NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2026 Kia Sportage PHEV Safety Record
The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 1 recall and 17 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV has not undergone crash testing by NHTSA, leaving its safety profile without a formal star rating or a computed Safety Index. The federal record on this model year shows a single active recall campaign and 17 owner-reported complaints. This limited data set, marked by the absence of crash-test results, provides no definitive indication of either inherent safety or significant risk for consumers.
The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, carries one recall campaign involving the electrical system instrument cluster, and falls in the Light recall and complaint burden band according to NHTSA federal data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Light |
| Recalls on file | 1 |
| Owner complaints | 17 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV?
The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV has no recorded fire, injury, or death allegations among the 17 owner-reported complaints submitted to NHTSA. This places it in the Light recall and complaint burden band, indicating a lower federal footprint for a vehicle currently in production. The single recall issued for this model year addresses the instrument cluster and panel within the electrical system, a campaign that extends across several 2025-2026 Kia models. Of the 17 complaints, three allege crash-related incidents and five concern brake performance. These are the most safety-proximate signals in the record, though their veracity is unverified. There are no NHTSA crash-test results available for the 2026 Sportage PHEV, nor are there any crash-test reference points from earlier or concurrent model years. The Light burden band classification is based solely on the volume of recalls and complaints, not on crash performance.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV have any recalls?
The 2026 Sportage PHEV is named in one recall campaign covering the electrical system, specifically the instrument cluster and panel. The DATA block does not include a park-outside or do-not-drive directive for this campaign, so none is reported here. Owners should verify their VIN status at nhtsa.gov for current remedy information.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL26V046000
Risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer, tire pressure, or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 26, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC361. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 9, 2026.
Reported 2026-01-27
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV?
Seventeen complaints have been filed with NHTSA against the 2026 Sportage PHEV. The top reported components are Service Brakes and Unknown or Other, each with five alleged incidents, followed by Forward Collision Avoidance, Structure, and Electrical System, each with three. All are unverified consumer allegations, not established facts.
17 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV?
The 2026 Sportage PHEV has not yet been rated. Any used or pre-owned 2026 Sportage PHEV buyer should run the vehicle's VIN through the free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov before completing a purchase. An open recall means a free remedy is still available, and confirming its status is the single most direct safety action a buyer can take.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV, meaning no federal star ratings or Safety Index exist for this specific model year.
- One recall is on record for this model year, targeting the electrical system instrument cluster and panel in a campaign that also covers several other 2025-2026 Kia models.
- Seventeen unverified complaints have been reported to NHTSA, with Service Brakes and Forward Collision Avoidance among the most frequently cited components, and three of those complaints are categorized as crash-related.
- The Light burden band assigned to this model year reflects only the volume of recalls and complaints in the federal record and is not a substitute for a crash-test rating.
FAQ2026 Kia Sportage PHEV safety questions
Was the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 1 recall and 17 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 1 vehicle recall is on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 17 owner complaints are on file for the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Kia Sportage PHEV 2026.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.