RoadVitals

1997 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
56
Latest Jan 9, 2007
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.
31%
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.
1
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 56 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 56, in the owner's own words

EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 9, 2007

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
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2005

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
Engine
Filed Dec 30, 2004

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
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE; AT ANY MOMENT IT MAY STALL DUE TO THE FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN FOR SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I HAVE SIMPLY HAD ENOUGH AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP.

NHTSA ID
10069561
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
119,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026298
Incident
Feb 10, 2003
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHEN HITTING BUMP SOMETHING IS LOOSE. DEALER FOULD BROKEN PROPELLER SHAFT. *TT

NHTSA ID
565564
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 22, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, THEN SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8008169
Incident
Apr 3, 2002
EngineExterior lightingTransmission
Filed Mar 7, 2002

ON 4/23/01 I TOOK MY CAR TO WESTCOTT KIA MOTORS, I HAD A CONCERN REGUARDING MY TRANSMISSION, THEY INSPECTED AND SAID THEYFOUND SWITCH STOP LAMP WASNT WORKING AT WHICH TIME THEY REPLACED IT , IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY ALSO REPLACED AN EGR VALVE THAT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, STILL TO NO AVAIL OF HAVING MY TRANSMISSION CONCERNES RESOLVED WITH THIS DEALER (AFTER ALL THESE REPAIRS , MY CAR STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I BROUGHT IT IN FOR) I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND DECIDED TO TRY MY LUCK AT ANOTHER DEALER IN THE AREA SO I WENT TO EL CAJON KIA ON 11/19/01 AN ALLOWED THEM TO WORK ON MY CAR AT WHICH TIME THEY ORDERED A TRANSFER CASE TO BE INSTALLED ON 12/05/01, THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE AND IT BROKE WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY 12/07/01 AT WHICH TIME I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP, THEY REPAIRED THE TRANSFER CASE AGAIN AND STILL THE CLUNKING NOISE I HAD BROUGHT IT IN FOR WAS STILL THERE IN MY CAR, I DROVE MY CAR FOR A FEW MORE DAYS UNTILL IT STARTED TO HESITATE ON ME AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO EL CAJON KIA AND THE TECHNICIAN TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH ME AND STATED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING MY CAR THAT KIA ONLY PAYS THEM FOR 2 HOURS OF SERVICE TO VEHICLES, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL PLAY THAT I WAS HEARING IN MY VEHICLE, AFTER ALL THE DAYS IN THE SHOP AND ALL THE REPAIRS DONE, MY CAR WAS NO BETTER THAN WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED, I FEEL LIKE THEY DID MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD TO MY VEHICLE, AND I ALSO FEEL THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION THAT THE DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR, I JUST TOOK MY CAR TO RANCHO KIA (WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HAD REPAIR PROBLEMS WITH REGUARDING MY TIRE LATCH) AND THEY HAD TO REPAIR WIRING TO MAF SENSOR AND REPLACED MY EGR VALVE AND ALSO MY PURGE SOLENOID WAS BROKEN AND THEY SAID THE CLUNKING NOISE IS MY FRONT HUB BEARINGS ARE LOOSE.

NHTSA ID
759076
Incident
Apr 23, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2002

KIA HAS ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF ITS 1998 SPORTAGE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 1997 SPORTAGE. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MY SPORTAGE AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE ALSO. I THINK THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 1997 SPORTAGES ALSO. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS EMMISIONS INSPECTIONS AND I DONT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID
756920
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2001

RECALL 99V325000 REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ON VEHICLE, BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING SAME STALLING PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
897805
Incident
May 4, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 13, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 99V325000, AND HAD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TAKEN CARE OFF ON JUN 13, 2000. SINCE THEN, PROBLEM HAS COME BACK ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AND AS SOON AS VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IT STALLED. DEALER STATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW WIRING HARNESS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN A ONGOING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPT. OF 1997. SERVICLE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THEY CORRECTED WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. BUT, CONSUMER FELT WORK COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
894119
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
EngineSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Mar 14, 2001

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CEL COMING ON AND STAYING ON, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH, THE BELTS, AND RECENTLY THE EMISSION SYSTEMS, EACH TIME I GO IN THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALER SHIP ACT LIKE I AM DOING THESE THINGS ON PURPOSE AND THIS LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. AND THAT IT WOULD COST 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. I WAS OUT RAGED.

NHTSA ID
742416
Incident
Mar 13, 2001
EnginePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Dec 12, 2000

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT, ENGINE FAILED AND IT WAS IN SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS, TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE REAR END FAILED, THE FUEL ECONOMY SWITCH FAILED, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE JULY, 2000. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO THESE MECHANICAL FAILURES. I HAVE TRIED FOR OVER TWO YEARS TO CONTACT A KIA REPRESENATIVE BUT THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINTS . THE DEALER IS NO HELP, THEY ONLY GIVE YOU THE DELAY GAME. I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS NO GOOD, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A DANGER TO PUT ON THE ROAD. IT CONTINUALLY HAS PROBLEMS AND I AM HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT.PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID
737695
Engine
Filed May 19, 2000

ENGINE STALLS

NHTSA ID
9000854
Incident
Apr 11, 1997
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 18, 2000

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 9764. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT STALLING BEGAN AGAIN. ALSO, ALARM SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSED THE HORN TO STOP WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
862131
Incident
Apr 25, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
861139
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2000

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. HAS BEEN TO DLR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
860642
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2000

THE VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF IN RIGHT TURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO, HAS SAID THE HAVE PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE, YET IT IS STILL CUTTING OFF AND IDLING LOW IN THE TURNS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK 6 TO 7 TIMES AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE ME AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
721706
Incident
Feb 26, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2000

RECALL 99V325000 KIA/ENGINE STALLING; OWNER HAS MADE 4 APPOINTMENTS TO CORRECT RECALL CAMPAIGN, APPOINTMENTS WERE ALWAYS CANCELLED BECAUSE DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS OR ENOUGH PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
859724
Engine
Filed Mar 23, 2000

NHTSA RECALL 99V325000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99V325000/ ENGINE STALLING. AFTER ONE WEEK OF REPAIRS THE REMEDY FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859071
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2000

RECALL 99V325/ ENGINE STALLING REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM , VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
858991
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 15, 2000

TTHE ENGINE HEAD BROKE. NLM

NHTSA ID
551434
Incident
Dec 18, 1999
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
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2000

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, AND CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER WAS GIVE NAN APPOINTMENT FOR JUN 7, 2000. CAN NHTSA SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
858540
Incident
Mar 13, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 28, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAYAT 55 MPH CAR HESITATES OR STALLS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
857609
Incident
Feb 28, 1999

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

Data on this page last refreshed .