Model year record

2005 Kia Sportage recalls & problems

The 2005 Kia Sportage has 3 safety recalls and 68 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (15 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints68filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Parking brakeJul 8, 2005

Parking brake

Recall 05V3180003,672 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
Risk: THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE, OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Fuel system, gasolineMay 3, 2005

Storage

Recall 05V21200010,360 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE O-RING INTO THE INTERNAL VAPOR CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AT FULL TANK CONDITIONS.
Risk: THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND EXTERNAL FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE AIR FILTER INLET. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Electronic stability controlMar 29, 2005

Automatic (asc)

Recall 05V1200007,619 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.
Risk: BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESP HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

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

2005 Kia Sportage 4-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

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

Sportage 2WD

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Sportage 2WD

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Sportage 4WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sportage 2WD

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Sportage 4WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

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

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	15	8	0	5	78,000 mi
StructureBody; Frame and members › Underbody shields	8	1	0	1	118,000 mi
Electrical systemHorn	8	0	2	0	26,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly	7	1	0	1	21,000 mi
SuspensionRear › Axle › Spindle; Front	7	0	0	0	126,000 mi
Unknown or other	7	0	0	0	134,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	0	0	0	142,500 mi
SteeringElectric power assist system	5	1	0	1	89,000 mi
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Rearview mirrors/devices › Interior	4	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Cooling system	4	0	0	0	38,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	3	1	0	1	85,000 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	3	1	0	1	89,000 mi

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

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
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…
Oct 11, 2023
Unknown or other
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.
Feb 9, 2022
Vehicle speed control › Springs
Throttle body spring broke caused car to keep accelerating. Car would not stop.
Mar 1, 2022
Fuel/propulsion system
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
Jan 2, 2021 · 165,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
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.
Sep 1, 2019 · 185,991 miles
Service brakes
ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SHUTTING OFF CAR.
Jan 18, 2019 · 106,433 miles
Electrical system
WIRING HARNESS PLUGS JOINING AT RESISTOR & BLOWER MOTOR ARE MELTED.
Jul 28, 2016 · 120,000 miles
Suspension
ROTTED REAR CROSS MEMBER.
Nov 3, 2018 · 123,000 miles

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