1997 KIA Sportage problems
Owners have filed 299 complaints about the 1997 KIA Sportage with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 21.1% of them — the clear leader, ahead of air bags at 13%.
Complaints299
Crashes50
Fires6
Injuries46
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 21.1% · 63
Air bags 13.0% · 39
Power train 9.4% · 28
Vehicle speed control 8.4% · 25
Electrical system 7.4% · 22
Service brakes, hydraulic 6.7% · 20
Fuel system, gasoline 5.7% · 17
Unknown or other 5.4% · 16
Severity
Of those complaints, 50 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire, 46 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 21 model years of the KIA Sportage in this data, 1997 sits 10th by complaint volume. 2017 draws the most.
Filing volume has held steady, 6 in the last three years against 6 in the three before.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 97,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Exhaust fumes were coming into the vehicle,and noticed the catalytic converter was hot. Dealer replaced the catalytic converter and rerouted wire. After four months, and just being released again from dealer, exhaust fumes reappeared. Consumer did a 60 mph drive, and driver/passenger, and child felt sick. Went to the hopspital and were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Engine and engine cooling
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. Engine and engine cooling
While driving at any speed the vehicle gives no prior warning. The engine check light coming on. Contacted dealer , can't find the problem. Vehicle has been in the shop three times. *Ak check engine light comes on and engine stalles at times while driving due to egr valve failure. Hood release handle was broke. Right front hubcap fell off. Radio bezel was broke. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other KIA Sportage years
1998 558 complaints · 16.3% engine and engine cooling 1999 493 complaints · 18.5% engine and engine cooling 2000 462 complaints · 18.0% fuel system, gasoline 2001 354 complaints · 15.5% engine and engine cooling 2002 321 complaints · 22.4% engine and engine cooling 2006 169 complaints · 22.5% air bags