2023 Kia Sportage Alternator Recall (22V651)
Kia America, Inc. · 19,701 vehicles · Reported August 29, 2022
Kia America, Inc. is recalling 19,701 2023 Kia 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, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V651 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V651000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SC248 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 29, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Kia America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023 Kia Sportage |
| Units affected | 19,701 |
| Component | Electrical System > Alternator / Generator / Regulator |
| Safety risk | An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Kia Sportage in recall 22V651?
The alternator battery positive terminal nut may loosen, which can result in an engine stall or an electrical surge.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) 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.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Sportage with recall 22V651?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash, and an electrical surge increases the risk of a fire.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the alternator and generator and regulator.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V651?
Recall 22V651 covers 19,701 vehicles: 2023 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA lists 19,701 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Kia | Sportage |
What is the fix for the Sportage alternator recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and tighten the alternator battery positive terminal nut, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and tighten the alternator battery positive terminal nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 23, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC248.
When was recall 22V651 announced?
Kia America, Inc. reported recall 22V651 to NHTSA on August 29, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 23, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 29, 2022 | Kia America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V651000. |
| September 23, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 49 months ago. If your Sportage was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Sportage is part of recall 22V651?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V651 is open on your Sportage, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V651000 is open on your Sportage, it will be listed there, along with Kia recall number SC248. You can also ask any Kia dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Sportage owners do about recall 22V651?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V651000 applies to your Sportage.
- Call a Kia dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the alternator and generator and regulator happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Sportage owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 44 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 22V651 was reported on August 29, 2022, owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after August 29, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 190 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 44 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 Kia Sportage: 190 complaints in total, 44 about the electrical system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Multiple times I have reported all of my cluster lights come on randomly while driving. They are distracting and it's difficult to tell if the systems are actually working. The dealership claims it's a rear sensor however they refuse to fix it due to my car appears to have been hit.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11646989, filed March 7, 2025
I had my 2023 Kia Sportage in the Kia shop in McKinney, Tx about 3 weeks ago for an electrical issue. ALL of my lights on my dash were on. They INSISTED my battery was bad, so they made me buy a battery. (My car isn’t even 3 years old).
2023 Kia Sportage owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11648541, filed March 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact state while driving 70 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. Additionally, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power.
2023 Kia Sportage owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11650570, filed March 25, 2025
Can recall 22V651 make my Sportage a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same alternator and generator and regulator problem is common in lemon law claims.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Kia Sportage has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Sportage been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Kia Sportage recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V651
Did the recall 22V651 fix work?
Since recall 22V651 was reported on August 29, 2022, owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 23, 2022.
Is the 22V651000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Sportage is part of recall 22V651000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V651000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Kia. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.