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Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2026, owners filed an average of 151 complaints per model year about the Kia Sportage and 131 about the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Side by side

Kia SportageVolkswagen Tiguan
Model years compared2009-20262009-2026
Owner complaints2,7262,354
Complaints per model year151131
Recalls2339
Years to avoid2012201320172018
Best years201920212022201420152017
Most common problemEngineEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-42 mpg combined (2026)25-29 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

2009 Kia Sportage: 802009 Volkswagen Tiguan: 16820092010 Kia Sportage: 202010 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1102011 Kia Sportage: 1812011 Volkswagen Tiguan: 16220112012 Kia Sportage: 3922012 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1532013 Kia Sportage: 3812013 Volkswagen Tiguan: 14020132014 Kia Sportage: 1252014 Volkswagen Tiguan: 842015 Kia Sportage: 1462015 Volkswagen Tiguan: 6220152016 Kia Sportage: 1342016 Volkswagen Tiguan: 972017 Kia Sportage: 4042017 Volkswagen Tiguan: 7720172018 Kia Sportage: 1662018 Volkswagen Tiguan: 2892019 Kia Sportage: 712019 Volkswagen Tiguan: 19620192020 Kia Sportage: 1692020 Volkswagen Tiguan: 1412021 Kia Sportage: 542021 Volkswagen Tiguan: 14620212022 Kia Sportage: 472022 Volkswagen Tiguan: 2812023 Kia Sportage: 1952023 Volkswagen Tiguan: 7220232024 Kia Sportage: 752024 Volkswagen Tiguan: 802025 Kia Sportage: 552025 Volkswagen Tiguan: 5820252026 Kia Sportage: 312026 Volkswagen Tiguan: 38
Kia SportageVolkswagen Tiguan

Problems compared

SportageTiguan
Engine1,528744
Electrical373559
Brakes287143
Transmission190211
Fuel system134202
Driver assistance115239
Airbags88319

Questions about the Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sportage or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

Between 2009 and 2026, the Kia Sportage has 3 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Tiguan 1. The Volkswagen Tiguan has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Tiguan drew fewer complaints per model year (131 vs 151), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Sportage or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

From 2009 to 2026, the Kia Sportage was covered by 23 recalls and the Volkswagen Tiguan by 39.

What years of the Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan should you avoid?

Kia Sportage: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Volkswagen Tiguan: 2018.

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