๏ธElevated Concerns

The 2022 Kia Sportage presents a mixed reliability profile, primarily due to the recall concerning trailer hitches which could pose fire risks. Additionally, the prevalence of complaints and several Technical Service Bulletins indicate potential underlying issues that require attention, especially for families.

Key Factor:Potential fire hazard risks

๐Ÿ“‹Why This Matters

Defects related to trailer hitches can significantly compromise the safety of passengers, particularly children seated in the back. The risk of electrical shorts leading to fires is not merely an inconvenience; it poses serious threats to life and property. For families relying on their vehicles for safe transportation, awareness of such recalls is paramount in ensuring a secure environment for all passengers.

Focus Area:Safety Profile
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Expert Analysis

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • โš ๏ธ
    Primary Risk Area:Warning
  • โš–๏ธ
    Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.9)
    ๐Ÿ“
    Summary: Given the single recall and numerous complaints regarding the 2022 Kia Sportage, it's evident that safety concerns are present. The potential for fire due to deficiencies in the trailer hitch system raises alarms about Kia's commitment to manufacturing quality in this model year.

Safety & Reliability Score

90/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-8
Complaint Impact-1.75
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2022 KIA Sportage

Model Year2022
MakeKIA
ModelSportage
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Jan22
NEWProduction
Jan22
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan22
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

โš ๏ธ

Most Reported Issue

11 complaints (31% of total)
โžก๏ธ

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
โœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 35 consumer complaints by severity level.

๐ŸŸ High
6(17%)
๐ŸŸกMedium
12(34%)
๐ŸŸขLow
17(49%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

โš™๏ธEngineering Insight

The peak failure range of 0-20k miles indicates that potential issues with this vehicle can arise fairly early in its lifecycle. For owners, this means vigilance is crucial; regular inspections and prompt attention to TSBs may help mitigate risks, particularly when transporting young children.

๐Ÿ“Š Mileage data extracted from 12 of 35 complaints (34% coverage)
0-20k
4 reports (33%)
20k-40k
3 reports (25%)
40k-60k
4 reports (33%)
60k-80k
1 reports (8%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

Primary Risk Areas

TRAILER HITCHES

๐ŸŽฏRisk Areas & Recommended Actions

Based on recall data, these components require verification:

1

Trailer Hitch

Issue: Electrical short risks potentially leading to a fire due to debris accumulation.

โœ…

Inspect the tow hitch harness regularly for debris and moisture accumulation.

๐Ÿ”

Request verification of any completed recalls or service work related to trailer hitches before purchasing.

Campaign:NHTSA Campaign Number: Not specified
๐Ÿ’กVisit NHTSA.gov or contact your KIA dealer to verify recall completion status.

Official Safety Recalls (1)

Campaign: 22V703000

TRAILER HITCHES

Summary

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations
โœ“

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

35 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2022 Sportage.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Warning31%
Crash/Accident11%
Accident11%
Shatter9%
Crack9%
Stall9%
Check Engine Light9%
Acceleration Issues9%
Battery6%
Fire6%
Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
ENGINE

Engine began to knock on [XXX] on my way home from work. Drove to work and back the next day, but heard a loud CLUNK when I started it to head home. Stopped at auto parts store and checked oil. Completely dry dip stick (after wiping it clean). Added 2 qts of synthetic since I had an appt the next morning ([XXX]) at 7:30am at dealership where I purchased it. Knocking stopped but only drove about 12 miles total from that time until appt in the morning. Kia now tells me that engine failed and based on their records, insufficient maintenance. Kia dealer changed hands recently so not sure of the recordkeeping on their end. I've only ever had my vehicle serviced there. Also, no engine light nor oil light ever came on to warn me of low oil pressure. Service tech says he will email me video of their inspection. Not yet received. Currently requesting warranty coverage. Expect it to be denied, based on what service techs have said. I cannot believe Kia didn't get their act together after the Theta II engine debaucle. My car is a 2022 Kia Sportage with ~50-51k miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 all. There was no braking pressure and no warning lights. Because the brakes failed completely, I crashed directly into a guardrail. The airbags deployed on impact. This was not driver error, it was a sudden and total brake system failure. The vehicle is currently in a wreck yard and requires immediate manufacturer inspection.

Visibility๐Ÿ”ต Low
VISIBILITY

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 glass had shattered, sending glass down into the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it had not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

Other๐Ÿ”ต Low
TIRES

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage equipped with Kumho Tires, Tire Line: Crugen KL33 Blackwall, Tire Size: 225/55/R18, and DOT Number: 27LZYANH1921. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the front passenger's side tire had a low tread depth, cracks on the side wall, and was dry rotted. The dealer replaced the front passenger's side tire at approximately 20,000 miles. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure recurred, while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the rear passenger's side tire had a low tread depth, cracks on the side wall, and was dry rotted. The dealer replaced the rear passenger's side tire at approximately 20,400 miles. The tires were the original equipment. The manufacturer was called but was unreachable. The vehicle and tire failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
ENGINE

On [XXX] while driving on the highway my vehicle stalled and the engine light came on. I called my local Kia dealership and setup a diagnostic. My vehicle was dropped off 7/22/25 in which I was informed it was still under warranty and a claim would have to be filed. Days later I received a phone call stating I would have to provide maintenance records in which I have a personal mechanic who services my vehicle when needed. I was contacted multiple times and told Kia was requesting more documents and on 8/7/25 I received a phone call stating I would have to pay $700-$1100 for Kia to take out my engine and see if there was neglect to the engine on top of already owing them 663 for replacing my battery as well as the cost for the diagnostic. I am currently [XXX] and can not drive my car due to the engine being out. On documents provided from Kia it states the testing they are requiring me to pay was optional and I was informed if I paid the money there would be no guarantee Kia would still fix the vehicle. I am now out of a vehicle and spent close to 2,000 on rentals and still have a car note and insurance to pay to a vehicle I cannot even drive. Being [XXX] having doctors appointments and getting ready for a baby this has become stressful and a burden to my life and Kia is making it hard for me INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
ENGINE

A few weeks ago while on the highway my check engine light started blinking and the car started to slow down and wouldnโ€™t go over 25 miles per hour. My oil pressure light also light up. There was no oil at all. I took it in for an oil change because it was due soon. And explained what happened to them and they said they can check for oil consumption but itโ€™s not covered under my engine warranty and that they canโ€™t find anything wrong because I already put new oil in. This past Friday [XXX] again on the highway the check engine light started flashing and the car slowed down and wouldnโ€™t go over 25 miles per hour. I took it to Jack Williams where they charged me 110$ to reset the code and told me I most likely had water in my gas tank from bad gas and to put dry gas in it which I did and later that night the light came on again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brakes๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
SERVICE BRAKES

Parking/Emergency brake stopped functioning. Safety issue. Dealer ran diagnostics and agreed with brake failure. Ordered replacement part.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

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.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
ENGINE

The engine light to our 2022 Kia Sportage went on and a ticking sound was heard in the engine. When we first took it to the dealer, they said it was a normal sound. We again took it to the dealer and spoke to the manager who apologized and said it was not normal to hear that. Warranty of course was no good because we did not get the oil changes through the dealership, which our car salesman had told us that my husband being a mechanic, would be able to do his own oil changes and the warranty would still be good. Engine is now locked up at only 49,000 miles and our car is not even 2 years old, but too expensive to fix and we still owe 17,000.00 on it.

Engine/Powertrainโš ๏ธ High
ENGINE

The contact owned a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, she observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road, where she opened the hood of the vehicle and observed flames coming from the engine. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined that the fire originated from the driver side of the engine. A fire department and police report were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I know about safety recalls for the 2022 Kia Sportage?

For the 2022 Kia Sportage, there is currently one notable recall concerning trailer hitches. Owners should be aware that debris and moisture accumulation on these components may lead to an electrical short and subsequent fire risk. It's essential to stay updated with any service notifications from Kia regarding these safety issues.

How does the mileage data affect my decision on purchasing a used 2022 Kia Sportage?

Considering that most reported issues occur within the first 20k miles, buying a used Sportage that has already accumulated significant mileage could be risky without thorough inspection records. Families should prioritize vehicles that have been well-maintained or seek out those still under warranty.

๐Ÿ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

โžก๏ธStable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2022 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

๐ŸงญWhat This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

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If You Own This Vehicle

  • Verify all 1 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your KIA dealer.
  • Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
  • Proactive tip: Enroll in KIA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
๐Ÿ›’

If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
  • This specific Sportage year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: February 23, 2026.