Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% | — |
| 2023 | 10 | 5% | 13,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2020 | 5 | 3% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 2 | 3% | 2,000 miles |
| 2018 | 8 | 5% | 87,000 miles |
| 2017 | 18 | 4% | 22,000 miles |
| 2016 | 7 | 5% | 19,000 miles |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2014 | 4 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% | 100,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% | 106,000 miles |
| 2011 | 10 | 6% | 67,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 5% | 96,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 4% | 81,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | 148,000 miles |
| 2007 | 7 | 9% | 95,000 miles |
| 2006 | 10 | 9% | 112,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 80,000 miles |
| 2001 | 11 | 5% | 37,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 1999 | 11 | 4% | 69,000 miles |
| 1998 | 18 | 6% | 6,000 miles |
| 1997 | 22 | 12% | 60,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On Monday, Dec 15 at approximately 3:30 pm I was pulling into my parking spot in front of my house. The vehicle suddenly revved loudly and shot forward striking a tree in my front yard. If not for the tree would have ended up in the kitchen. When parking I do not have to apply gas once I enter the lot as I can drift into the spot. I barely have to brake to stop the vehicle. The steering wheel airbag deployed, fortunately no serious injuries. The passenger front end was pretty much gone and two big branches were sheared off at ground level. Police responded, report #[redacted] Sheriff office. Vehicle is due to get to the body shop today or tomorrow. Fortunately this happened where it did as if it had been in traffic or around people it could have been very serious. This was also reported to Kia.
VEHICLE: 2025 Kia Sportage X-Line VIN: [VIN] APPROXIMATE MILEAGE: 34,000 miles DATE OF INCIDENT: September 3, 2026 LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 6140 University Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35806 COMPONENT: Steering / Motor-Driven Power Steering (MDPS) / Steering Column / Steering Shaft SAFETY ISSUE: Sudden loss of steering control immediately preceding a collision COMPLAINT I am reporting a serious steering-related safety incident involving my 2025 Kia Sportage X-Line, VIN [VIN]. On September 3, 2026, at approximately 34,000 miles, I was operating my vehicle near 6140 University Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35806, when the steering suddenly became locked/unresponsive immediately before a motor-vehicle collision. The steering malfunction occurred while the vehicle was being operated and immediately preceded the collision. I was unable to properly control the direction of the vehicle as intended. …
Sudden Unintended Acceleration - 2024 Kia Sportage - Safety Hazard. Incident Date: April 18, 2026. Location: Parking lot. While pulling into a parking space at low speed, I brought the vehicle to a complete stop with my foot on the brake. Immediately after stopping, the vehicle suddenly and forcefully accelerated forward on its own without my foot on the accelerator. I was actively pressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not respond as expected and continued to accelerate. The acceleration was strong enough that the vehicle jumped over the parking bumper with both front tires and struck a fixed post. Even after impact with the post, the vehicle continued to push forward as if still accelerating, until it hit another barrier and finally came to a stop. At no time did I press the accelerator pedal. The vehicle's behavior felt completely uncontrolled and unsafe. …
A month after buying my vehicle in February of 2024, while driving my vehicle the screen behind my steering wheel will black out and come back on and do a system check as if I had just turned my car on. It happens at all times of day, at all speeds. I kept a log of some of the incidences and there are no two that are the same. I have even been in park with the car on and it will happen. When you are driving with cruise control on and it does it the cruise control shuts off then comes back on after it has done the system check again. This is extremely dangerous while driving on the interstate and a line of cars around you. I have taken it to the dealership and they have worked with Kia to try to figure it out and still have not been able to. I am now going on almost two years of this happening without any resolution. …
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space at a very slow speed and while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove over the stop bump and a curve before crashing into a building wall. During the crash, the contact sustained a head injury which later required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was driven away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 37,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated after his wife stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle accelerated independently and caused to crash the vehicle ahead of them. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50.
On Sunday I was getting on the expressway and my car accelerated on its own. I hit the brake and the car was ok. That was May 22, 2020, On Wednesday, May.25,2020 I was pulling into a parking spot at Kroger Store and my car accelerated on its own and I hit a pole. Over $4000.00 damaged to my car but I was not hurt. I took my car to the dealer and they checked it and said nothing was wrong. I am afraid to drive it. I don't want to hurt anyone or myself. There were no warning lights.
When pulling out of a parking area the vehicle accelerated without me pressing the gas pedal. Attempts to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake were unsuccessful. The vehicle stopped when we struck a building.
Related recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
The accelerator pedal assembly could bind or stick during operation.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly.
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Sportage years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (22), 1998 (18), 2017 (18), 1999 (11) and 2001 (11) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Kia Sportage acceleration problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 96V-131 (accelerator pedal, Jul 15, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Sportage acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cruise control (17 mentions), followed by the accelerator pedal (9).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.