2010 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE HEADREST POSITION IN NEW VEHICLES HAS CAUSED THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME IN THIS DRIVER WHO IS 5'4". MY CERVICAL SPINE IS FORCED OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH MY THORACIC AND LUMBAR SPINE. AFTER DRIVING FOUR OR FIVE HOURS WHICH I DO FOR WORK, I EXPERIENCE NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN. ARM AND HAND TINGLING/NUMBNESS AND PAIN IS SO SEVERE THAT IT HAS INTERFERED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY JOB. I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT IF I EXPERIENCED A REAR-END COLLISION, I WOULD SUFFER A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AS MY HEAD AND NOT MY NECK RESTS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE HEADREST.…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398341 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,619.

Owner-reported narrative. 62,619 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486083 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT TENSION SENSOR WERE BOTH DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556636 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON 11/28/2016 NHTSA RECALL #: 16V815 AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED BERGSTROM KIA IN OSHKOSH, WI TO SCHEDULE REPAIR. WAS TOLD PARTS NEEDED TO BE ORDERED AND WOULD RECEIVE NOTICE WHEN PARTS WERE IN. CALLED AGAIN ON 1/23/2017 AND WAS TOLD PARTS HAD NOT ARRIVED AND DEALER HAD BEEN TOLD THAT KIA COULD NOT PROVIDE DATE WHEN PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. CONTINUING TO PARK VEHICLE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF FIRE HAZARD AS RECOMMENDED IN RECALL NOTICE. NOT VERY CONVENIENT IN WISCONSIN IN WINTER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10947065 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN IT RAINS AND THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL WATER ON ROAD, MY KIA HAS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. ON A RAINING DAY TURNING INTO PARKING LOT THAT HAD LARGE PUDDLE ON A DAY WHERE THERE A SUDDEN TORRENTIAL RAIN. THIS HAPPENED ON WANTAGH PARKWAY IN LONG ISLAND. ON A RAINY DAY WHEN TRUCK WENT THRU PUDDLE OF WATER NEXT TO ME AND SPLASHED A LOT OF WATER IN MY DIRECTION. THIS HAPPEND ON A CITY STREET.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11061373 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED ABDOMINAL BRUISES AND CHEST INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THEN TAKEN TO STATE FARM INSURANCE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. …

Owner-reported narrative. 69,594 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061398 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT YET THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A REAR SEAT PASSENGER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT SUCH AS "CHECK ENGINE" OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO A HIGHWAY AND WAS "T BONED" BY A UPS TRUCK TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT PASSENGERS SURVIVED THE CRASH, ALBEIT WITH INJURIES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE TAKI…

Owner-reported narrative. 65,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101169 at NHTSA ↗

CAR WAS RUNNING AND BEGAN TO LEAVE STORE PARKING LOT, CAR WAS KNOCKING, AND THEN ENTIRE CAR STOPPED WORKING-POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, BRAKES. CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AFTER TOW AND DIAGNOSIS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. NO OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL LIGHT HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY LIT ON HILLS BUT WAS NOT ON CONSISTENTLY. CAR HAD BEEN KNOCKING INTERMITTENTLY THE WEEK PRIOR. TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE ROD FAILURE. THERE WERE NO OIL LEAKS UNDER THE CAR. THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SMELL UNTIL IT DIED. OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED LESS THAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110944 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2023-09-25 (September 25, 2023)

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.