1997 Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
111 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 111 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 23 | 20.7% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 11.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 8.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 7.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 18 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 17 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 18; Air Bags:Frontal: 17; Air Bags: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 87 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 46 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 46; 2001: 13; 2002: 12; 2003: 10; 2004: 11; 2005: 9; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10026298 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027329 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING, AND LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING.HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY PROBLEM WAS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002022 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICES AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING ALSO FOUND PASSENGER BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019352 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO FLIP AND LAND UPSIDE DOWN. DEALER STATED THE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005620 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
MY CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE KIA COPRORATION FIELD EXPERTS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY SAY IT'S A WIRING NIGHTMARE, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT TO IRVINE (KIA HEADQUARTERS) BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THEY WIRING HARNESS RECALL OF 1997 PROVES THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY FIXED, AND I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE MISSION BAY KIA DEALERSHIP SINCE 12-1-02, AND I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066020 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2WEEKS NOW, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BATTERY; BUT I CHECKED IT OUT AT AUTOZONE FOR FREE AND THE MACHINE THAT DETECTS HOW MUCH POWER IN THE BATTERY SUGGESTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE STALLING PROBLEMS STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND I HAD TO PUSH-START THE CAR ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND THEN IT DECIDED TO NOT START AT ALL, I KNOW ITS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IT STILL HAS POWER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178267 · 2007-01-09 (January 9, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737695 · 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)
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 VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224254 · 2008-04-11 (April 11, 2008)
A FEW YEARS BACK I STARTED SMELLING GAS. SO MY FATHER IN LAW AND UNCLE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND IT YEP YOU GOT A GAS LEAK. SO THEY TRIED TO PATCH IT SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS SEEMED TO WORK. SO BACK IN FEBRUARY I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING A REPAIR BENEFIT NOTIFICATION ABOUT MY GAS TANK LEAKING. SO A FEW WEEKS AGO I CALLED A KIA DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY TANK. AFTER A HOUR DRIVE AND A FORTY MINUTE WAIT THEY TELL ME THAT MY KIA DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR KIA TO FIX MY TANK. SO I COME HOME AND THE NEXT…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236059 · 2008-07-24 (July 24, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10236059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027253 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIR BAG KNEE BOLSTER WENT OFF WITHOUT PHYSICAL CONTACT BLWE OUT DASH AND PARTS OF THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED STATED IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. *AK *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10526426 · 2013-07-23 (July 23, 2013)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,226 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526426 at NHTSA ↗