The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) and 2024-2025 Sportage vehicles equipped with a 4.2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software error, the instrument panel screen may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Controls and Displays."
The risk
An instrument panel screen that fails to display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the tow hitch harness control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2026. Owners may contact Kia Customer Service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC359. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 31, 2025.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 2024, 2025 |
| Kia Sportage Phev | 2023, 2024, 2025 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Sportage | 2024 | 75 | 3 |
| Kia Sportage | 2025 | 55 | 1 |
| Kia Sportage Phev | 2023 | 15 | 2 |
| Kia Sportage Phev | 2024 | 12 | 1 |
| Kia Sportage Phev | 2025 | 6 | 1 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2025
5 of the 891 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2025 concerned the trailer hitches; Kia America, Inc. filed 73 campaigns in all.
| 25V893000 18 Dec 2025 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 25V687000 10 Oct 2025 | Ford Motor Company |
| 25V618000 17 Sept 2025 | Reading Truck Group LLC |
| 25V167000 14 Mar 2025 | Mazda North American Operations |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2025