NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric and Sportage recall: 2" screen and a Genuine Kia tow hitch harness accessory. Due to a software

Recall published 10 months ago

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…

The hazard: Visibility or lighting defect

A lighting or visibility defect prompted this notice. Many of these remedies are quick, and some are delivered over the air.

What the notice says: 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.

Why it matters: Lights, wipers, mirrors, the rear camera, the windshield or the instrument display may not work as required. These faults reduce what the driver can see, or what other road users can see of the vehicle.

Recall details

Recall number
25V874000
Published
December 17, 2025
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
Kia
Product type
Trailer Hitches
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
Kia Sportage
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 25V874000

Products covered by this recall

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."

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • Sportage Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
  • Sportage

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Visibility

Kia — A lighting or visibility defect prompted this notice. Many of these remedies are quick, and some are delivered over the air.

  1. Check the specific item the notice names — a reversing camera or a dashboard display that works intermittently still counts as a defect.
  2. If an instrument cluster goes blank, note when it happens; that detail helps the dealer reproduce the fault.
  3. Keep the repair order the dealer hands you. It is your proof the campaign was closed out, and it matters at resale.
  4. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you do anything else. A campaign covers a build range, not every car of that model year, and the VIN lookup is the only thing that confirms yours is included.

Getting the repair booked and paid for

The money side of a vehicle recall is simple. The scheduling side is where people lose weeks.

  • Ask whether the parts are physically in stock before you accept a date. A booking without parts is a wasted morning.
  • If you get nowhere, file at nhtsa.gov. Complaints tied to an open campaign number carry weight.
  • If the dealer says the remedy is not yet available, ask to be put on their notification list and get that in writing by email.
  • Where the manufacturer has issued an interim measure — park outside, do not drive, a software limiter — follow it until the full remedy is done.

Remedy named in the notice: 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.

Company contact: Kia America, Inc.

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Kia trailer hitches recalled?

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… 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.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Check the specific item the notice names — a reversing camera or a dashboard display that works intermittently still counts as a defect.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: 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.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

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