Model year 2022 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2022 Kia Sportage: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2022 Kia Sportage at 21–26 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 46 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

1

EPA combined mpg

21–26

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2022 Kia Sportage recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 1 safety recall for the 2022 Kia Sportage, newest first.

Trailer hitches

NHTSA 22V703000 Reported Sep 19, 2022 Park outside
Filed by
Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC249)
Units affected
70,887 (estimate)
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.
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2022 Kia Sportage fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2022 Kia Sportage EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Sportage AWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular19/24/21 mpg$3,200421
Sportage AWD2.4L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular22/26/23 mpg$2,900389
Sportage FWD2.0L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 6-speedFront-Wheel DriveRegular20/28/23 mpg$2,900392
Sportage FWD2.4L 4-cylAutomatic 6-speedFront-Wheel DriveRegular23/30/26 mpg$2,600350

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2022 Kia Sportage crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2022 Kia Sportage NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2022 Kia Sportage SUV AWD5 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars14.7%Optional
2022 Kia Sportage SUV FWD5 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars15.5%Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2022 Kia Sportage owner complaints

Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Kia Sportage, most recently on Sep 1, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2022 Kia Sportage complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Engine21
Electrical system7
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings5
Trailer hitches4
Unknown or other4
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking3
Fuel/propulsion system3
Power train3
Visibility: Sun/moon roof assembly3
Air bags2

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Kia Sportage model years

Kia Sportage by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2027 Sportage24–41 mpg015/5
2026 Sportage24–42 mpg1405/5
2025 Sportage25–43 mpg1745/5
2024 Sportage25–43 mpg31105/5
2023 Sportage25–43 mpg73095/5
2021 Sportage21–26 mpg2545/5
2020 Sportage21–26 mpg21645/5
2019 Sportage21–25 mpg2715/5
2018 Sportage21–26 mpg31655/5
2017 Sportage21–26 mpg44035/5
2016 Sportage21–23 mpg21345/5
2015 Sportage21–23 mpg21465/5

All Kia Sportage years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2022 Kia models

2022 Kia Carnival2022 Kia EV62022 Kia Forte2022 Kia K52022 Kia Niro2022 Kia Rio2022 Kia Seltos2022 Kia Sorento2022 Kia Soul2022 Kia Stinger2022 Kia Telluride

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.