2007 Kia Sportage: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 77 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (16% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“the rear subframe is completely rusted out the car only has 120,000 miles was able to get it home but something under it is making a banging noise looked under it and the subframe is rusted out”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2025
“The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rod bearings had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,943.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2025
“The contact owns a 2007 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the electronic brake control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 214,967.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving on the interstate, kia caught on fire. We got off interstate at our stop and a car started honking. As we didn't know car engine was on fire. We pulled into a parking lot and got out. The fire department was called. No one has looked at it to see what happened. Fire dept stated vehicle probably can't be fixed. We see there was a recall on 2007 vehicles. This is a 2007.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2024
“The stop lamp switch was recalled & mine was replaced in 2010, but the part they replaced it with was faulty also and I've been driving without brake lights for years without knowing it. Then when I contacted KIA escalated customer "service," they double-talked and gaslit me.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · May 2023
“Just bought this vehicle Feb 16 and esc plus engine light came on replaced sensors they didnt go off pulling into drive at home it caught fire and burned totally destroyed panel on front passenger side at headlight near power box.Fire dept came they said it looks electrical and was the 2nd 2007 kia sportage they had put out today.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2023
“The ABS pump, caused my brakes to lock on all four tires causing rubber to burn and smoke. I was driving the car when I noticed something happened and felt like I had emergency brakes would not drive any more than 10 miles an hour, was close to home and completely locked up as I drove into my driveway. No emergency light was given on my panel. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2020
“Airbag light came on, front passenger seat warning light does not turn off when occupied by a passenger, very concern took it to a service place to diagnose and came back 2 codes, see pic please”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2019
“I purchased this vehicle a little over 2 weeks ago for my son and on 3 different occasions the vehicle refused to start, iv'e had the vehicle towed back to the dealer twice, they checked the battery, said it was good, said the alternator was good also, they had the vehicle all weekend, they said they replaced the starter, picked the vehicle up yesterday, my son took it to school today and the vehicle would not start again, I tried to jump start it with no luck, I had to have it towed back to the dealership again, I feel this vehicle is unsafe for my son to drive, they are trying to fix it as we speak, what options do I have for getting my money back for this vehicle”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2018
“2007 kia sportage. Consumer writes regarding an accident and the driver side seatbelt failed to restrain them. *as *tr *js *js”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
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 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2007 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sportage by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2007 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 77 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2007 Kia Sportage. The most complained-about area is air bags (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2007 Kia Sportage problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 69,500 miles or less.
Does the 2007 Kia Sportage have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:brake lights:switch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.