2023 Kia Sportage electrical problems

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MI

02/2025 Engine light on - dealership said it was a coolant sensor has not repaired 2026 I was driving my car as normal went to a store and whole driving I went to try to use my turn signals and nothing wouldn’t light up wouldn’t do anything, I attempted to use my emergency lights also were not working I had to pull over I got off another store went back in car and they started working fine as if nothing accured. This has happened multiple times many calls to dealership that will only look at it if I leave my car but no loaner car unless I pay ridiculous amount. The car has touch screen climant control / radio volume that goes in and out, touch screen will not respond this is hazardous when driving I cannot signal other drivers or put my emergency lights on. I’ve reached out multiple times to dealership and no one seems to care but this is a problem I could cause an accident I’m in fear something else will happen

Filed Sep 12, 2026 · Electrical · OK

My daughter’s 2023 Kia Sportage SX Prestige has an instrument cluster that intermittently goes completely black while the vehicle is being driven. When this occurs, the driver cannot see the speedometer, warning indicators, or other critical vehicle information. Ferguson Kia inspected the vehicle and documented that the “cluster side of screen [is] INOP.” The technician reset the screen, performed variant coding, verified systems were up to date, removed and inspected the head unit/connectors, verified pin tension and fuses, and found no DTC codes. The screen remained inoperative. Ferguson Kia diagnosed an “internal electrical failure” and recommended replacement of the head unit. I paid $199 for this diagnosis and was advised the replacement would cost approximately $10,000. I am concerned because Kia previously issued Safety Recall SC270/the federal safety agency Recall 23V‑298 involving instrument clusters that may become blank in certain 2023 Kia Sportages. I understand this vehicle may not be included in that recall and may use a different instrument cluster. I am not claiming it is necessarily the identical defect. However, this is a documented blank instrument-cluster failure in the same model year that creates a similar safety hazard. I am reporting this because loss of the instrument cluster while driving prevents the driver from seeing critical driving and safety information. I am concerned that 2023 Sportages not included in the existing recall may also be experiencing blank instrument-cluster failures.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · KY

I was driving the vehicle yesterday, had no problems and then when making a right hand turn the vehicle completely locked up. The brakes and steering column locked and the vehicle completely shut done. The dashboard lit up and the windows still worked but there was not power to the engine. Attempted to JUMP the car, unsuccessful, ultimately called a AAA who used a battery box and the car started. This happened once previously when the car was 6m-1year old and it spontaneously worked. I took for service told unclear what happened, no issues. The car gave no warning lights or indicators there was an issue. This was a very concerning and unsafe situation. I was in the middle of a busy intersection, making a right hand turn. again no warning or lights just vehicle shut down and unable to restart.

Filed Jun 25, 2026 · Electrical, Seats · GA

Seat warmer started to catch on fire

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 48,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon coming to a stop at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, and the infotainment screen was turned off. The contact stated that the vehicle became operable after approximately two minutes. The contact stated the failure was recurrent. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Electrical · IL

When driving the cluster screen goes black and remains black until like 24hours later when buttons on the screens reappear. When it happens the odometer reading, speed reading does not appear. This issue started happening when I passed 40000 miles on the vechile

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Electrical, Seats · NC · fire

Vehicle caught fire while idling unattended with seat warmers activated. The driver seat ignited and fire spread across the seats to the headrest in the backseats and sunroof area. No one was inside the vehicle at the time. Multiple eyewitnesses confirm no one was near the vehicle. Surveillance footage captured the incident. Police report confirms no arson or external cause. A campus officer noted the fire may be related to the seat heater system. Vehicle is currently undrivable due to severe interior fire damage.

Filed Mar 17, 2026 · Electrical · ID

The instrument cluster software on this 2023 Sportage Hybrid EX AWD was never updated prior to sale. Software version USA.S5W_M.V008.001.220504 (dated May 2022) was confirmed via the vehicle system information screen on March 17, 2026. A Kia Consumer Affairs supervisor confirmed on a recorded call the same date that this version predates recall SC270 by approximately one year, and that the vehicle is missing all software updates from fall 2022 through 2024. The supervisor further confirmed the OTA system cannot bridge this gap and dealer intervention is required. The vehicle was purchased from the selling dealer on June 13, 2025 — over two years after SC270 was issued in May 2023. The dealer had software update capability since spring 2024 per Kia's own records. The recall has not been completed as of the date of this filing. Safety risk: instrument cluster may fail to display tire pressure, warning lights, and critical safety indicators upon startup per the recall description.

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Electrical · CA

12 V battery fails everyday and needed to press the 12 V boost button. Sometimes alarm turns on middle of the night.

Filed Feb 5, 2026 · Electrical · OH

My instrament cluster is blank and will.not turn back on. So called recal never fixed it.