Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage
Which used car has the cleaner record?
We line up what owners actually reported to NHTSA — complaints and recall campaigns — for both cars, so you can compare their paper trail before you buy.
| Side by side | Tucson | Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Years sampled | 2016, 2020, 2024 | 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Owner complaints | 1854 | 342fewer |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 7fewer |
| NHTSA investigations | 5fewer | 10 |
| Overall safety (NHTSA, US) | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Combined economy (EPA, US) | 9.4 L/100km | 9.4 L/100km |
The quick read
Over the sampled model years, the Hyundai Tucson has 1854 complaints and 9 recalls, and the Kia Sportage has 342 complaints and 7 recalls. Lower numbers point to fewer reported issues, but always confirm the exact car with a VIN check.
Deeper analysis
Based on US NHTSA data covering the 2016, 2020, and 2024 model years, the Tucson generated 1,854 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns, while the Sportage recorded 342 complaints and 7 recall campaigns. The Sportage's complaint volume is notably lower, roughly one-fifth that of the Tucson, though the recall counts are closer at 9 versus 7. These figures are drawn from the US market and serve only as a rough reliability signal, not a definitive verdict on any specific European example you might be considering.
NHTSA (US) owner-complaint and recall counts over recent model years. A reliability signal, not a check of any one car. Always run the VIN.