Kia SPORTAGE transmission problems
177 complaint narratives mention transmission 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.
Transmission and shifting evidence
177 of 4,423 complaints match this topic (4.0%). 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 10034539 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884771 · 2001-04-02 (April 2, 2001)
TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION AND NOISE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884771 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 ↗