1996 Kia Sportage

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.

Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.

Defect. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY COULD BIND OR STICK DURING OPERATION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO HOLD THE THROTTLE PARTIALLY OPEN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO . FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HER JACKET. THE FIRE BURNED PART OF THE DOOR PANEL. *JB

RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 216 000 CONCERNING FRONT SEAT BELTS, BUT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT REPLACING THE REAR SEAT BELT UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK

THE VEHICLES HORN DID NOT BLOW LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM

THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT FASTENER WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA, BUT THEY SAY THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT ABUSED THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT FAIL (IN ANY OTHER CAR-- NOR HEARD OF THIS) BECAUSE IT COMES UNLATCHED. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS IT SEEMS I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT BELT FASTENER. TS

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON LEANING FORWARD THE SET BELT LATCH CAME UNDONE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN MARCH. ANOTHER AUTO HIT CONSUMER PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER SUFFERED HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *JG

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T HOLD. CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO WINDOW AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *YH

OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE PARKED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE KEYS NOT IN IGNITION, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INJURY ON HER FACE AND LEGS. *YD

WHILE DRIVING, SEAT BELT DETACHES. WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKES HARDER THAN USUAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS DETACHING 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT LIST THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

THE CAR'S REAR LEFT TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LUG NUTS AND THE ASSEMBLY WHERE INTACT. FROM WHAT THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE BALL BEARINGS MELTED CAUSING THE CASING WHERE THE BOLTS GO TO DETACH. I'M NOT A MECHANIC SO I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS BUT IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE BODY SHOP THAT'S WORKING ON THE CAR. I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU REQUEST IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR DRIVER WHEEL AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. NO ACCIDENT, AND NO INJURIES.*AK

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS/ AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND NO ONE COULD LOCATE CAUSE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, IN INTERSECTIONS, AND GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS AND VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *SLC

TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION AND NOISE. *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HER VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. THERE WERE SLIGHT INJURIES. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND DIE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

NO SUMMARY

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION WAS REPORTED TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC), WHO INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION, AND DIRECTED ME TO REPORT IT TO THIS (NHTSA) GROUP. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO FORM OR EMAIL NOTIFICATION METHOD ON THIS SITE FOR NON-VEHICLE NOTIFICATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME TO DIRECT ME TO AN ALTERNATE WAY TO REPORT THIS FAILURE: THE KARRITE DUOSPORT CARTOP CARRIER IS A MOLDED PLASTIC "SHELL" TYPE CARRIER, SIMILAR TO THE YAKIMA AND THULE LINES. ON JULY 4, 2000, WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THIS CLOSED AND LOCKED CARRIER, OPENED, AND ALLOWED EQUIPMENT TO FLY OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INVOLVING SEVERAL CARS. YOU MAY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE IMPACT BETWEEN MY CHEST AND THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT ME WITH BRUISED RIBS. I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE ACCIDENT OR THE INJURY WAS NOT SEVERE. IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS, 1) AT WHICH SPEED SHOULD THE AIR BAG DEPLOY, 2) IF IT WAS TO DEPLOY AT 40MPH THEN WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT STEP TOWARDS KIA TO VERIFY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY ONE AGAIN. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP PEDAL WAS NORMAL, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING, CAUSING A COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. ALSO, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT COOPERATE AT ALL. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WOULD BE SLIPPING EACH TIME. THE "HOLD" LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD COME ON & STAY WHILE VEHICLE IS OPERATIONAL. THE PVS LIGHT COMES ON ALSO. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP, VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES AUTOMATICALLY AT 35MMPH AND HIGHER, AND THEN IT WILL DECELERATE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE WIND LEAKS WERE AN ONGOING ANOYANCE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY GAVE UP WITH AN IMPROVEMENT BUT NO FIX. THE DEALER SAID KIA ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BUT HAD NO FIX. THE SHIFT SENSOR AND SOLENOID FAILURE MADE THE CAR SO IT COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR! THIS WITHIN DAYS OF THE WARRENTY EXPIRATION AND AND WITH LESS THAN 16K MILES ON THE CAR. THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED TO SEE IF ITS SYMTOMATIC AND A RECALL STARTED IF IT IS.

HELP!! I HAVE TRIED FOR 6 WEEKS NOW TO CONTACT KIA WITH LITTLE SUCCESS, AFTER A MONTH OF TRYING A FACTORY TECH FINALLY CAME OUT TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND DID CONFIRM SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE RANDOM ACCELRATION, HE PROMISED TO CONTACT ME WITHIN 4 DAYS AND IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 WEEKS, I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES AND FAXES WITH THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND AS OF YET HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD: TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES, 4 TRANS HAS PROBLEMS, REAR SHOCKS BROKEN - MANUF. REFUSES TO REPAIR, SEATBELT RANDOMLY DISENGAGED, FRONT RIGHT DOOR CONTINUALLY JAMMED, CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAME LOOSE, ENGINE RANDOMLY REVES AND ACCELERATES, ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE AT ALL, ENGINE IDLES ROUGHLY, MOTOR FAN BROKE LOOSE AND EMBEDDED IN RADIATOR, POWER MIRRORS SWITCH DEFECTIVE, DOME LIGHT INOPERATIVE, LEFT REAR DOOR VERY STIFF, HUB CAPS FALLING OFF, WIND SHIELD MOTOR DEFECTIVE, ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR DEFECTIVE, RIGHT REAR WINDOW DEFECTIVE, ECT....

WHILE DRIVING HAD NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS THE OIL THAT WAS BURNING, BUT ODOR STILL PERSISTED. LIFTED TRUNK FOR USAGE & NOTICED CARPET HAD BURNED. A FRIEND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE & NOTICED A HOLE ON TOP OF MUFFLER. NOTIFIED DEALER & WAS CHARGED TO HAVE MUFFLER REPLACED. *AK

MANUFACTURER IGNORES MY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT 2 RECALLS ON THIS CAR. NO DEFECT LISTED. *AK

REMOTE CONTROL WINDOW MOTOR BLEW IN THE RIGHT PASSAGER SEAT FRONT EXHUAST PIPE FELL FROM THE MANIFOLD, A/C BLOWER SWITCH FAILED,A/C FILTER BROKE,3 TIMES BRAKES HAD TO BE ADJUSTED, HEAD LIGHT BLEW, BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, CURRENTLY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THE 21 DAY CONCERNING THE CHECK ENGINE ISSUE.

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON NOV.04 98, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK

BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THEM TO GO TO THE FLOOR.

ABS BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR TO STOP. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED DUE TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. *SLC

DRIVER FELL ASLEEP WHILE GOING 45 MPH. SHE WOKE UP UPON HITTING THE CURVE. SAW A UTILITY POLE. SWERVED AND HIT POLE HEAD-ON. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING DRIVER IN THE NOSE, INJURING HER SLIGHTLY.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

INTERIOR WIRING HARNESS FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. IN ADDITION, NOISY REAR BRAKES DUE TO RECENT BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS/STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK/ GAS GAUGE FAILURE/ ODOMETER FAILURE/PASSENGER'S SIDE SUNVISOR DISCONNECTS FROM CLIP WHEN ENCOUNTERING HARSH RIDE OR WHEN VISOR IS PULLED DOWN AND ENGINE OFTEN HARD TO START. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

THROTTLE SENSOR MISADJUSTED.

CAR IS CONSTANTLY LEAKING OIL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, REPLACED THE DRIVE LINES AND TWO SEALS,. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT LEAK ANY MORE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH LIGHTS ON DASH WENT OUT AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAR. THE WIRES UNDER THE DASH THAT RUNS TO THE ENGINE COUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED NO ENJURIES. MANF. CONTACTED.

LIGHTING; WHEN DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY GO OUT WITH NO WARNING. HAVE TAKEN IN FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM EIGHT TIMES, THE DEALER SAY IT'S A PINCHED WIRE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ALONG VEHICLE WILL START SHAKING AND IT WILL JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAS HAPPENED WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR PARK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE STALLING AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED JUST AS I WAS MAKING A TURN TO GO ONTO THE RAMP WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION.

WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROAD EXPERIENCED WHEEL HUB FAILURE, WHEN IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE WHEEL HUB UNLOCKED, CAUSING 4- WHEEL DRIVE TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SPINNING OUT 360 DEGREES INTO CIRCLE, LOSS CONTROL DUE TO ONE OF THE TIRES DISENGAGING FROM 4 WHEEL DRIVELINE, OCCURRED 5 TIMES, DEALERS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, HAS NOW REPLACED WITH MANUAL WHEEL HUBS. *AK

ANTI- LOCK BRAKE/DASH LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY INDICATING ABS NOT WORKING, PEDAL DOES NOT FEEL NORMAL, GOES DOWN ROUGHLY MAKING ABNORMAL SOUND, INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, DEALER CHANGED MASTER CYLINDER/PADS/ROTORS/ BLED SENSOR AND BRAKE LINE, REPAIRED SEVEN TIMES. *AK

THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER HEAD-ON AT 70 MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

COMPUTER FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.