2010 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability

28 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2010 Kia Sportage, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 7/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.

28Complaints
7/100Trouble index
2Recalls

Few reports

Where 2010 sits among all Sportage years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 7 complaints (25%)
Airbags 4 complaints (14%)
Other 4 complaints (14%)
Seat belts 3 complaints (11%)
Transmission & drivetrain 2 complaints (7%)
Electrical 2 complaints (7%)

Recalls (2)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23V652000 2023 Park outside

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The…

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13V114000 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009…

Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge.…

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires AQ23002 opened November 17, 2023 · still open

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…

Model years named: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

Technical service bulletins

24 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on body & structure and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2010 Kia Sportage. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2010 Sportage TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2011peak 8 in 20182024

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2010 Kia Sportage reliable?

The 2010 Kia Sportage drew 28 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 7/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).

What are the most common 2010 Kia Sportage problems?

The top reported problems for the 2010 Kia Sportage are brakes & stability (7 complaints), airbags (4), and other (4).

Does the 2010 Kia Sportage have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 2010 Kia Sportage. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

← 2009 Sportage All Sportage years 2011 Sportage →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.