"How reliable is the 2009 Kia Sportage?"

"Based on 117 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Kia Sportage has a median complaint mileage of 75000 miles. The most common issue is Electrical System."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Kia Sportage?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Kia Sportage is Electrical System, accounting for a significant portion of the 117 total complaints filed."

2009 Kia Sportage: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 117 complaints

117

Total Complaints

75,000mi

Median Mileage

Electrical System

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

44,000 25th Percentile

75,000 Median Mileage

90,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Electrical System

Air Bags

Steering

Engine

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Service Brakes

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Unknown Or Other

Exterior Lighting

Vehicle Speed Control

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH HE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULT STEERING. ALSO THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CONVEY TO THE FUEL ECONOMY RECOMMENDED STANDARDS OF 16 TO 24 MPG FOR IN THE CITY DRIVING. THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED A FUEL ECONOMY OF 12 MPG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK..."

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2009. HE STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS DANGEROUS AND IF THERE WAS VERY LITTLE WHEEL SLIP, THE ENGINE WOULD SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A STALL AND THE RPMS WOULD IDLE VERY HIGH. THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO DEPRES..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Electrical System 16 complaints

25th: 77,000 mi Median: 93,157 mi 75th: 100,000 mi

Air Bags 15 complaints

25th: 41,250 mi Median: 45,500 mi 75th: 79,523 mi

Steering 14 complaints

25th: 49,693 mi Median: 80,000 mi 75th: 122,000 mi

Engine 10 complaints

25th: 76,500 mi Median: 80,500 mi 75th: 92,550 mi

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 8 complaints

25th: 32,136 mi Median: 65,500 mi 75th: 84,500 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

NY: 14 FL: 10 OH: 9 PA: 9 WI: 9 IL: 8 AZ: 7 TX: 5 VA: 5 CA: 4

Who Files Complaints?

0.9%

Original Owners

99.1%

Second+ Owners

Kia Sportage — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1995	88	-	Buckle Assembly	2
1996	98	79,000	Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	13
1997	299	97,000	Gasoline	50
1998	558	70,000	Gasoline	31
1999	493	71,200	Gasoline	43
2000	462	69,000	Fuel System, Gasoline	27
2001	354	48,595	Fuel System, Gasoline	31
2002	321	58,400	Fuel System, Gasoline	19
2005	93	89,000	Air Bags	13
2006	169	79,500	Air Bags	12
2007	113	69,000	Electrical System	13
2008	138	88,000	Electrical System	2
2010	28	89,500	Air Bags	4
2011	260	70,505	Engine	10
2012	448	97,000	Engine	10
2013	447	94,000	Engine	6
2014	149	79,500	Engine	2
2015	190	70,000	Engine	9
2016	182	60,000	Engine	13
2017	523	54,000	Engine	25
2018	209	18,200	Engine	11
2019	98	25,000	Engine	5
2020	187	11,300	Engine	16
2021	45	47,000	Unknown Or Other	3
2022	58	33,000	Engine	10
2023	285	15,250	Unknown Or Other	41
2024	85	22,500	Unknown Or Other	14
2025	69	3,500	Unknown Or Other	6

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28