1997 Kia Sportage Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ABS AND PARKING BRAKE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID THAT LOW FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE LIGHTS AND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LEAK AND NEEDED REPLACED. ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. COULD HAVE LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY IF CAR WAS CONTINUED DRIVEN WITH THE LIGHTS ON CAUSE FLUID LEVELS WOULD DROP.*AK

CONSUMER STATES TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICES AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING ALSO FOUND PASSENGER BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING

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

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

WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH APPLIED ON BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO SHIFT VEHICLE MANUALLY; HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR LEG INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TT

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

KIA SPORTAGE 4 DOOR. REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE. DOOR OPENED FROM INSIDE. DOOR WAS THEN SHUT AND DID NOT LATCH, UPON SECOND CLOSING DOOR LATCHED. DROVE AROUND TWO MILES AND WENT AROUND CURVE AT ABOUT 10 MPH DOOR LATCH RELEASED AND DOOR FLEW OPEN. 16 MONTH OLD CHILD WAS IN CAR SEAT BESIDE THE DOOR. DOOR HAD TO BE STRAPPED TO OTHER DOOR TO KEEP SHUT. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WHO SAID LATCH WAS RUSTED OUT. ORDERED REPLACEMENT LATCH, OTHER BACK DOOR HAS SHOWN SAME SYMPTOMS OF NOT CLOSING AND THEN CLOSING AND LATCHING, ALSO NOT OPENING FROM OUTSIDE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS INCIDENT IF CHILD HAD NOT BEEN IN SAFETY SEAT, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A DEATH.*AK

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

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

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

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

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

CLAMP THAT HOLDS HOSE TO THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS BAD CAUSING COOLANT LEAK SMELL IN THE ENGINE AREA. NLM

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

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

SEAT BELT FAILURE

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

CAR STRUCK ON REAR PASSENGER DOOR/CAR LOST CONTROL/SPUN OUT OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER. *AK

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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A VIOLENT BLOW OUT. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE BLEW OU IN TWO PLACES. IT HAS SEVERE CUTS IN BOTH THE SIDEWALL AND THE BOTTOM TREAD AREA. THE CUT LOOKS AS THOUGH SOMEONE TOOK AN AXE TO IT AND CUT ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE TIRE. THE BLOWOUT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT BLEW OUT AN ENTIRE TURN SIGNAL HOUSING. A FEW DAYS LATER WE MET SOMEONE IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO THEM BUT NOT AS BAD AS OURS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE HAD TIRES BLOW BEFORE BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. IT FELT AS IF SOMEONE HAD CRASHED INTO IT. I HAVE A WIFE, A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON, AND A 4 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND I THANK GOD THAT MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING BECAUSE I KNOW SHE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BAD BLOW OUT. I KNOW GENERAL TIRES ISN'T RECALLING ALL OF THEIR TIRES BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY ROLLOVERS OR FATALITIES YET, WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE FIRST? (TIRESIZE: 205/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/75R15 )

BACK TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING DMG TO BACK BUMPER. FIRESTONE TIRE FR480 P205/75R15, SEE LOG 8 PHOTOS SHOW TREAD SEPARATION. (CLAIMS 43-R496-677) *MW

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.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF NOT HAVING ANY HAZARD LIGHTS, AND WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO REPAIR THEM. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON THE PARTS. *AK

CAR AT DEALER 3 DAYS, PROBLEM FIXING LOCKS, DEALER PAID FOR CAR RENTAL. *AK

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON TIRES. INFORMED THE WHEELS WERE LOOSE & WERE DANGEROUS. TOOK TO MECHANIC, WITH A FRIEND FROM KIA. THE SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE NOT ON RECALL. WAS NOT REPAIRED. CAR TRADED IN WITH PROBLEMS UNRESOLVED. *AK *ML