2001 Kia Sportage Powertrain (other) Problems

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EXTENDED 10 YEAR, 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I ONLY USE THE 4WHEEL DRIVE WHEN IT SNOWS. TWO YEARS AGO I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW VACUUM LINES TO THE FRONT HUBS. WITHOUT VACUUM TO THE HUBS THEY WON'T ENGAGE. I HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IN 2008 WHEN IT SNOWED AGAIN I AGAIN FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I HAVE TO BUY $1500.00 WORTH OF PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THE FRONT HUBS SO THAT THEY WILL MAINTAIN A VACUUM. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY FIX AND BECAUSE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE PROBLEM ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS ON THE VEHICLE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WARRANTY THEM. THE SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVED HERE IS THAT WHEN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS ENGAGED THE DASH HAS AN INDICATOR THAT SAYS THE VEHICLE IS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THIS CAN LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH LOSS OF CONTROL ON SNOW OR SLICK SURFACES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259715

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

Mileage

76,400 mi

2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4WD DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT WORKED GOOD IN WINTER OF 2005, BUT THIS YEAR FINALLY HAVING SNOW IN JANUARY, I TRIED THE 4WD WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT SPINS, SO THE TRANSFER CASE WORKS, HOWEVER THE DRIVE ISN'T BEING INITIATED TO THE FRONT WHEELS. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED TO SAME MAKE AND MODEL, BUT IN A DIFFERENT YEAR. IT IS ALSO STATED THAT THE DOUBLE SEALED HUBS WAS APPARENTLY SUPPOSED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HUBS BECOMING FROZEN DUE TO RUST. COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THIS REMEDY DIDN'T ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178699

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

64,550 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DISLODGED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. IT WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, AND HAD PASSED STATE INSPECTION IN JUNE 2005 AT 32,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10150878

Incident

Feb 16, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4 DR WITH 50,000 MILES FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF BROKEN WHEEL BEARING AND RIGHT IDLER ARM. I HAD THESE REPAIRED, FORTUNATELY, UNDER WARRANTY. I'M DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY THAT SUCH CHEAP PARTS WERE USED IN MANUFACTURING (DISCOVERED BROKEN AT 50,000 MILES) WHICH GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT. NOT A SAFE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE MANUFACTURING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139863

Incident

Aug 15, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STARTING UP AS WELL AS STALLING. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AND THE GAS MILEAGE WAS DROPPING WAY DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A TUNE UP BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE CONSUMER HIT A BUMP AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE SERVICED. THE FILLER NECK RUSTED AND THE FUEL CAP WAS LEAKING. THE FILLER NECK WAS REPLACED, BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS WORN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083971

Incident

Jul 10, 2004

THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AT TIMES AND KEPT BLOWING FUSES.. DEALER FOUND PROBLEM TO BE IN THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR. ALSO IN 10/03, ONE NIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LATE, MY TRUCK STULLED ON ME, AND THE SHIFTER WAS VERY LOOSE, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND REAR MAIN SEAL (X3). THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE CAT.CONVERTOR X3, TIMING BELT DUE TO ABNORMAL STRECHING,AND 2 IGNITION COILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081035

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

39,593 mi

WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2003 AND THE CLUTCH REPLACED IN APRIL 2003. THE CLUTCH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE PAID TOTAL COST $366.76. THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOW GONE OUT AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR SINCE OCTOBER OF 2002: (1) CLUTCH SWITCH OCT 2002 (2) EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED APR 2003 (3) PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP APR 2003 (4) TRANSMISSION FAILURE APRIL 2003 (5) CLUTCH FAILURE APRIL 2003 (6) TRANSMISSION FAILURE JUNE 2003

NHTSA ID

10070012

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

Mileage

35,488 mi

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP. COULD NOT TELL WHAT SPEED WAS DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER PUT IN NEW MODULATOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003187

Incident

Nov 1, 2001