Model year record

2005 Kia Sportage

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 93 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V318000

Parking brake

Component
Parking brake
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
3,672
Reported to NHTSA
2005-07-08
Owners notified
2005-08-01

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V212000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
10,360
Reported to NHTSA
2005-05-03
Owners notified
2005-05-31

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V120000

Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)

Component
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
7,619
Reported to NHTSA
2005-03-29
Owners notified
2005-04-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags1189,000 mi
Electrical system726,000 mi
Unknown or other7124,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system6120,000 mi
Structure: body6117,000 mi
Suspension5126,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline421,000 mi
Steering489,000 mi
Air bags: side/window352,400 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)389,000 mi
Service brakes389,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling215,000 mi
Seat belts2107,900 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic285,000 mi
Vehicle speed control232,000 mi
Air bags: frontal152,903 mi
Electrical system: horn16,300 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)133,000 mi
Engine1111,195 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system165,311 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine136,000 mi
Exterior lighting1
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage160,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly16,695 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: filling/charging12,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission165,311 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly178,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor133,000 mi
Steering: electric power assist system13,000 mi
Structure1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields1200,000 mi
Suspension: front1
Suspension: rear: axle: spindle110,967 mi
Tires1
Vehicle speed control: springs1
Visibility1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer15,976 mi
Wheels1

The 2006 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.