PITSTOP: SMART PEDAL FEATURE - THE SMART PEDAL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) FUNCTIONALITY WHICH MONITORS AND PREVENTS THE SIMULTANEOUS ACTIVATION OF ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. WHEN ENGAGED, THE FEATURE REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO IDLE. MOST CUSTOMERS WILL NEVER NOTICE THE SMART PEDAL FEATURE WHEN ACTIVE, HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS WHO TEND TO REST THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING MIGHT DESCRIBE A HESITATION OR DELAY SYMPTOM AND NOT REALIZE THAT THE EMS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IS INTERVENING, AS DESIGNED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Kia Sportage cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Kia Sportage have filed 3 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Sportage | 5 |
| 2014 Sportage | 4 |
| 2015 Sportage (this page) | 3 |
| 2016 Sportage | 4 |
| 2017 Sportage | 10 |
| 2018 Sportage | 4 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Driving on the highway at 65mph, engine light started blinking then stayed solid and my speed declined to 40mph and would not go higher. Had to stay in slow lane to get off and get back on to make it home. I was unsure as to what was happening.It was the weekend so had to wait until Monday until i could find out and the dealership told me it was the valve cover gasket (which is brand new). I was…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 Kia Sportage?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2015 Kia Sportage?
It's a meaningful issue. 3 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 140,011 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Kia/Sportage.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.