2023 Kia Sportage: Loose Alternator Terminal Nut Poses Stall and Fire Risk
Kia is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles because the alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, risking engine stall or fire. Dealers will inspect and tighten the terminal nut free of charge.
What this means for you
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: The source reports no injuries, deaths, or incidents. The hazards are theoretical: engine stall increases crash risk, and electrical surge increases fire risk. Per the rubric, risk-of-harm recalls without reported illness or injury score at most 3 (High).
Plain-English summary
Kia America, Inc. is recalling certain 2023 Sportage vehicles. The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. An electrical surge increases the risk of fire.
Kia dealers will inspect the alternator battery positive terminal nut and tighten it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542 (Kia recall number SC248) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit www.nhtsa.gov.
The recalled product
- Product
- 2023 KIA SPORTAGE
- Brand
- KIA
- Manufacturer
- Kia America, Inc.
- Category
- Vehicle
- Hazard
- engine-stall
- electrical-surge
- fire
- Affected units
- 19,701
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (1)
- SPORTAGE
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
Related recalls
Same brand · KIA
- High2022–2026 Kia Carnival vehicles recalled for fuel system leak risk
NHTSA · 2026-04-10
- High2026 Kia K4 vehicles recalled for defective rear seat belt anchor
NHTSA · 2026-03-06
- HighKia vehicles recalled for instrument panel display software failure
NHTSA · 2026-01-27
- High2025 Kia Telluride and 2026 Sorento Spare Tire Assembly Recall
NHTSA · 2025-10-31
- SevereKIA EV6 vehicles electric charging control unit damage risk
NHTSA · 2024-11-18
Same category
- High
- Severe2023–2027 International MV and HV vehicles battery cable fire risk
NHTSA · 2026-07-16
- High2026 Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler Steel Wheels Crack or Detach Recall
NHTSA · 2026-07-16
- Moderate2022 Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX vehicles with incorrect GAWR label
NHTSA · 2026-07-15
- High2026 Hyundai Kona rear center seat belt buckle failure risk
NHTSA · 2026-07-14