1997 Kia Sportage Owner Complaints

WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT TALKING WITH MY WIFE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11170851

Incident

Sep 3, 2018

Mileage

176,700 mi

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING

NHTSA ID

11161711

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE OCCUPIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF WILMINGTON (1603 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 656-3100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD TO DIAGNOSED WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,620. *BP*JB

NHTSA ID

11140727

Incident

Sep 3, 2018

Mileage

176,620 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE FOR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

11119011

Incident

Aug 10, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN APPROXIMATELY AT 55MPH ENGINE WILL STALL. SLOW DOWN AND STOP WITHOUT WARNING. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN TURN ENGINE OFF RESTART RUN IT THRU ALL OF THE GEARS AND IT WILL BE FINE FOR AWHILE UNLESS ON BUMPY ROAD OR STOP WARNING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I CAN NOT FILL GAS TANK UP DUE TO IT LEAKING OUT UNDER VEHICLE REFRASE THAT POUR OUT. IT WILL ALSO VIBRATE REALLY BAD AFTER BEING DROVE FOR OVER 2 HOURS STRAIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT CAUSES A INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586244

Incident

Mar 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. THE LOWER AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HIP AREA AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,226.

NHTSA ID

10526426

Incident

Jul 21, 2013

Mileage

125,226 mi

THE DESIGN OF THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE FUEL TANK ALLOWED SAND AND PEBBLES TO ACCUMULATE TO THE EXTENT THAT I STARTED NOTICING FUEL VAPORS. THE VEHICLE IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE, SO I RAISED A WINDOW TO HELP DISSIPATE THE VAPORS. IN A FEW DAYS, FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE LEAKS IN THE TANK. I APPLIED A PUTTY PRODUCT IN JUNE, 2006, WHICH HELPED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. I RE-APPLIED PUTTY IN AUGUST, 2007. THEN AGAIN IN JULY, 2008, WITH TWO DIFFERENT (PERMANENT?) PRODUCTS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED, YET. THE TANK STILL LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236584

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

111,186 mi

1997 KIA SPORTAGE HAVE A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE AFTER THE REPAIR TO THE FUEL TANK WAS DONE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR WORK. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, SHE SMELLED GAS AND THERE WAS GAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. IT WAS DETERMINED THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING *JB

NHTSA ID

10236059

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

A FEW YEARS BACK I STARTED SMELLING GAS. SO MY FATHER IN LAW AND UNCLE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND IT YEP YOU GOT A GAS LEAK. SO THEY TRIED TO PATCH IT SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS SEEMED TO WORK. SO BACK IN FEBRUARY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING A REPAIR BENEFIT NOTIFICATION ABOUT MY GAS TANK LEAKING. SO A FEW WEEKS AGO I CALLED A KIA DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY TANK. AFTER A HOUR DRIVE AND A FORTY MINUTE WAIT THEY TELL ME THAT MY KIA DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR KIA TO FIX MY TANK. SO I COME HOME AND THE NEXT I CHECK MY TANK AND IT IS OBVIOUS TO ANYONE THAT MY KIA IS LEAKING GAS. I CALLED KIA MOTORS AND THEY WENT TO TELL ME THAT SINCE MY 10 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2007 THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. BUT WHAT MAKES NO SENSE IS THAT THEY DIDN'T SEND OUT MY LETTER UNTIL 2008. I HAVE A 7 MONTH OLD THAT IS IN MY KIA DAILY, SO I ASKED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. FROM KIA MOTORS, WHAT IF MY KIA SOMEHOW CATCHES ON FIRE AND I AM NOT ABLE TO GET TO MY CHILD QUICK ENOUGH, AND SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL REPAIRS MADE TO THE TANK WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY NO MATTER WHAT, AND THAT KIA WOULD NOT FIX OR REPLACE MY TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224254

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE USED CAR DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND THE MAIN HOSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, AND WHEN DIAGNOSED ,THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE OVERHEATING WAS DUE TO THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AND THE FAN STICKING. THE CONTACT DIDN'T THINK THAT TRANSMISSION OIL WAS CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY WILL NOT START. THE DEALER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10178267

Incident

Jan 5, 2007

Mileage

104,000 mi

KIA REFUSES TO INCLUDE MY 1997 SPORTAGE EX 4WD IN RECALL FOR 1997 KIA SPORTAGES EX 4WD. RECALL 1CMP005 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) HAS NEVER BEEN PERFORMED. ALSO NOT SURE THAT RECALL 2CMP014 ON WIRING HAS BEEN PERFORMED. MY MAIN CONCERN AND THE REFUSAL FROM KIA IS ON THE ECM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144954

Incident

Nov 19, 1999

Mileage

85,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AT 15 MPH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. HE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE HE PURCHASED IT. HE HAS TRIED CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT EVERY TIME HE CALLED HE WAS PLACED ON HOLD. THEREFORE, HE HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140700

Incident

Oct 19, 2005

DT: KIA SPORTAGE 1997, VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, AFTER THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF. VEHICLE HAD A BENT FRAME. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND THEY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP AFTER BEING PUSHED DOWN. CONSUMER HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE THEREFORE TRADED IT IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10127028

Incident

Oct 3, 1999

DT: DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN REVERSE BACKING FROM A DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. THERE WAS NO CRASH OR IMPACT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED OR WARNING SIGNALS. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN A SHADED AREA FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND DROVE VEHICLE HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT. HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS TO A DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED AFTERWARDS AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. NO EXPLANATION OR CLUE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128464

Incident

Jul 8, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATES: THE DRIVER'S AIR BAGS DISCHARGED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10123839

Incident

May 29, 2005

Mileage

104,000 mi

SEAT BELT FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10122422

Incident

Jan 24, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HOOD LATCH SNAPPED AND THE HOOD FLEW OPEN. CONSUMER PULLED OVER THE LATCH THE HOOD DOWN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK BROKEN WINDSHIELD REPAIRED, BUT DAMAGED HOOD NOT REPAIRED TO DATE. *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10113415

Incident

Jan 12, 2005

Mileage

51,500 mi

DT THE VEHICLE REVS UP TO ALMOST 2000 RPM'S, THE VEHICLE JERKED THEN STALLED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SERVICE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY DONE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10119992

Incident

May 5, 2005

IN MAY 5, 2003 I TOOK TO INSPECT THE CAR FOR A NOISE AT THE BACK. ITS LIKE BEING ON A PLANE FOR DEPARTURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE BACK DIFFERENTIALS WAS DAMAGED. IT ONLY HAD 25,317 MILEAGE IN 2003. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT. THIS YEAR 2005 A INSPECT THE CAR AT WESTER AUTO I WAS TOLD THE DIFFERENTIAL IS DAMAGE. AT THE STORE I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN OTHERS KIA SPORTAGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO WHEN TO PED BOYS. ALSO, THEY SAID VERB THERE WERE PROBLEMS KIA DIFFERENTIAL. AT WESTER AUTO I CHANGE THE BACK BEARING THINKING THAT WILL FIX THE NOISE. KIA DEALER ESTIMATE THE REPAIR FOR $865 ON 2003.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118075

Incident

May 5, 2003

Mileage

25,317 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V325000; KIA ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105570

Incident

Dec 28, 2001

THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO COME ON ITS OWN. THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR A YEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10098991

Incident

Oct 28, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY NEEDED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE TOWING WOULD BE PROVIDED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10097582

Incident

Oct 23, 2004

Mileage

97,000 mi

I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 38,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE PURCHASE I HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR TWICE. WITH SUCH LOW MILES ON THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD AND SAFE PURCHASE BUT NOW I AM AFRAID I HAVE MADE A MISTAKE. THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH BROKE AND I COULD NOT ROLL MY WINDOW UP. I TOOK IT IN THE SHOP TO HAVE A NEW ONE PUT IN. ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT GEAR BOX BROKE AS I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH TWO OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING SLOW AND COULD STOP RIGHT AWAY. IF I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A FAST SPEED AND COULD NOT GET OVER IMMEDIATELY THE REAR TIRES COULD HAVE SEISED UP CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO ME AND MY CHILDREN. SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT RIGHT AWAY BEFORE PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR LIVES OVER A POORLY MANUFACTURED SUV.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093516

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

38,037 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER VISITED THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10081460

Incident

Jun 22, 2004

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. MANUFACTURER WAS SUPPOSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY NEVER CAME TO INSPECT. MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE DEDUCTIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082131

Incident

Jun 3, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi