Kia SPORTAGE steering problems
195 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
4,423 owner complaints analyzed
36 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,142 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
195 of 4,423 complaints match this topic (4.4%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 724567 · 2000-06-26 (June 26, 2000)
THE ENGINE WILL START UP AND STAY AT APROX 3000 RPM FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TWICE THE RPMS JUMPED WHILE EACH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IT AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. THE LOCKING HUBS ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT UNLOCKING. IT CAUSED SOME SLIDING IN THE RAIN GOING AROUND A CORNER. THE WHEELS ALWAYS TURN AT THE SAME RATE AROUND CORNERS. THE TRIM IS COMING LOOSE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH WHEN I SHIFT, AND DURING DRIVING IT WILL SOME TIMES SURGE FORWARD AND BACK. TOO MUCH PL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722250 · 2000-05-03 (May 3, 2000)
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE SPEED OF 40 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE. THE IMPACT BETWEEN MY CHEST AND THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT ME WITH BRUISED RIBS. I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE ACCIDENT OR THE INJURY WAS NOT SEVERE. IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO A COUPLE OF MY CONCERNS, 1) AT WHICH SPEED SHOULD THE AIR BAG DEPLOY, 2) IF IT WAS TO DEPLOY AT 40MPH THEN WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT STEP TOWARDS KIA TO VERIFY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANY ONE AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722250 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 ↗
Owner report 711317 · 2000-04-07 (April 7, 2000)
WHEN DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 682, UP A STEEP HILL AND CURVE A CAR RAN HEAD ON INTO MY 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CAR HAD DAMAGE IN THE FRONT CENTER, FRONT LEFT, AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT HIT ME STATED THAT HER CAR WAS SLIDING AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL IT. 911 WAS CALLED AND THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE CAME TO THE SEEN OF THE ACCIDENT. BOTH OF US WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE WAS GIVEN THE TICKET AND FOUND AT FAULT FOR THE ACCIDENT AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE ARE 2 AIR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 711317 at NHTSA ↗