1998 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

THIS IS A REPEAT OF CONFIRMATION NO. 10514519, BUT WITH "WAS THERE AN INJURY OR FATALITY? MARKED "YES" ABOVE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SCALDED WITH BOILING RADIATOR FLUID WITH FOOT ON PEDAL, HAD TO KEEP FOOT ON PETAL TO GET OFF ROAD. ON MAY 30, 2013, AT APPROX. 4:30PM EDT, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH, JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 98 IN WALL, NJ. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING WELL. THE LOCAL TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 90S, NEAR 100 DEGREES. I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SUDDENLY, ANTI-FREEZE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, THEN, HOT SCALDING ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN FALLING ON MY RIGHT FOOT AS IT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER WAS ALSO GETTING SCALDED. IN MY CASE, I SUSTAINED A 1ST TO 2ND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT SMALL (PINKY) TOE, WHICH WAS BLISTERED. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE MONMOUTH SERVICE AREA AT MILEPOST 100 OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN WALL, NJ. MY VIEW IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY DESIGN OVERSIGHT, NOT MERELY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ON A OLD CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A HEATER CORE BREAKS AND DOES NOT HEAT, THAT IS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF IT BREAKS AND AN UNEXPECTED DRIVER GETS HURT, AND COMPOUNDED, LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND MOREOVER, HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT BACK ONTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CONTROL THE CAR IN A HOT-LIQUID STREAM, THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO FAILURE TO SAFELY CONTAIN HOT LIQUIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514551

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SCALDED WITH BOILING RADIATOR FLUID WITH FOOT ON PEDAL, HAD TO KEEP FOOT ON PETAL TO GET OFF ROAD ON MAY 30, 2013, AT APPROX. 4:30 PM EDT, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH, JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 98 IN WALL, NJ. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING WELL. THE LOCAL TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 90S, NEAR 100 DEGREES. I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SUDDENLY, ANTI-FREEZE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, THEN, HOT SCALDING ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN FALLING ON MY RIGHT FOOT AS IT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER WAS ALSO GETTING SCALDED. IN MY CASE, I SUSTAINED A 1ST TO 2ND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT SMALL (PINKY) TOE, WHICH WAS BLISTERED. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE MONMOUTH SERVICE AREA AT MILEPOST 100 IN WALL, NJ. MY VIEW IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY DESIGN OVERSIGHT, NOT MERELY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ON A OLD CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A HEATER CORE BREAKS AND DOES NOT HEAT, THAT IS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF IT BREAKS AND AN UNEXPECTED DRIVER GETS HURT, AND COMPOUNDED, LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND MOREOVER, HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT BACK ONTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CONTROL THE CAR IN A HOT-LIQUID STREAM, THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO FAILURE TO SAFELY CONTAIN HOT LIQUIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514519

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

SAFETY RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173723

Incident

Nov 17, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER ENGINE, AND THEN ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040532

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY AND THEN STALL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037862

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHICH STATED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE MANUFACTURED IN 1997 BUT THE VEHICLE IS 1998. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020271

THE MANUFACTURER SENT A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER A YEAR AGO. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AND THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020117

Incident

May 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN AT IDLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *MR *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017430

FIRST OF ALL, MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE HAS HAS SEVERAL (LIKE 4) RECALLS. WHEN THE RECALL CAME ABOUT THE HUBS ON THE 4X4, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. THE NEXT WINTER HOWEVER, THE 4X4 DID NOT WORK. THANKFULLY THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE NO BEARINGS PUT INTO THE BRAKES, NEW ROTATORS AND BRAKE PADS TWICE. IN DEC., 2002, I HAD $500.00 WORTH OF WORK DONE TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THE TIMING BELT AND OTHER BELTS THAT WERE SQUEAKING. JUST TODAY (AFTER JUST ONE MONTH AGO HAVING $500.00 WORTH OF WORK DONE TO THE CAR), MY CAR IS NOW GETTING HOT WHEN IT SITS AND IDLES. MIND YOU, I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4-1/2 YEARS AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A HEADACHE FROM DAY ONE AND BECAUSE THE CAR HAS LOST SO MUCH VALUE I CANNOT EVEN TRADE IT OFF, BECAUSE I OWE MORE ON THE CAR THAN WHAT IT IS WORTH (LIKE $7,000.00 IN THE HOLE).

NHTSA ID

10007930

Incident

Feb 21, 2003

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON AN INCLINE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008736

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. ON JUNE 2002, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE, SEVEN MONTHS LATER PROBLEM IS RECURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ID

10004256

Incident

Jan 21, 2003

RECALL 99V325000 CONCERNING STALLING. VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT INTERFERED WITH PERFORMANCE. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRS DONE, BUT SYMPTOMS RETURNED. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED, SMOKED AND WAS OVERHEATING. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. IGNITION COILS CRACKED AND WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL CLIPS BROKE. OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK FELL OFF. VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL PARTS ON RECALL BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED IT AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THOSE RECALLED PARTS WERE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

8018745

Incident

Jan 28, 2002

PREMATURE WEAR OF FLYWHEEL. DUE TO FAILURE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8012320

WHILE DRIVING, 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL KICK IN INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THE CATALYST HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN OIL LEAK AND FRONT END WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES. *TT

NHTSA ID

8010449

Incident

Feb 20, 2002

FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD A OIL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE. CAR STARTED TO SHAKE EVEN AFTER IT WAS HOT AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE MOTOR RR WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BRAKES WERE MAKING SOME WEIRD NOISE. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER TO FIX AND HE SENT IT TO KIA FOR REPAIR, THE KIA CREW FOUND THE FRONT CALIPER FROZEN, BUT THE CUSTOMER DENIED TO FIX IT. SO I BROUGHT IT TO A SPECIALIST TO CHECK DOUBLE CHECK THE CAR. THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS AND FOUND THE CAR UNSAFE (CALIPER RGT WORN, FROZEN, CALIPER HARDWARE WORN, WHEEL CYL RGT- NEW/KIT LEAKY, SHOE HARDWARE WORN, C.V. BOOT/JOINT RFO/RFI/LFO/LFI WORN, COIL SPRINGS FRONT BROKEN RR BROKEN, BALL JOINTS/LOWER L WORN). I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE I STILL HAD WARRANTY AND TOLD HIM I DIDN'T WANT THE CAR IT WAS GIVING ME HARD TIMES ALREADY AND ONLY HAVING IT AT THAT TIME FOR NOT EVEN A MONTH. AS I WOULD DRIVE I WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE THE GAS, BECAUSE IT WOULD START TO SHAKE AND FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760758

NHTSA ID

10009850

Incident

Feb 19, 2002

Mileage

51,000 mi

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED AND SHUTDOWN VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003930

Incident

Feb 11, 2002

OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WIPERS WERE NOT CLEARING WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS GO UP SLOWLY, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERATIVE,VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER STEERING, DEALER REPLACED THE FAN BELT,AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE,WHEEL BEARING WERE LOOSE,WEATHERSTRIP WAS REPLACED,THE ENGINE BOGGS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, FRONT BRAKES WERE NOISY.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8002866

Incident

Dec 27, 2001

CONSUMER STATES SHE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE DOORS UNLOCKING 4 TIMES PER SECOND AND THE HEATER FAN NOT OPERATING.*JB

NHTSA ID

785782

THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO HAVE VARIOUS PARTS REPAIRED AND REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DEALER HAS TRIED ALL TYPES OF REMEDIES BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*JB

NHTSA ID

562970

Incident

Dec 11, 1999

CONSUMER STATES STARTER IS INOPERATIVE.*JB

NHTSA ID

785489

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

HAD SUV INTO SHOP ABOUT 7 TIMES FOR WHEEL BEARING. ONCE ON A RECALL FOR BEARING ALSO HAD BRAKES FIXED BECAUSE OF BEARING. FAILED TWO STATE INSPECTIONS DUE TO BEARING.HAD A RECALL FOR EXAUST.*AK

NHTSA ID

748887

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS AND BACKFIRES. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892797

Incident

May 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN ENGINE BLEW UP, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

889387

ENGINE HESITIATES- SEEMS TO STAY IN LOWERE GEAR UNTIL WARM- SHOP PUT IN OIL TREATMENT TO HELP- STILL DOES THIS TO THIS DATE 4/13/01. *AK

NHTSA ID

744057

Incident

Sep 3, 1999

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON AND FLUTTERING WHEN STARTING- DICOVERED O2 SENSOR WAS BAD- REPLACED

NHTSA ID

744056

Incident

Sep 3, 1999