2019 Kia Sportage recalls and problems

The 2019 Kia Sportage has 2 safety recalls and 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Urgent: recall 22V-703, recall 21V-137 carry a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
2
Complaints
72
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2019 Kia Sportage vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2019 Kia Sportage recalls

Recall 22V-703: Trailer Hitches

Park outsideReported Sep 19, 2022 · 70,887 vehicles affected · Kia America, Inc.

Problem: 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.

Recall 21V-137: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Park outsideReported Mar 4, 2021 · 379,931 vehicles affected · Kia Motors America

Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.

Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.

2019 Kia Sportage problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine38
Unknown or Other15
Electrical System11
Power Train7
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Service Brakes3
Exterior Lighting3
Air Bags3
Trailer Hitches3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Forward Collision Avoidance2

Most reported parts

  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 2
  • Structure › Body — 2
  • Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 1
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring — 1
  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 32,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2019 Kia Sportage complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Nov 11, 2026
There was an update that shouldve been completed on my car that was not. There were 7 recalls on my car that I was never informed of and now they will not fix it. The engine rod went bad due to this and there is a class action settlement going on about it
Electrical System · reported Oct 19, 2026
I have a 2019 Kia Sportage with a conventional ignition key. Three times in five years, the engine has apparently started by itself while parked. The key was not in the ignition. I stopped the engine by inserting the key, turning it ON, then OFF. I bought the vehicle used from CarMax, and I don’t know whether an aftermarket remote starter was installed.
Engine · reported Sep 13, 2026
The car engine is losing oil without any leaks being found. I got my oil changed and was told to have it done every 3k miles. Within a month of that oil change, my engine ran hot. I had all of my components checked. Radiator and coolant was fine but they found that my engine was 2 qrts short of what should be in there. I told them that the oil was just changed not even a month ago and that had to be false unless they weren't fully giving me the quarts that I paid for. They stated that this particular engine burns oil for unknown reasons as no cracks or leaks are ever found and to alleviate the…
Engine · reported Aug 4, 2026
The vehicle is have issues every time I get and oil change the vehicle loses about 2 qt of oil there are no leaks that are notice but the lost of engine oil still happens this oil could cause the engine to turn on fire it is nerve reacting to every often to check the oil level dealership are brushing this problem as they don't seem to know what is causing this issue if customer don't check
Engine · reported Jul 3, 2026
The engine locked up about a year ago, and since we didn’t technically have a recall we didn’t know what to do. It was able to drive again after we had a technician work on it, but now it’s not driving anymore. It shakes hard when it’s idling and driving. We have waited over 2 weeks to be diagnosed with the problem. We have had to spend $1300 on rental cars because we can’t get a loaner until diagnosed. The car is not safe to drive and puts our lives at risk to drive it. We were lucky it didn’t start shaking while we were driving on a major highway, but it did still happen while…

Other Kia Sportage years

Compare all Kia Sportage years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Kia Sportage have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2019 Kia Sportage: 22V-703 (trailer hitches), 21V-137 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Kia Sportage?

Owners report engine problems most often (38 reports), followed by unknown or other (15). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 32,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.