2007 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
77 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 77 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 35.1% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
Electrical System: 13; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 11; Air Bags: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Steering: 9; Engine: 8; Exterior Lighting: 8; Seat Belts: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 20 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 5; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 9; 2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10203458 · 2007-09-19 (September 19, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. SHE THEN OVERCORRECTED TO THE LEFT AND HER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, SLID TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET, AND STRUCK ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY, WHICH SHE IS CURRENTLY SEEING A DOCTOR FOR DUE TO HEADACHES. SHE STATED THAT HER ENTIRE BODY IS SORE AND SHE CAN BARELY TURN HER NECK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL BEING INSPECTED. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204194 · 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED AND VIBRATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTROLLER FAILED. THE ESC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS FAILED. GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 700.
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214012 · 2008-01-07 (January 7, 2008)
I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS REAR ENDED BY A BUS. AT THE INSTANT THAT THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND MY DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LOOKED AT THE SEAT AND SAW THAT THE HINGES THAT HOLD THE CUSHION AND SEATBACK TOGETHER BOTH SNAPPED CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE BACKWARDS. IT IS A GOOD THING NO ONE WAS SITTING BEHIND ME AS THEIR LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223975 · 2008-04-07 (April 7, 2008)
2007 KIA SPORTAGE STEERING WHEEL NOISE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE OR A SOLUTION. HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP WITH HIS PROBLEM. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239856 · 2008-08-26 (August 26, 2008)
I WAS IN AUTO ACCIDENT AND MY CAR ROLLED AND MY BODY (EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING A SEATBELT) WAS THROWN AROUND AND MY STERNUM WAS SEVERELY INJURED - HAIRLINE FRACTURE. NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NOT THE FRONT OR THE SIDES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10239856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250263 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
2007 KIA SPORTAGE HYDROPLANED, SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED 2-3 TIMES, LANDING ON ITS WHEELS. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED ON ALL SIDES, FRONT AND REAR. THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH 8 AIR BAGS AND NOT ONE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DOOR OPENED AND WAS MANGLED DURING THE OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253718 · 2009-01-04 (January 4, 2009)
ABS AND ESC LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. RIGHT REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP AND STARTED SQUEALING. VERY COLD WEATHER (10 DEGREES) OUTSIDE. HAPPENED WHEN I WAS JUST STARTING OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256036 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. HE CHECKED THE BULBS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE WORKING NORMALLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,574.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,574 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256036 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2009-04-17 (April 17, 2009)
HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
NHTSA campaign record ↗