OverviewSpecifications
🚗
Kia · Cars · 2025
Kia Sportage FWD (2025)
82
⚠ 47 complaints
Status
Safe
Good track record, minimal issues
Status Safe — no safety recalls recorded; minor complaints only.
Specifications
Engine Size2.5L
Fuel TypeRegular
Transmission8-speed automatic
Combined MPG28 MPG
Kia Sportage FWD Comparison with Similar Vehicles
Kia Sportage FWD (this vehicle)Hyundai Kona FWDHyundai Kona FWDToyota Corolla CrossToyota Corolla CrossGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon XL 4WDGMC Yukon 2WDGMC Yukon 2WDBuick Encore GX AWDBuick Encore GX AWD
Price—$23,000–$31,000———$27,900
Engine Capacity2.5L2L2L3L3L1.3L
Fuel TypeRegularRegularRegularDieselDieselRegular
Transmission8-speed automaticAutomatic (AV-S1)Automatic (AV-S10)Automatic 10-spdAutomatic 10-spdAutomatic 9-spd
Body TypeSUVSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
About

The 2025 Kia Sportage FWD offers a practical and safe choice for your daily commute, boasting a respectable 28 MPG combined. With its standard 2.5L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, this small SUV is designed for efficient everyday driving. Its safety status is rated as safe, making it a sound option for car shoppers.

Pros
  • Safe vehicle status
  • No recalls on record
  • Good combined MPG (28)
  • Start-stop fuel saving technology
Cons
  • 47 complaints on record
  • Below average GHG score (6)
Complaints47 total
KIA SPORTAGE 2025 ENGINE
low
We were getting in our car to drive home from a restaurant. We attempted to start our car like any other day, and the car started. However, our car was stuck in gear, it was in parking but also not in parking. The car was not moving, the gear was in “park”, the dot light for park was not showing, and then we had several warnings appear on our dashboard. At first it was three, then it went to six (after turning off the car and restarting again)!! The car told us to put it in park, but we literally could not move the gear shift at all. We had: check speed limit system, check high beam assist, check driver attention warning, check blind spot safety system, check forward safety system, check rear cross-traffic safety system appear in 20 seconds of car being on. This car just hit ~15,500 miles on it. To add to the strangeness, we open the Kia Access App and tried “lock” and “unlock” (while being in the car”, then turn the car off. We started the car again and it worked as if this never happened (no immediate warnings like above). Yet we did recieve a check engine light and a vehicle diagnostic on the instrument (dashboard) saying “follow-up check required: 2 (Engine Management System and Transmission Control System.)” The car allowed itself to recognize it in park gear and drive off. The Kia Access app said we experienced a UOO01F0 code tied to the Engine Control System. We never seen anything like that before. We did, however, experience a problem with the driver seat powertrain at 11,000 miles where the seat wouldn’t move. The seat was fixed by the dealership though. We are going to take the car in to the dealership to see what they say.
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
KIA SPORTAGE 2025 Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness
medium
The car seat is defective. Fraying where it is comes out of the car seat, where it is sewn together.
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
KIA SPORTAGE 2025 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
low
Twice since I purchased my car, once in 2025 and two weeks ago in 2026, I turned my car off in the garage and the engine kept running. I had to start the car up and turn it off again in order for it to shut down. I mentioned that to Arapaho Kia at my last visit in November 2025 and they just said that they didn’t find anything on the computer.
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
KIA SPORTAGE 2025 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
low
The cluster system of the vehicle lit up every warning system which prevented the running vehicle from being able to be put into drive. Safety was put at risk because I'm afraid this will happen while driving. I've seen this same concern on many Kia owner forums who describe the same issue possibly related to a faulty wiring harness. I had just purchased this vehicle that has 15,000 miles and there were no other symptoms up until this issue occurred. I had the code read and it was a generic U0001 CAM error (Controller Area Module). Kia has a recall on trailer harnesses right now and I believe this recall on faulty wiring harnesses needs to be expanded to other models and newer vehicles.
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
KIA SPORTAGE 2025 SERVICE BRAKES
medium
In November 2025, with approximately 6,900 miles on the vehicle, I reported brake issues to the dealership. After inspection, the dealership resurfaced (turned) the brake rotors at no charge. At that time, I was led to believe that the issue had been corrected. However, in June 2026, with only 14,300 miles on the vehicle, I returned to the dealership because the same symptoms had reappeared. I was informed that the rotors again require resurfacing and that the brake pads now need replacement as well. why has the same issue returned so quickly? Is there a defect in the rotors, brake pads, calipers, brake system design, or another component that has not been identified and corrected? I do not believe that my driving habits are the cause of this problem. Prior to purchasing this Sportage, I owned two vehicles from other manufacturers. Neither vehicle required brake rotor resurfacing until well over 50,000 miles, despite being driven under similar conditions. The fact that this vehicle has required rotor service twice before reaching 15,000 miles strongly suggests that an underlying issue exists. I believe that that premature rotor wear puts me and others at risk of collision. The Sportage is available for inspection.
NHTSAUSJun 2026Source →
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Status history
Certified→Safe2 Jun 2026
Lemon Score: 89. 16 data points. v3 scoring.
Uncertain→Certified31 May 2026
Lemon Score: 92. 7 data points. v3 scoring.
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