RecallMyCar

2008 Kia Sportage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2008 Kia Sportage, and owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
98
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 24
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–22
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2008 Kia Sportage

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside

    NHTSA 22V800000 Reported 71,704 vehicles potentially affected Kia America, Inc.

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and other vehicles until the recall repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the HECU, its wiring harness, and its fuses, as necessary,…

  2. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 16V815000 Reported 71,704 vehicles potentially affected Kia Motors America

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could…

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and…

  3. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 13V114000 Reported 980,377 vehicles potentially affected Kia Motors Corporation

    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…

    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…

98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2008 Kia Sportage have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 24 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 83,058 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 13 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "ESC Off" was displayed and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 27, 2024 · Electronic stability control (esc)

“Was parked and after driving to pick up please came back out and it was in flames”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 23, 2024 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2008 Kia Sportage (Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–22 mpg
City / Highway17–20 / 21–25
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/2.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Kia Sportage model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sportage model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Kia Sportage256
1996 Kia Sportage357
1997 Kia Sportage3181
1998 Kia Sportage3303
1999 Kia Sportage3284
2000 Kia Sportage2304
2001 Kia Sportage0228
2002 Kia Sportage1234
2003 Kia Sportage04
2005 Kia Sportage368
2006 Kia Sportage1111
2007 Kia Sportage277
2008 Kia Sportage398
2009 Kia Sportage380
2010 Kia Sportage220
2011 Kia Sportage6181
2012 Kia Sportage5392
2013 Kia Sportage3381
2014 Kia Sportage3123
2015 Kia Sportage2146
2016 Kia Sportage2132
2017 Kia Sportage4401
2018 Kia Sportage3164
2019 Kia Sportage270
2020 Kia Sportage2161
2021 Kia Sportage254
2022 Kia Sportage146
2023 Kia Sportage6191
2024 Kia Sportage373
2025 Kia Sportage152
2026 Kia Sportage127

Checking a specific 2008 Kia Sportage

How do I know if my 2008 Kia Sportage has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2008 Kia Sportage; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V114000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kia models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.