1997 Kia Sportage complaints

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 ALS

KIA HAS ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF ITS 1998 SPORTAGE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 1997 SPORTAGE. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MY SPORTAGE AND THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE ALSO. I THINK THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO THE 1997 SPORTAGES ALSO. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS EMMISIONS INSPECTIONS AND I DONT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WITH A "CLUNKING" NOISE DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT TRANSFER CASE BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

RECALL 99V325000 REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ON VEHICLE, BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING SAME STALLING PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS AGAIN EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. NO REASON WAS GIVEN AS TO COMPONENT CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 99V325000, AND HAD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TAKEN CARE OFF ON JUN 13, 2000. SINCE THEN, PROBLEM HAS COME BACK ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. AND AS SOON AS VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN IT STALLED. DEALER STATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW WIRING HARNESS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN A ONGOING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN SEPT. OF 1997. SERVICLE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER THEY CORRECTED WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. BUT, CONSUMER FELT WORK COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY DONE.*AK

TWICE IT HAS SHOT SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF ENGNE. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DUE TO REAR CYLINDERS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. DRIVER'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATINON/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH 55 MPH IMPACT ,AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER TO HIT DASHBOARD. SEATBELTS WERE NOT WORN AT TIME.*AK

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CEL COMING ON AND STAYING ON, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH, THE BELTS, AND RECENTLY THE EMISSION SYSTEMS, EACH TIME I GO IN THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALER SHIP ACT LIKE I AM DOING THESE THINGS ON PURPOSE AND THIS LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. AND THAT IT WOULD COST 1,000 DOLLARS TO FIX. I WAS OUT RAGED.

VEHICLE STALLS/DIES WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT RESTART. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH REAR AXEL BROKE AND RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF, AND WHEEL AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20-25 MPH CONSUMER WAS HIT FROM DRIVERS SIDE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTIUNOUSLY FLIPOVER, RESULTING IN SOME INJURIES TO HEAD AND BODY. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE DAY THAT I PURCHASED IT, ENGINE FAILED AND IT WAS IN SHOP FOR TWO MONTHS, TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE REAR END FAILED, THE FUEL ECONOMY SWITCH FAILED, THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE JULY, 2000. I HAVE HAD TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO THESE MECHANICAL FAILURES. I HAVE TRIED FOR OVER TWO YEARS TO CONTACT A KIA REPRESENATIVE BUT THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINTS . THE DEALER IS NO HELP, THEY ONLY GIVE YOU THE DELAY GAME. I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS NO GOOD, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A DANGER TO PUT ON THE ROAD. IT CONTINUALLY HAS PROBLEMS AND I AM HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT.PLEASE HELP

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES CAME FROM DASHBOARD AND FLOOR BOARD AREA OF VEHICLE, TOTALLY DESTROYING VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I WAS CONCERNED THAT MY AIRBAG HAD NOT DEPLOYED DURING MY ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 7TH. SINCE I SUFFERED A FRONT END COLLISION, I WONDERED WHY IT HAD NOT. I CONTACTED KIA AND AFTER BEING PUT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEY FINALLY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THEM REPORT THE PROBLEM TO KIA. STATE FARM INDICATED THAT SINCE THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED, IT WAS NOT A PART THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. STATE FARM INDICATED THAT THEIR ADJUSTERS HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING WHY A PART BUILT BY KIA WAS NOT WORKING AT THAT IT WAS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. FINALLY GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM IT'S SECOND TRIP TO BE REPAIRED FROM THE ACCIDENT (ANOTHER STORY ALL TOGETHER), I TOOK IT IN TO CENTRAL KIA IN PLANO, TX AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD A DEFECTIVE MODULE WHICH THEY WOULD REPAIR FOR $892 PLUS LABOR. WHEN I INQUIRED AS TO WHY I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS "DEFECTIVE" PART, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT THE REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG IS COVERED ONLY BY WARRANTY UP TO 36,000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY I FOUND OUT THAT THE PART DID NOT WORK WAS BECAUSE I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS WONDERING IF I HAVE ANY GROUND TO STAND ON IN THINKING THAT IT IS KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ALL I CAN THINK IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HADN'T SEEN THE COLLISION COMING. THE AIRBAG THAT I PAID FOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, WAS PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK ... IT DIDN'T. *AK

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. WHEN I CALL PHIL LONG FORD, THEY TELL ME THAT HAPPENS WITH KIAS AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNLESS THE LIGHT IS ON AT THE TIME I BRING IT IN. AFTER ONCCE TAKING IT DOWN ANYWAY AND BEING REFUSED REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PASS, I GAVE UP ON THAT ONE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL RECALLS LAST SPRING WHEN I TOOK THE KIA IN FOR A TAILGATE LATCH RECALL, PHIL LONG FORD TOLD ME THERE WERE NO OTHERS. NOW I FIND THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL (99V325), WHICH COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NOW MY BATTERY WENT DEAD SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS. ALSO, MY HORN PERIODICALLY WON'T WORK WHICH PHIL LONG ALSO SAYS IS COMMON. (WHY THEN HAVEN'T THEY FIXED IT?) KIA AND THEIR PARTNER, FORD, NEEDS INVESTIGATING.

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

WHEN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO DRIVER'S SIDE OF A SMALL NISSAN TRUCK, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. SPORTAGE WAS TOTALLED IN THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND LETTING UP ON THE CLUTCH VEHICLE ACCELEREATED INTO REVERSE AND RAN OVER A MAILBOX. DRIVER HAD PUSHED CLUTCH AND BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. ENGINE STILL RAN HIGH.*AK

TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK TO EVEN BEGIN TO LIST. ITS BEEN TO THE GARAGE 7 OR 8 TIMES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT , THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT LAST YEAR, NOW THE CLUTCH, WHATS NEXT? I SO TIRED OF TAKING TIME OUT OF MY LIFE TO DEAL WITH THIS PIECE OF CRAP. I WANT A REFUND OR SOME KIND OF SATISFACTION. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, HORN DOESN'T WORK, AND THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. DOOR WILL BE REPAIRED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITH HORN OR UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *ML

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. DEALER FINALLY (AFTER TWO WEEKS IN THE SHOP) DECIDED FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED, CAUSING RUST PARTICLES TO DAMAGE FUEL INJECTORS. DEALER IS REPLACING FUEL TANK, LINES, SENDER UNIT, AND INJECTORS. (I'VE NEVER HAD A FUEL TANK RUST AT 39,000 MILES!)

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE VEHICLE MAKES A VIBRATING/HUMMING NOISE. ALSO, VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE STALLS

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

THE VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

LOCKS ARE NOT OPERABLE. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS SUPPOSE TO LOCK ALL OF THE DOORS ON VEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FAILED PRIOR TO RCALL NOTICE CAUSING IT TO STALL. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH DRIVER REAR ENDED A FORD BRONCO, AND AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION., *AK

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. HAS BEEN TO DLR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

THE VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF IN RIGHT TURNS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO, HAS SAID THE HAVE PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE, YET IT IS STILL CUTTING OFF AND IDLING LOW IN THE TURNS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK 6 TO 7 TIMES AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE ME AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE CAR. *AK

THE FRONT CALIPER EATS UP THE DISC. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DISC 3 TIMES. *AK

THE SIDEWALLS OF THE FACTORY TIRES WERE CRACKING. WENT TO A GENERAL TIRE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED 5 NEW TIRES UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THE GENERAL NAME TO A KOREAN TIRE CO. THE FACTORY TIRES ARE NOT MADE IN THE US TIRES. THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND GAVE US THE NEW TIRES QUICKLY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHEN DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 682, UP A STEEP HILL AND CURVE A CAR RAN HEAD ON INTO MY 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CAR HAD DAMAGE IN THE FRONT CENTER, FRONT LEFT, AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME STATED THAT HER CAR WAS SLIDING AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL IT. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE CAME TO THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT. BOTH OF US WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE WAS GIVEN THE TICKET AND FOUND AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE ARE 2 AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND ONE IN THE DASHBOARD TO PROTECT THE KNEE AND LEG AREAS. NEITHER ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS RESTRAINED IN A SEAT BELT, BUT I DID BUMP MY HEAD AND BUMPED MY KNEES AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY. I STILL HAVE THE KNOT ON MY HEAD AND MY KNEES AND LEFT SIDE CONTINUE TO HURT. *AK

RECALL 99V325000 KIA/ENGINE STALLING; OWNER HAS MADE 4 APPOINTMENTS TO CORRECT RECALL CAMPAIGN, APPOINTMENTS WERE ALWAYS CANCELLED BECAUSE DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS OR ENOUGH PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 99V325000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99V325000/ ENGINE STALLING. AFTER ONE WEEK OF REPAIRS THE REMEDY FAILED. *AK

RECALL 99V325/ ENGINE STALLING REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM , VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BOTH, PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS, RELEASE AT WILL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON COUNTY ROAD AN ANIMAL RAN OUT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, IT SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE ANIMAL. ROAD WAS WET. WENT INTO A DITCH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

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

TTHE ENGINE HEAD BROKE. NLM

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED, AND CONTACTED DEALER. CONSUMER WAS GIVE NAN APPOINTMENT FOR JUN 7, 2000. CAN NHTSA SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE, RESULTING IN CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. DEALER HAS INSPECETED THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON CROSSING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED, AND PUSHED HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK