THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID WORK AND REAR THE BRAKES WERE NOT IN LINE. *JB
1998 Kia Sportage complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND WHEN IN IDLE OR DRIVE.*AK *JB
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).
THE DOOR LOCKS, UNLOCKED AND LOCKED ON THEIR OWN.*JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ON AN INCLINE.*JB
1998 KIA SPORTAGE. FAILLURE TO CRANK. AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. HARD TO CRANK. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT IT'S DOING THE SAME THING. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.
THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT HOLD WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN. *JB
ON GOING PROBLEM WITH A "CHECK LIGHT" WITH THE 1998 SPORTAGE KIA. WENT TO MECHANICS AT PONTIAC AND MARTIN MAZDA (WHEN THEY TOOK OVER) AND ALL THEY DID WAS UNPLUG THE BATTERY AND PUT IT BACK IN AGAIN. THE CHECK LIGHT COME BACK ON A DAY OR TWO LATER. THEY NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. MY FEELING IS THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY BY MARTIN MAZDA AND NUCAR PONTIAC TO DELAY ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. BEING THAT MY CAR WAS REGISTERED FOR THREE YEARS, THE STATE OF DELAWARE WOULDN'T CATCH IT ON THE INSPECTION REPORT. I WENT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED BECAUSE THE "CHECK LIGHT" WAS ON AND IT PRODUCED CERTAIN CODES.
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
THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NO ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER WHO INSTALLED SOME TYPE OF CHILD SAFETY DEVICE UNDER THE CLUTCH. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM *DT
DUE TO A DEFECT THE HEATER VENTS BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR THAT SMOKE COME THOUGH THE VENTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING SEIZED TO THE HUB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED KIA WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR WHEEL BEARINGS AND/OR SPINDLE. *MR *NLM
TIRE HAD LESS THAN 40% WEAR AND ARE BLOWING OUT AT 70 MPH. 3 OUT OF 4 HAVE BLOWN OUT. DT
I HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE KIA WHEN REPORTING PROBLEMS STATED THEY SAID CONTACT DEALER BUT NEVER ASSIST ME WITH WORKING WITH DEALER. ONCE THEY SELL ME THE VEHICLE ITS MY PROBLEM AND WORK IT OUT WITH DEALER. I FEEL WHEN THE AXLE CRACKS ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT AND BRAKES FAIL. ALSO SENSORS FAIL CAUSING LOST OF POWER WOULD THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUES AND BE OF A BIG CONCERN TO KIA. DT
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
DITTO ON ALL THE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LISTED AT THIS SITE. ENGINE STALLING WHILE IN MOTION, SLUGGISHNESS, EITHER REVVED UP SO HIGH YOU THINK ITS GONNA BLOW TO NOT IDLING AT ALL AND CUTTING OFF. MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL CHASSIS EVEN FLEW OFF WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE PLEASE LETS TAKE ACTION. WE DO NOT NEED A DEATH TO MAKE KIA HEAR US. WE COULD ALL SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER TO MR. PETER BUTTERFIELD, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, 9801 MUIRLANDS BLVD, IRVINE CA 92618. WE COULD REFERENCE IN RESPONSE TO HIS INTERVIEW TO AUTOMOTIVENEWS.COM ABOUT KIA WANTS TO GROW UP. IT IS WRITTEN IN THIS ARTICLE HOW HE WANTS KIA TO BE KNOWN FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY. I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DRIVE OUR KIA'S FOR FEAR OF OUR LIVES AND NO ONE AT KIA IS RESPONDING TO OUR COMPLAINTS. HERE IS A SAMPLING OF REFERENCED ARTICLE: PETER BUTTERFIELD WANTS KIA MOTORS AMERICA INC. TO ACHIEVE TOYOTA-LEVEL QUALITY SCORES IN FIVE YEARS. HE ALSO WANTS TO EVOLVE FROM BEING A USED-VEHICLE ALTERNATIVE TO A PURCHASE LINKED IN THE CONSUMERS' MIND TO VALUE, SAFETY AND QUALITY. (END OF SAMPLE) IF HE REALLY WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN, HE WILL TAKE OUR PROBLEMS SERIOUSLY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM. LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE! THANK YOU. *AK
PREMATURE WEAR OF FLYWHEEL. DUE TO FAILURE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THEN PUTTING UP HAND BRAKE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, AND RAN THROUGH GARAGE INTO THE BASEMENT.*AK
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR BRAKE CLYINDER IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*JB
BRAKE HOSE COLLAPSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE HARD TO STOP.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN COMING TO A STOP THERES GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AREA OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER STATES AT 7000 MILE VEHICLE GRINDING NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND DEALER REPLACED HUB ASSEMBLY AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
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
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ROTORS WARPING, VEHICLE WILL SHAKE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *YD
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A DEER APPEARED IN THE STREET. TO AVOID HIM, CONSUMER SWERVED AND HIT AN ENBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK CONSUMERS SEAT BELT POPPED CAUSING CONSUMER TO LURCH FORWARD AND AND HIT HER HEAD. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *JG
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40 MPH WITH A LIGHT POLE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK MANUFACTURER HAD NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *YH
TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY, THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE PAD COMPLETELY FELL OFF.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THIS ALLOWED THE BRAKE PISTON TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ROTOR, THE PISTON BEGAN TO LEAK BRAKE FLUID, CONSUMER BELIEVES A DESIGN FLAW EXISTS THAT ALLOWS THE BRAKE PAD TO FALL OUT OF THE CALIPER.*JB
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. AFTER VEHICLE IS STARTED AND SHUTDOWN VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TWICE WITHIN A 1 YEAR TIME SPAN DURING SNOWSTORMS! IT WAS "REPAIRED"THE FIRST TIME BUT FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER.BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED DURING DEEP SNOW CONDITIONS,THUSLY MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR HAZARDOUS AND POSSIBLE FATAL CONDITIONS.I AM BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TODAY(01/15/2002) TO KIA OF WESTCHESTER TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRS.PLEASE,CONTACT SAID DEALERSHIP TO INSURE THAT THE VEHICLE GETS REPAIRED PROPERLY AND IN A EXPEDITIOUS MANNER.ALSO,I LOST 2 DAYS OF SALARY BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT HOME(I WAS IN PA VISITING MY ILL FATHER) BECAUSE OF 1-FOOT OF SNOW AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE!*AK
I CAN SEND YOU A EMAIL I SENT TO CHANNEL 7 OUT HERE IN DENVER COLO. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED IN SUMMARY. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ROTORS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. ROTORS AND PADS LAST FROM TEN TO TWELVE THOUSAND MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO WHEEL BEARINGS HAD WORN.*JB
I AM SO DISSATISIFIED WITH KIA. I HAVE 30226 MILES ON MY CAR, AND I'M ALREADY HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT DONE PAYING $200.86 FOR AIRPLUGS AND AIRFILTER TO BE REMOVED. WELL, THAT DIDN'T HELP THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE NOW. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK MY RPM REVS UP TO 5 AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR SHIFTS REALLY BAD AND THE RPM GOES TO 4. KIA SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. WHICH I TOLD THE OWNER OF KIA THAT IT WASN'T. BUT NO THEY DISAGREED! I HAVE TRIED ON 3 OCCASION TO GET RID OF MY CAR, BUT EVERYTIME I TRY I GET TOLD THAT I STILL OWE TO MUCH ON MY KIA. I HAVE HAD TIMES WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND MY CAR DIES. WHAT THE HELL, 30,226 IT SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I AM COMING SO CLOSE TO GIVE THE KEYS RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT. I'M TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND IN A UNSAFE CAR. KIA SHOULD TAKE EVERY SINGLE ON OF THOSE CARS BACK AND GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK. EVEN A GUY THAT WORKED AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME, THAT I MADE A BAD DECISION ON BUYING A KIA. THAT IS PRETTY SAD!*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND REPLACEMENTS FROM 11/26/99 AT 19,790 MILES/ 12/28/99 AT 21,156 MILES, TO PRESENT. ALL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY A DEALER. BUT, PROBLEM STILL APPEARS TO BE REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I AM REGISTERING A COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA MOTORS, INC. BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A 1998 KIA SPORTAGE ON JANUARY 17, 2000 AND IT HAD ABOUT 2600 MILES ON IT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER AT 6683 MILES, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SINCE I WAS READY FOR AN OIL CHANGE ANYWAY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS STILL NEW AND IN ITS "BREAKING-IN" STAGE, THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF IN A FEW DAYS. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT DID GO OFF BUT THE VEHICLE JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I WAS AGAIN ADVISED THE DEALER THAT IT WILL GO OFF BY ITSELF, THIS TIME I DIDN'T TAKE THEIR WORD AND INSISTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE CHECKED OUT. THE DEALER THEN FOUND THAT A SENSOR WAS OUT. THE REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I ALSO RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CONCERN. SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR BOTH PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL AND BOTH WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY WEREN'T. THE SAME DAY I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I IMMEDIATELY MADE A U-TURN WENT BACK INTO THE SERVICE DRIVE. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OUT AGAIN AND THE PART AS NOT IN. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 4 WEEKS UNTIL THE PART CAME IN ALL WHILE DRIVI
CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINT.... I THEN CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS AND FOUND 3 RECALLS THAT FIT IN MY VIN RANGE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA'S 800 NUMBER AND ASKED IF MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD NO. I BELIEVED THIS RESPONSE SINCE IT WAS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT THE DEALER. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A DISTURBING CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TELLING ME TO IMMEDIATELY STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SAME 3 RECALLS I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE. THE RECALLS WERE: BRAKE LINE RECALL-THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ELECTRICAL WIRING- THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE THIRD RECALL WAS AN OBD LABEL. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT KIA PUT MY FAMILY AND ME IN SO MUCH DANGER BY TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT KIA WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. SINCE I KNEW THAT I COULD POSSIBLE DIE BY CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, I TOOK A DAY OFF OF WORK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DLR. BY THIS TIME, I HAD KEPT A
CONTINUATION PART 3...VERY SLOWLY, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE CRUNCHING OR GRINDING METAL ON METAL NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED DOWN (NOT THE BRAKES), THE WAS A HORRIBLE GROAN SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HUBS ON THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER AFTER BEING OUT OF SERVICE FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DUPLICATED EACH AND EVERY CONCERN AND ADDRESSED THEM ALL. EXACTLY 1 WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME AT THE MALL. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD TO GET THE BATTERY BOOSTED SINCE SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER DID ELECTRICALLY WAS IMPROPER. I MADE IT BACK HOME BUT WAS UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT I COULD MAKE IT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY WITH A WEAL BATTERY. SURE ENOUGH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START IN THE MORNING. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO MY HOUSE TO PICK UP THIS LEMON. AFTER ANOTHER 5 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE, I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A BAD ENGINE HARNESS IN THE VEHICLE. EXACTLY 2 DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL, THE WINDOWS STARTED MOVING SLOW AGAIN, THE REAR END OF MY VEHICLE STARTED RATTLING, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD THE METAL ON METAL NOISE AGAIN, THE GROAN NOISE HAD COME BACK, THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER GOING UP THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. FEELING LIKE THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE TO ME, I SEN
CONTINUATION PART 4...ON AS THEY USUALLY DID WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 2 DAYS LATER AND FOUND THAT THE TECHNICIAN OR "SOMEONE" DISCONNECTED MY INSTRUMENT PANEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE ENGINE LIGHT FROM COMING ON AND ME COMING BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER 2 DAYS AND SO-CALLED FIXED THE PROBLEM. AS YOU KNOW BY NOW, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. BY THIS TIME, I HAD FILED WITH BBB AND BEGGED KIA TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM BACK. AT AN ARBITRATION HEARING, THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE DOWNPLAYED ALL OF MY RETURN TRIPS TO THE DEALER BY STATING THAT THE DEALER DID NOT REPORT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS TO THEM AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. ALL OF THAT WAS A LIE SINCE KIA WAS NOTIFIED BY CERTIFIED LETTER OF THE PROBLEMS AND RETURN TRIPS. WELL, THE ARBITRATOR SIDED WITH KIA AND STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE PRESUMABLY MET THE CRITERIA FOR LEMON LAW, SHE FELT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD GET ONE MORE CHANCE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SINCE I DID NOT LIKE THE ARBITRATORS DECISION, I UTILIZED ONE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS SHE OFFERED AND ACTED AS IF THE HEARING NEVER HAPPENED. I DROVE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS UNTIL THINGS GOT WORSE. THE REAR END STARTED JINGLING LOUDER THAN EVER, THE FRONT END WAS GRINDING LIKE NEVER BEFORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST TAKE OFF ON IT'S OWN, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BECOME STUCK IN ONE GEAR OR ANOTHER WITHOUT SHIFTING, THE WINDOWS WERE SLOW AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS
FINAL CONTINUATION 5...THE FENDER. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER 3 DAYS WHILE THEY KNOCKED OUT THE DENT AND REPAINTED THE FENDER. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A MONTH NOW AND EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM NOW AT 35,150 MILES AND FEAR THAT I WILL HAVE TO INCUR ALL OF THESE CHARGES FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOW BACK AND DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED IN THE 19 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT YOU RECEIVE SEVERAL OF THESE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD AS WELL AS OTHER FIELDS BUT I THINK THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE CAME OUT AND SPOKE ABOUT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THERE VEHICLES, MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY A ANOTHER DRIVER . CONSUMER STATES THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT THE BACK OF A BUS. CONSUMER STATES WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER HIT THE BACK OF A BUS BEFORE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
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
CONSUMER STATES STARTER IS INOPERATIVE.*JB
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
ALL FOUR WINDOWS GET STUCK, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, VEHICLE IS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4X4 WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AIR CONDITIONER WORKS 1 OUT OF 4 TIMES, LATCH OPENS ON BACK OF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. BLACK TARRY DUST ON FRONT TIRES.
WHEEL ASSEMBLY BECOMES "LOOSE" AND REQUIRES ROUTINE TIGHTENING BY DEALER. LOOSE WHEEL CAUSES SAFETY HAZARD & POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL AS WELL AS NEEDLESS DAMAGE TO REMAINING HUB ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS TOTALING AS MUCH AS $3,500 PER INCIDENT TO REPAIR.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS AND BACKFIRES. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Kia Sportage → · Every Sportage year → · How the figures are calculated →