2005 Kia Sportage Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Kia Sportage, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1417.1%
- Airbags1214.6%
- Body & structure89.8%
- Electrical89.8%
- Suspension78.5%
- Driver assistance78.5%
- Brakes67.3%
- Engine56.1%
- Steering56.1%
- Visibility33.7%
- Seat belts33.7%
- Other / unspecified11.2%
- Tires & wheels11.2%
- Transmission11.2%
- Exterior lighting11.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY KIA SPORTAGE.... STALLED IN MID TRAFFIC LIKE IT LOSSES POWER RIGHT AFTER I. PUT GASOLINE IN THE CAR, ALMOST MAKING ME LOOSE CONTROL AND GET IN A WRECK. IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL .AFTER I CONTINUED TO TRY AND REFUEL IT. I NOTICED A RECALL ONLINE ABOUT MY VEHICLE NUT DEALER IS ONLY SAYINH THE RECALL IS ON A FUEL STRAP TI HOLD THE FUEL TANK UP I NEED THIS SAFELY REPAIRED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V212000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,991.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS, INC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE 2005 KIA . FIRST THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT I USE AT FIRST SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT INDICATOR AND WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOW IS SAYING THAT SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY , AND THAT OF COURSE IS A BIG PROBLEM. SECONDLY, WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK AND WHEN COMPLETED THE CAR STALLS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING, PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT REFILL. THIRD REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS THAT ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS SHORT OUT ON A REOCCURRING BASIS.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON OUR KIA SPORTAGE AND WHEN WE HAD IT AT THE AUTO MECHANIC, HE TOLD US, THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTY IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE ALARMED TO HEAR THIS CONSIDERING WE USED THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN SOMETIMES AND THOUGHT ABOUT WOULD COULD HAVE HAPPENED. CURRENTLY WE DO NOT EVEN WANT THE CLUTCH REPAIRED AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO CONSIDER EVEN DRIVING IT UNLESS THE FRAME SUB RAILS/FLOOR ARE REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE READ OTHER REVIEWS AND HAVE FOUND SIMILAR ALARMING CONCERNS. KIA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR, CANNOT FIX THE CLUTCH, SO IT IS JUST SITTING AT THE MECHANICS. WHAT DO WE DO, JUST JUNK THE CAR? WHAT A COST INFRINGEMENT. WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER KIA, NOR WILL PEOPLE THAT WE INFORM OF THIS ISSUE. I SHUDDER WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE ADVISE...
REAR SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT. (,UNSAFE TO DRIVE). KIA SPORTAGE 2005 LOOK LIKE 30 YEARS OLD.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WIRING HARNESS PLUGS JOINING AT RESISTOR & BLOWER MOTOR ARE MELTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND SHE OBSERVED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH HER HANDS AND DISCONNECTED THE WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HE SEPARATED THE WIRES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.
ROTTED REAR CROSS MEMBER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Throttle body spring broke caused car to keep accelerating. Car would not stop.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE RPM READINGS INCREASED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE UNDER 40 MPH WITHOUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off while driving and it feels harder to press the gas and I lost complete control on the freeway some how but I believe its due to my ESP button, idk much about cars so this is the best way I can describe it, not many cars around on the freeway but I would've died if there was.. the fuel system is always having issues as well amd ive changed it many times but I'm more worried about the fact that I lost control and the fact that when i use my parking break that the car won't hold completely so please please launch an investigation so I can get my car fixed, thank you.
ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SHUTTING OFF CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 80MPH ON FREEWAY, CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING, WOULDN'T RESTART FOR OVER 30 MINUTES
BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR LEAK. DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING. SUPPOSED REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BRING BACK DEALER SAY NOT LEAKING ANYMORE MUST BE RESIDUAL FLUID ON ENGINE. BROUGHT BACK AGAIN SAID NOW THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING. NOT COVERED PAID FOR NEW COOLER. BROUGHT HOME . NOTICED STILL HAVE A LEAK BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY IT IS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. WANT TO REPLACE THAT AT MY COST. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS REAR TIE RODS AND REAR CONNECTING ARMS TO WHEELS IS RUSTED SO BAD IT WILL FAIL. MY EMPLOYER HAS SAME YEAR SAME MODEL BUT IN HYUNDAI HERS IS THE SAME AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR JUST SNAPPED HIKE DRIVING IT'S THE EXACT SAME PART AND RUSTED SO BAD WHEEL COLLAPSED. THIS IS WHY I CHECKED MINE. BOTTOM LINE MAIN SUSPENSION COMPONENT ON KIA AND HYUNDAI SHORTAGE OR DANTE FE FAIL AT 10 YEARS. THERE ARE AS A RECALL TO UNDERCOAT OR REPLACE PARTS UNDER THE CAR DO TO EARLY RUST FAILURE. THIS WAS 6 YEARS AGO. THIS CROSS MEMBER IS BOLTED TO HE FRAME AND I CAN GUARANTEE MOST 2005 HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRING. IT S ALSO HARD TO LOCATE THE PART AND THEY CHARGE FROM $350- $1000 FOR IT. THE HYUNDAI EXACT SAME PART # FROM KIA IS TWICE AS MUCH AS THE KIA PART. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE, AND STEERED RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, HITTING THE CURB AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE STEERING/FUEL/BRAKES/ELECTRONICSTABILITYCONTROL, AND OTHER MINOR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE GLASS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SHATTERED WHEN ROLLING WINDOW DOWN. IT CRACKED HORIZONTALLY ALL ALONG THE EDGE OF THE DOOR. *TR
KIA MOTORS USA, 2005 KIA SPORTAGE LX V6 4WD- [XXX] PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 05. VEHICLE MILES 61 AT PURCHASE. ON 10/27/05 TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. WIPERARM WAS FLAPPING AND LOOKS LIKE IT ROTATED 360 DEGREES. PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM ALSO MADE A 7 INCH SEMI CIRCLE SCRATCH IN THE CORNER OF THE HOOD. PASSENGER SIDE WIPERARM METAL IS TWISTED IN A SPIRAL SHAPE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY BILL DORATY KIA IN MEDINA,OHIO ON 10/28/05 INVOICE#[XXX]. DEALER STATES LOOKS LIKE WIPER ARM WAS TWISTED BY OTHER MEANS. THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE DAMAGE. KIA MOTORS CONSUMER AFFAIRS ANALYST CENTRAL REGION,WITHOUT INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SIDES WITH THE DEALERS OPINION. THEY ARE WRONG! THE DAMAGE SHOWS IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY INVESTIGATED BEFORE THIS OCCURS TO SOMEONE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A STORM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS, INC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON JULY 16 2016. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUSSMAN KIA IN JENKINTOWN PA.TO CHECK LIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SEAT BELT .THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELY ASSEMBLY $715.25. THE WORK ORDER INVOICE #52875--20 JULY 2016.SHOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALL ITEM FOR SAFETY BY KIA MOTORS?
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off while driving and it feels harder to press the gas and I lost complete control on the freeway some how but I believe its due to my ESP button, idk much about cars so this is the best way I can describe it, not many cars around on the freeway but I would've died if there was.. the fuel system is always having issues as well amd ive changed it many times but I'm more worried about the fact that I lost control and the fact that when i use my parking break that the car won't hold completely so please please launch an investigation so I can get my car fixed, thank you.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
KUMHO TIRE RADIAL 798 RADIAL TUBLESS M+S P205/75R15 975 MADE IN KOREA TREAD STEEL 2+ POLYESTER. THE TIRE WAS A NEW TIRE USED AS SPIRE NEVER BEEN ON ROAD. EXPLODED ON MY BACK DOOR OF VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, VERY DAMAGES IF I HAD BEEN ON ROAD I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I HAVE PICTURES OF TIRE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR LEAK. DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING. SUPPOSED REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BRING BACK DEALER SAY NOT LEAKING ANYMORE MUST BE RESIDUAL FLUID ON ENGINE. BROUGHT BACK AGAIN SAID NOW THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING. NOT COVERED PAID FOR NEW COOLER. BROUGHT HOME . NOTICED STILL HAVE A LEAK BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY IT IS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. WANT TO REPLACE THAT AT MY COST. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE 2005 KIA . FIRST THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT I USE AT FIRST SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT INDICATOR AND WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOW IS SAYING THAT SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY , AND THAT OF COURSE IS A BIG PROBLEM. SECONDLY, WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK AND WHEN COMPLETED THE CAR STALLS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING, PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT REFILL. THIRD REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS THAT ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS SHORT OUT ON A REOCCURRING BASIS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .