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Ford Escape vs Kia Sportage: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 1,102 complaints per model year about the Ford Escape and 143 about the Kia Sportage.

Side by side

Ford EscapeKia Sportage
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints23,1363,012
Complaints per model year1,102143
Recalls8124
Years to avoid20132017201220132017
Best years200720212022201920212022
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-40 mpg combined (2026)24-42 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Escape: 4642006 Kia Sportage: 11120062007 Ford Escape: 2542007 Kia Sportage: 772008 Ford Escape: 1,9742008 Kia Sportage: 9820082009 Ford Escape: 1,6932009 Kia Sportage: 802010 Ford Escape: 2,0712010 Kia Sportage: 2020102011 Ford Escape: 1,3202011 Kia Sportage: 1812012 Ford Escape: 6042012 Kia Sportage: 39220122013 Ford Escape: 2,7532013 Kia Sportage: 3812014 Ford Escape: 2,0912014 Kia Sportage: 12520142015 Ford Escape: 1,1482015 Kia Sportage: 1462016 Ford Escape: 1,1932016 Kia Sportage: 13420162017 Ford Escape: 2,7102017 Kia Sportage: 4042018 Ford Escape: 1,8332018 Kia Sportage: 16620182019 Ford Escape: 6042019 Kia Sportage: 712020 Ford Escape: 1,6212020 Kia Sportage: 16920202021 Ford Escape: 3562021 Kia Sportage: 542022 Ford Escape: 2382022 Kia Sportage: 4720222023 Ford Escape: 1022023 Kia Sportage: 1952024 Ford Escape: 782024 Kia Sportage: 7520242025 Ford Escape: 262025 Kia Sportage: 552026 Ford Escape: 32026 Kia Sportage: 312026
Ford EscapeKia Sportage

Problems compared

EscapeSportage
Engine8,3511,583
Transmission4,236211
Steering3,70398
Fuel system2,389144
Electrical2,048435
Acceleration1,755110
Brakes844332
Driver assistance948144

Questions about the Ford Escape vs Kia Sportage

Which is more reliable, the Ford Escape or the Kia Sportage?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Ford Escape has 2 years to avoid and the Kia Sportage 3. The Ford Escape has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Sportage drew fewer complaints per model year (143 vs 1,102), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Escape or the Kia Sportage?

From 2006 to 2026, the Ford Escape was covered by 81 recalls and the Kia Sportage by 24.

What years of the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage should you avoid?

Ford Escape: 2013 and 2017. Kia Sportage: 2012, 2013 and 2017.

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