Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 10/28/2001 | 1 | 04/18/2001 | |
| While driving 10-15 mph and without warning, was involved in a head-on collision in which the air bags did not deploy, driver sustained major injuries. *ak the transmission jammed and the accelerator stuck. *jg | |||
| 03/06/2002 | 2 | 04/01/2000 | |
| I took my car in to be serviced on 05/15/01 to westcott kia, i was hearing a loud grinding noise and my vehicle was resisting to go foward, also lack of power to my vehicle overall, i felt like it was a transmission concern at that time my vehicle had 50888 miles on it, they told me it was my egr valve , it was malfunctioning, they replaced it. on 03/06/02 i took my car to rancho kia to be serviced, they told me that i needed my egr valve kit replaced at which time i didnt realize i had had it done less than a year earlier, they charged me 133.40, i contacted kia consummer affairs when i realized the repair had already been done less than a year ago, they stated my car had been driven more than 12000 miles (12656 to be exact) and there was nothing they could do for me, i have had so many problems with this car.*ak | |||
| 04/23/2001 | 04/01/2000 | ||
| 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 also feel that there is a major problem with my transmission that the dealer failed to repair, i just took my car to rancho kia (where i bought it from and had repair problems with reguarding my tire latch) and they had to repair wiring to maf sensor and replaced my egr valve and also my purge solenoid was broken and they said the clunking noise is my front hub bearings are loose. | |||
| 2 | 10/01/1997 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 04/01/1998 | 10 | 11/01/1997 | |
| This vehicle is garbage - both front window motors-replaced. transmission replaced, and is now acting up again. rear-end replaced, acting up, engine squeals, dealer can't hear it, burning anti-freeze smell upon warmup, temp gauge goes crazy, in 4wd vehicle does not want to turn, only wants to go straight, makings hard clunking noise if you attempt to turn. the yugo was a better vehicle! *ak | |||
| 08/24/1998 | 0 | ||
| Engine check light comes on. vehicle surges and bucks. a hold light is flashing which means there is a problem with the transmission. *ak | |||
| 05/01/1998 | 07/26/1997 | ||
| Transmission failure. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||
| 11/08/1999 | |||
| Right after putting vehicle in park there was a fire in the engine compartment. vehicle will be towed to the dealership. the vehicle has caught on fire 4 other times in the engine compartment while driving. all 4 times the transmission fluid was drained at the dealership. please provide any further information. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 06/01/2001 | |||
| 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 | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 02/03/2001 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 2 | 10/01/1997 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 04/01/1998 | 10 | 11/01/1997 | |
| This vehicle is garbage - both front window motors-replaced. transmission replaced, and is now acting up again. rear-end replaced, acting up, engine squeals, dealer can't hear it, burning anti-freeze smell upon warmup, temp gauge goes crazy, in 4wd vehicle does not want to turn, only wants to go straight, makings hard clunking noise if you attempt to turn. the yugo was a better vehicle! *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/05/2007 | 104000 | 2 | 03/05/2006 |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 1997 kia sportage. the vehicle was overheating. the contact said that the used car dealer replaced the radiator and the main hose. the vehicle continued to overheat, and when diagnosed ,the contact was told the overheating was due to the clutch overheating and the fan sticking. the contact didn't think that transmission oil was circulating throughout the vehicle properly. there were no warning indicator lights. the vehicle currently will not start. the dealer was no longer in business. *ak | |||
| 03/13/2001 | 1 | 01/01/2000 | |
| 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. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 05/05/2003 | 25317 | 1 | 05/07/1997 |
| In may 5, 2003 i took to inspect the car for a noise at the back. its like being on a plane for departure. i was told by the dealer that the back differentials was damaged. it only had 25,317 mileage in 2003. i could not believe that. this year 2005 a inspect the car at wester auto i was told the differential is damage. at the store i was told they have seen others kia sportage with the same problems. i also when to ped boys. also, they said verb there were problems kia differential. at wester auto i change the back bearing thinking that will fix the noise. kia dealer estimate the repair for $865 on 2003.*ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Rear differential failed causing noise in the rear end of vehicle. | |||
| 07/20/1997 | 1 | 07/07/1997 | |
| Rear differential exploded, causing wheels to lock. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||
| 10/15/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states when hitting bump something is loose. dealer fould broken propeller shaft. *tt | |||
| 11/02/1997 | |||
| Vehicle would jerk. engine check light kept coming on. vehcle would overheat & fail to start. also, vehicle had revved while at stop light due to fast idle . the ported passage hole was too small. it needed to be wider according to mechanic. driveshaft broke twice in last 6 months. *ak | |||
| 03/05/1998 | 5 | 06/01/1997 | |
| After purchasing this vehicle new we are very upset at the lack of concern and assisstance from the numerous government agencies i have contacted, completed forms and mailed them, i have yet to be contacted. both my 4 year old son & i almost lost our lives when my engine stalled on an interstate speed limit 70 cars turning everyway to avoid us, i really felt there was no hope when i saw an 18 wheeler approaching, i turned to move my son from the rear seat to the front so i could at least hold him, the driver saw me and when he managed to stop his rig was jackknifed and 1 side hit the block barrier. i have documents to prove the engine problems in 97 kia's can't be repaired.will lives be lost before kia is held responsible? please help | |||
| 04/17/1999 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| Driving between 40-45 mph driveshaft fell out, damaging entire underside of vehicle gouging fuel tank in several places. rear end fell locking up brakes and throwing vehicle into uncontrollable bouncing for over quarter mile. driveshaft flew infront of other vehicles windshield. wife(9 mo. preg.) & son in car with me. *ak | |||
| 05/01/1998 | 07/26/1997 | ||
| Driveshaft failed. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 10/28/2001 | 4 | 04/18/2001 | |
| While driving 10-20 mph applied on brakes and without warning brakes did not function. consumer then tried to shift vehicle manually; however, transmission malfunctioned, resulting in a head-on collision. driver sustained major leg injuries. *ak consumer adds that the accelerator was stuck. the air bags failed to deploy. *tt | |||
| 10/28/2001 | 4 | ||
| While driving at 10-15 mph applied brakes and without warning, brakes did not function, driver had to run a red light, resulting in a head on collision, driver sustained major leg injuries.*ak consumer states that the airbag failed. consumer also states that the accelerator and transmission stuck. *slc | |||
| 10/28/2001 | 1 | 03/14/2001 | |
| While driving at 10-15 mph, front of the vehicle was hit and none of the air bags deployed. contacted dealer. *ak consumer adds the brakes failed. the transmission failed. experiencing problems with the accelerator. *tt | |||
| 10/01/1997 | |||
| Transmission shift slips out of park, air bag light stays on, coolent leak at engine lower left , lower front pulley bearing damaged engine | |||
| 10/19/1998 | 4 | ||
| When backing out sometimes & when pushing on the gas, car will not move. car will just eject back unexpectedly. *ak | |||