1997 Kia Sportage recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Air bags

  WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT TALKING WITH MY WIFE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

  Sep 3, 2018 · 176,700 miles
• Fuel/propulsion system

  FUEL TANK IS LEAKING

  Dec 12, 2018
• Air bags

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE OCCUPIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF WILMINGTON (1603 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 656-3100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD TO DIAGNOSED WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,620. *BP*JB

  Sep 3, 2018 · 176,620 miles
• Air bags

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE FOR THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

  Aug 10, 2018 · 160,000 miles
• Fuel system, gasoline

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN APPROXIMATELY AT 55MPH ENGINE WILL STALL. SLOW DOWN AND STOP WITHOUT WARNING. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN TURN ENGINE OFF RESTART RUN IT THRU ALL OF THE GEARS AND IT WILL BE FINE FOR AWHILE UNLESS ON BUMPY ROAD OR STOP WARNING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I CAN NOT FILL GAS TANK UP DUE TO IT LEAKING OUT UNDER VEHICLE REFRASE THAT POUR OUT. IT WILL ALSO VIBRATE REALLY BAD AFTER BEING DROVE FOR OVER 2 HOURS STRAIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE IT CAUSES A INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

  Mar 26, 2014
• Air bags1 injury

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. THE LOWER AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE HIP AREA AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,226.

  Jul 21, 2013 · 125,226 miles
• Fuel system, gasoline

  THE DESIGN OF THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE FUEL TANK ALLOWED SAND AND PEBBLES TO ACCUMULATE TO THE EXTENT THAT I STARTED NOTICING FUEL VAPORS. THE VEHICLE IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE, SO I RAISED A WINDOW TO HELP DISSIPATE THE VAPORS. IN A FEW DAYS, FUEL WAS DRIPPING FROM THE LEAKS IN THE TANK. I APPLIED A PUTTY PRODUCT IN JUNE, 2006, WHICH HELPED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. I RE-APPLIED PUTTY IN AUGUST, 2007. THEN AGAIN IN JULY, 2008, WITH TWO DIFFERENT (PERMANENT?) PRODUCTS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED, YET. THE TANK STILL LEAKS. *TR

  Jun 1, 2006 · 111,186 miles
• Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly

  1997 KIA SPORTAGE HAVE A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE RECEIVED A NOTICE AFTER THE REPAIR TO THE FUEL TANK WAS DONE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR WORK. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, SHE SMELLED GAS AND THERE WAS GAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. IT WAS DETERMINED THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING *JB

  Jul 1, 2008

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• FUEL TANK LEAKAGEClosed

  A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE…

  EA06007 · opened May 9, 2006 · closed Nov 30, 2007
• ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALLClosedLed to recall 99V325000

  RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED WITHIN ONE DAY OF THE INITIAL WORK.SUBSEQUENT FAILURE EXPERIENCE IS MINIMAL (249/55,548 VEHICLES REMEDIED).FIELD DATA SHOW NO INDICATION OF AN ONGOING CONCERN: OF 627 POST-RECALL STALLING-RELATED WIRE HARNESS WARRANTY REPAIRS, ONLY SEVEN OCCURRED IN 2003.CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS SALESHAVE DECLINED SINCE 2001.ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF TWELVE POTENTIALLY RELEVANT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS SINCE 2001.UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED.THE RECALL QUERY IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE…

  RQ02013 · opened Oct 18, 2002 · closed Sep 2, 2003
• SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONClosedLed to recall 02V216000

  BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.

  PE02051 · opened Jun 17, 2002 · closed Sep 20, 2002
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ONClosedLed to recall 99V325000

  A monthly Technical Times published by Kia and distributed to dealer technicians identifying a wiring harness problem that could cause connectors C123 and C124 to pull apart slightly during engine load changes.This could lead to erratic or tempory loss

  SQ99021 · opened Jun 30, 1999 · closed Feb 2, 2000