About average for the Sportage
Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Sportage year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 97,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sportage years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Sportage. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (75, 60% of complaints), followed by the brakes and stability control and the fuel system. That ranks 9th of 13 Sportage years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 3 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2014 Kia Sportage before you buy.
Engine and cooling
75 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 97,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving, acceleration was greatly reduced followed by a blinking check engine light and loud clanking and knocking soundOwner complaint, filed 2026
My Kia engine was replaced under recall. The replacement engine triggered P1326 KSDS failure while I was traveling overseas, placing the vehicle in limp mode. Kia USA refuses to assist or authorize diagnosis, leaving me stranded. This is a repeat recall-related safety failure, even though there is a Kia Dealership near me.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Brakes and stability control
25 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, added pressure and pumping of the brake pedal was needed to slow and eventually stop the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was currently…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 121,062 miles
The contact’s mother owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon acceleration, the vehicle failed to properly respond. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact then stated that she was informed by the dealer of…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Fuel system
8 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Engine went out , starter went out got it replaced been having issues since I purchased it . Makes a noise my engine oil and gasoline was mixing my engine is locked nowOwner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle, after which the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to restart. The check engine…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 103,000 miles
Electrical system
8 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
The rear hatch door no longer opens. This could pose a safety risk in an emergency situation. Upon research it appears to be very common issue among Kias from this year.Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start immediately and required several attempts to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was constant. The contact had taken the vehicle to an…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 121,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
7 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
Sunroof exploded - I was travelling at approx. 60mph on a divided highway and the sunroof exploded causing small pieces of glass to fall into the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 48,000 miles
While backing my 2014 kia sportage out of my garage, I heard a loud noise. It almost sounded like a tire blowout. Upon inspection, all 4 tires were fine. The entire front separate portion of the panoramic sunroof had exploded / shattered.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 43,500 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while having an anti-theft recall performed, the mechanic stated that the software that was being uploaded caused damages to the computer but was not sure of the specific failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but did not provide any assistance. The…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 84,000 miles
My vehicle stalled (104000mi) bought in 2024 looked up online was known between 2023-2024 engine recall I wasn't told or shown on Car Fax anything about this So [XXX] worked on engine 2. Mths no charge was to get new motor they replaced alternator.Told Done Engine light was on I went to drive it jerked and over dash said engine problems…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cruise control and acceleration
4 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
My car won’t go up to speed and it keeps throwing out it’s the turbo boost sensor not only that I almost crashed when I pushed on the brakes a little bitOwner complaint, filed 2023
I was driving home from work on the expressway driving around 60 miles when my car out of no where started jerking and lost speed as driving at some points I could go over 40 I had to put my hazards on and drive at a speed of 30 on the expressway when I parked the car and put my foot on gas pedal I could not drive had a mechanic look at…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Suspension
3 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
While traveling approximately 45 mph on a paved road, there was a sudden loud bang and the vehicle abruptly went to the right and left the roadway. A person who stopped at the accident scene also stated that he heard the bang. The vehicle entered the ditch and rolled multiple times. After the accident, I observed that the left rear wheel…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Brakes keep squealing and as of a result of previous recall service my engine drink oil fast and not to mention the oil pan gasket is leaking oil. The engine smoke and have a burning smell that seep inside the car vents.Owner complaint, filed 2023
Air bags
3 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
Air bag light has been on. Service department looked into it and said it requires a new airbag control module, but the part is on back order and they don't know when it would be available. They said that if a crash occured, the airbags probably wouldn't work.Owner complaint, filed 2022
The contact owned a 2014 kia sportage. While driving 20 MPH, another vehicle passed the contact illegally on the shoulder. The contact attempted to move the vehicle over a little when the rear driver side tire struck gravel and lost control. As a result, the vehicle went airborne and crashed into a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy.…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 77,974 miles
Body, doors and structure
3 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
The frame nuts holding the trailer hitch pulled loose from the frame. The max weight for the hitch is 200 lbs. I use an electric schoter t get around. Their is aloft attached to the hitch. The combined weight of the scoter and lift does not exceed the 200 lbs limit. I was driving and the hitch/frame mount failed. I was traveling approx…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 31,800 miles
My 5years daughter have her window little open when she has her finger on the window. I closed the window without noticed that she has her finger there. Really hurts her and didn't get so bad because she was faster im wondering if kia doesn't provide a safety locker for windows [VIN]Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 100 miles
Wheels and tires
1 complaintTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
While parked in neutral I noticed the low tire warning light blinking. The vehicle had approximately 3000 miles on it. After checking the pressure I decided that the problem had to be a sensor. I brought it to myrtle beach kia on highway 501 in s.c. I was told that the problem was in the board not the sensor in the tires and all they…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 3,000 miles
Kia Sportage complaints by year
Compare the 2014 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2014 compact SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Kia Sportage | About average | 3 |
| 2014 Toyota RAV4 | One of the better years | 4 |
| 2014 Honda CR-V | About average | 1 |
| 2014 Mazda CX-5 | Worse than most years | 4 |
2014 Kia Sportage recalls
Brakes Control unit / modulePark outside until fixed
- Risk
- An engine compartment 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.
Full recall summary
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 K900 and 2014-2016 Sportage vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Fuel system
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Fix
- Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- Maintaining tire pressure below the recommmend specification could result in premature tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Kia will notify owners, and dealers will correct the label information, and owners will also receive a sticker to put into the owners manual, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured September 30, 2013, through January 11, 2014. The certification label has incorrect tire pressure information printed on it, listing a specification that is 1 or 2 psi below the correct information. Thus, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
2014 Kia Sportage questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Kia Sportage?
The most reported problem areas on the 2014 Kia Sportage are the engine and cooling (75 complaints), the brakes and stability control (25 complaints) and the fuel system (8 complaints).
Is the 2014 Kia Sportage a good year to buy?
About average for the Sportage. Owners filed about as many complaints as a typical Sportage year. The main thing to watch is the engine and cooling, which half of owners reported by about 97,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Sportage years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2014 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2014 Kia Sportage. The most recent, from Feb 2022, covers the control unit / module. One of them tells owners to park outside or not drive the car until it is fixed. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2014 Kia Sportage problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 97,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the lights, wipers and visibility gave a mileage of about 15,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?
The Sportage years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2012, 2013 and 2017. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2019 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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