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Kia Sportage adaptive cruise problems

60 of the 4,730 owner complaints about the Kia Sportage describe adaptive cruise control problems, most of them for the 2006 model year.

owner complaints
60
worst model year
2006
typical mileage
80,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

  • 2026
    2
  • 2025
    3
  • 2024
    5
  • 2023
    3
  • 2020
    2
  • 2019
    2
  • 2018
    1
  • 2017
    2
  • 2016
    2
  • 2013
    3
  • 2011
    6
  • 2010
    1
  • 2009
    4
  • 2008
    1
  • 2007
    4
  • 2006
    12
  • 2001
    3
  • 2000
    2
  • 1999
    1
  • 1997
    1

What owners say

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · AL

While adaptive cruise was engaged, the vehicle read Alabama highway 80 west state road sign and incorrectly interpreted the sign for a speed limit sign which is 55 MPH.The vehicle displayed a “80 MPH” speed limit sign on the instrument cluster and then began to accelerate. When I took it to the dealer for repair, the “turned off safety feature”.

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · GA

While driving on the interstate at highway speed with cruise control engaged, the engine suffered sudden catastrophic failure with absolutely no prior warning, warning lights, knocking, stalling, or other symptoms. The vehicle became inoperable immediately. The repair estimate is $6,500 for engine replacement. The vehicle is a 2017 Kia Sportage equipped with a Theta II 2.4L GDI engine, confirmed by service campaign SC340 on file with the federal safety agency. Two safety recalls remain incomplete on this vehicle: 21V137 and 22V703. The Knock Sensor Detection System software update campaign SC340 was never completed prior to my purchase of the vehicle in February 2024 from a used car dealer, despite being issued in July 2018. Kia Consumer Affairs indicated the claim would likely be denied due to the incomplete KSDS update, despite that update predating my ownership entirely. A dealer appointment had been scheduled for June 26, 2024 to address outstanding recalls prior to this failure occurring.

Filed Jun 12, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · VA

When attempting to disengage the cruise control, I must apply sufficient force as to actually apply the brakes. My expectation is that a simple tap on the brake pedal would release the cruise control and begin a coasting mode. This is not the case; the SUV continues at the same forward speed until I press the brake pedal the second time a little harder.

Filed Feb 15, 2026 · Acceleration · MI

I was driving on the highway and had set the cruise control to 76. I then pushed the plus button once to increase the cruise control speed and the cruise control increased immediately to 110 mph. I braked right away which stopped the acceleration but could see it was still set at 110 mph. I pushed the button to turn the cruise control off. When I pushed it again, it went immediately back to 110. I tired multiple times over the next 45 minutes to turn the cruise control back on but it always went immediately to 110 mph.

Filed Jan 10, 2026 · Driver assistance · PA

I was driving my 2020 Kia Sportage recently and experienced a safety issue 3 times within 30 minutes. I was driving on a highway (Pennsylvania Turnpike/I-76) at night. Prior to the issue occurring, I drove through an area where snow was falling, there was fresh salt on the road, and I had been behind salt trucks briefly at different times. While driving through the snow and with exposure to the salt, my car notified me that the forward Collision Detection system could not operate because the sensors were blocked. Some time later in the drive, after that notification had turned off and remained off for a bit of time, I engaged my cruise control which uses the forward Collision Detection system. At 3 different times, I either approached a barrier (which run a large portion of I-76 to separate the east and west bound lanes) or a vehicle (I believe it was a semi truck) in the lane next to me while entering a curve. While entering the curve, the sensor saw these items and falsely detected a vehicle in front of me, and responded by rapidly slowing my vehicle. Two times the vehicle speed dropped about 20 mph within 30 seconds. On each occasion, I was fortunate that there was no vehicle close behind me that likely would have rear-ended me.

Filed Dec 16, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · ME

A month after buying my vehicle in February of 2024, while driving my vehicle the screen behind my steering wheel will black out and come back on and do a system check as if I had just turned my car on. It happens at all times of day, at all speeds. I kept a log of some of the incidences and there are no two that are the same. I have even been in park with the car on and it will happen. When you are driving with cruise control on and it does it the cruise control shuts off then comes back on after it has done the system check again. This is extremely dangerous while driving on the interstate and a line of cars around you. I have taken it to the dealership and they have worked with Kia to try to figure it out and still have not been able to. I am now going on almost two years of this happening without any resolution. Below I put the last time it happened but this happens ALL the time and is not one isolated incident. I have attached a log I kept for two months of the incidences.

Filed Oct 16, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · SC

Two issues that I've taken to dealership 3 times since purchasing vehicle January 2024. 1. Adaptive cruise control -- I was in right lane of 4 lane highway with cruise control on. A car in left lane took a turn to cut through median and my car thought it was a collision and hard braked and took my vehicle from 60mph to 35mph in a few seconds. If a car had been behind me, I would have been rear ended. They cannot "replicate" so I no longer use cruise control unless there are no cars around. 2. Timing has been off (loud clicking every time I crank) since a few months after I bought the car. I sent approximately 9 videos to the service advisor. Took it in 2 times "cannot replicate." Left it overnight at dealership "cannot replicate." It's every time I first crank for the day. It's now louder and gotten worse. I have videos and can take more. I just want this fixed. Afraid I'll be stranded and it feels like they are pushing it farther and farther out so it will exceed warranty and they won't have to eat the cost to repair. It's been 1.5 years I've been dealing with this. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated!!

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · OH

As I am driving, does not matter speed or weather, the instrument cluster screen will do a "System Check" as if the vehicle is being started. The screen will go blank for about 5 seconds and then will reappear. If the vehicle is in cruise control, that will disengage and the vehicle will slow down and I have to catch it and keep speed up. This does not happen every day and has happened at different intervals of 6 days between incidents and up to 15 days. Occurred on: June 9, 2025; June 17, 2025; (vehicle in shop to be looked at June 23rd through August 5th); August 9, 2025, August 14, 2025; September 6, 2025, September 18, 2025; and October 2, 2025.

Filed Sep 27, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · AL

Engine overheated lights on dash hecu ABS adas cruise control tire sensor window did not work correctly auto dimmer radio blanks out water pump went out tow truck damaged my car. I was not aware of any damages until I was accused by dealership I hit something as I did not. I have witnesses n pictures.

Filed Sep 3, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · OH

While driving at random times, no specific speed limit, the screen behind the wheel which shows speed and tachometer, will go into a system check mode. This is similar to when you start up the vehicle. The screen will come back after 5 to 10 seconds but during that time no information is displayed. If you have the vehicle in cruise control, it will disconnect cruise control, and you must catch it, so it does not decelerate to much while in traffic. When it comes back up it may reengage the cruise and it may not. This is a safety issue while driving for both no screen as well as disconnection of cruise control as you can not tell your speed and it slows vehicle down with no brake indication for those behind you which could result in a crash. Vehicle went to dealership and they could not recreate, but were told to replace the cluster which they did, but the issue is still happening on the vehicle. I have a case open with the automobile manufacturer to have the vehicle purchased back as they are not sure what the issue is.

Related recalls

Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)Reported March 29, 2005 · 7,619 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability program (esp), the yaw rate sensor may become too sensitive and may recalibrate inaccurately. While driving the esp program may cause the engine to reduce power and may cause a brake at one of the wheels to be inappropriately.
Risk
Brake application caused by inadvertent esp activation may result in loss of control and a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the esp hydraulic electronic control unit free of charge. The recall began on april 13, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.

Recall number 05V120000 · Recall details

Questions about the Kia Sportage adaptive cruise

Which Kia Sportage years have adaptive cruise control problems problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2006 (12 complaints), 2011 (6 complaints) and 2024 (5 complaints).

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