Body & structure
Filed Jan 24, 2003
BOTH REAR DOORS CAN'T BE OPENED EITHER MANUALLY OR ELECTRICALLY. REAR DOORS ARE A TRAP FOR PASSENGERS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10004630
- Incident
- Jan 24, 2003
1997 Kia Sportage Body & structure Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 24, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 181 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jun 20, 2002
VEHICLE STARTED SHIMMYING VIOLENTLY WHILE GOING 60MPH. VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END AND GRDUALLY COASTED TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND T FRAME FELL TO THE GROUND. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MOE INFORMATION.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8012304
- Incident
- Jun 20, 2002
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 26, 2000
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DOOR WILL BE REPAIRED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITH HORN OR UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *ML
- NHTSA ID
- 864232
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2000
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Mar 15, 2000
CLAMP THAT HOLDS HOSE TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS BAD CAUSING COOLANT LEAK SMELL IN THE ENGINE AREA. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 551384
- Incident
- Jan 6, 1998
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Jul 2, 1999
CAR AT DEALER 3 DAYS, PROBLEM FIXING LOCKS, DEALER PAID FOR CAR RENTAL. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 708154
- Incident
- Jun 25, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jun 14, 1999
DOORS UNLOCK AND RELOCK CONSTANTLY BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED. MANY VISITS TO THE DEALER...CANNOT REPAIR. POOR SERVICE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 707532
Body & structureBrakesVisibility
Filed Mar 31, 1999
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTINUOUSLY HAS INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT/ABS INDICATOR CONTINUALLY COMES LOOSE AND "BACKS OUT OF RELAY BLOCK/ POWER WINDOWS/MIRRORS SWITCH CONTACTS BACKING OFF, CAUSING "OPEN CIRCUITS". *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 705126
- Incident
- Mar 10, 1999
AirbagsBody & structureDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Jan 25, 1999
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON, THE CAR IS STALLING, THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE ON. I AM AFRAID THAT THEY WILL DEPLOY AT ANY GIVEN TIME. ALMOST KILLED MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER ON THE QUEENBORO BRIDGE, I WAS GOING 40 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY HAD TURNED HARD, I HAD NO BRAKES, PUT EMERGENCY BRAKES, BUT NOTHING, WHEN IT WAS NEARING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TO STOP I THREW THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHICH SLOWED IT DOWN ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAFELY PUT IT IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRIDGE. THE CARS ENGINE ROARED WHEN I PUT IN PARK I COULDN'T MOVE OR FEAR OF KILLING MYSELF. THE LOCKS ON THE CAR KEEP OPENING AND CLOSING BY THEMSELF. IT NEEDS 2 QUARTS OF ENGINE OIL EVERY MONTH. I AM TOTALLY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 702537
- Incident
- Jan 24, 1999
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Nov 18, 1998
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH LEAKAGE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *ML
- NHTSA ID
- 831004
- Incident
- Jan 17, 1998
Body & structureEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jul 30, 1998
AUTO LEAKING FLUID NEAR ENGINE. IN ADDITION, INTERMITTENT STALLING/ELECTRICAL DOOR AND WINDOW SWITCH FAILED, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 826107
- Incident
- Jul 28, 1998
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .