Summary of key reported issues affecting the 2025 Kia Sportage including sunroof explosions, sudden instrument cluster resets, brake system failure and others.
The 2025 Kia Sportage is positioned as a competitive compact SUV offering modern technology, stylish design, and advanced safety features. This article investigates common complaints, safety concerns, and patterns identified through NHTSA reports, online consumer feedback, and our internal data to help current owners understand potential issues and their lemon law rights.
Analysis of NHTSA complaints and consumer reports reveals five primary problem areas frequently cited by 2025 Kia Sportage owners. The top concerns include:
Electrical system malfunctions and dashboard resets
Sunroof glass failures and panoramic roof issues
Brake system defects, including sudden brake activation
Transmission and drivetrain irregularities
Wireless Charging Overheating
Additional defects reported involve steering issues, paint peeling and software glitches affecting driver assistance systems. Below are detailed summaries of the top three most common issues.
Don’t be stuck with a lemon. You have legal rights to cash, return or buyback.
The law makes Kia pay legal fees.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
2025 Kia Sportage Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Unknown Or Other
13
13
Electrical System
10
10
Engine
5
5
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
5
5
Steering
5
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
5
Power Train
4
4
Fuel/propulsion System
3
3
Lane Departure: Assist
3
3
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
2
2
1. Electrical System Malfunctions and Dashboard Resets
Many owners have reported recurring electrical problems characterized by sudden instrument cluster resets, loss of dashboard information, and random system checks while driving. These malfunctions create dangerous situations, such as cruise control disengagement and temporary loss of vital driving data.
Dashboard screen goes black for 5 to 10 seconds during driving
System restarts trigger “System Check” prompts
Cruise control disconnects unexpectedly, slowing the vehicle
Erratic warning lamp illumination, including “Check Engine” and other alerts
Dealerships often cannot replicate issues for repair
Reported owner experience: “Dash resets and you lose instruments for a few seconds. When they come back they are inaccurate. This has happened many times and have had the car to the dealer twice who cannot replicate the issue. Warning lamps did illuminate for a second then goes away. [The] vehicle has had less than 300 miles on it when this first started.”
2. Sunroof and Panoramic Roof Failures
Sunroof glass explosions are a critical safety hazard reported by multiple 2025 Sportage owners. Incidents involve the panoramic sunroof shattering spontaneously without external impact, scattering glass shards into the cabin.
Loud explosion of sunroof glass while driving, sometimes at highway speeds
Large holes form in the sunroof with glass falling onto occupants
Sunroof mechanisms showing damaged components or missing seals
Manufacturer often denies warranty coverage or delays repair approvals
Owners report recurring issues even after attempted repairs
One owner recounted, “”The panoramic sunroof exploded. We were driving down the highway. Going roughly 55mph when there was a loud bang and glass started falling down on us. Glass fell down onto our heads and our child. The sunroof glass was pushed up and outward so nothing had hit the car to make the Glass cave in. Two small pieces had fallen from the sunroof mechanism, one containing a rubber gasket and one lacking one.”
3. Brake System Defects and Unintended Activation
Serious safety concerns have emerged with the brake system, including sudden and unexpected automatic braking on highways without apparent cause. These incidents have caused abrupt stops, leading to injuries and emotional distress for drivers and passengers.
Automatic emergency braking activates without obstacle detection
Complete sudden stop in traffic, risking rear-end collisions
Brake booster defects leading to partial or complete brake failure
Manufacturer offers limited compensation, often only covering insurance deductibles
Multiple owners report physical injuries from abrupt stops
As one owner stated, “I was operating the vehicle as intended, driving at a safe speed in normal highway conditions when an unexpected alarm sounded and the vehicle’s automated braking system suddenly and forcefully activated without warning. This caused the car to come to a complete and abrupt stop in the middle of active highway traffic, despite there being no obstacle or reason to brake.
Other Reported Issues
Transmission and Drivetrain: Sudden gear shifts causing jerks, stalling incidents, and transmission refusal to shift uphill. These problems often go undiagnosed at dealerships.
Wireless Charging Pad Overheating: Owners report the wireless phone charger becoming dangerously hot during use.
Paint Peeling: Early paint degradation observed, particularly on white models.
Driver Assistance System Inconsistencies: Blind spot detection and lane assist systems may fail intermittently, contributing to near-collision incidents.
What Should You Do if Your 2025 Kia Sportage Is a Lemon?
A lemon vehicle is defined by consumer protection laws as one that has persistent, significant defects affecting its safety, value, or use that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. If your 2025 Kia Sportage shows recurring problems despite repairs, you may qualify for protections under state lemon laws.
Steps to take include:
Document all issues: Keep detailed repair records, service invoices, and communication with dealerships.
Report the problems: File complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and familiarize yourself with your state’s lemon law criteria.
Seek legal advice: Consult with a law firm experienced in lemon law to evaluate your case and next steps.
If you believe your 2025 Kia Sportage might be a lemon, contact Lemberg Law today for a free consultation. Our consumer-focused legal team can help you understand your rights and fight for a refund, replacement, or compensation under lemon law.
Contact Lemberg Law today for a free consultation and explore your legal options.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
