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2005 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 17 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

68 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2023
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherWheels

My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off while driving and it feels harder to press the gas and I lost complete control on the freeway some how but I believe its due to my E…

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My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off while driving and it feels harder to press the gas and I lost complete control on the freeway some how but I believe its due to my ESP button, idk much about cars so this is the best way I can describe it, not many cars around on the freeway but I would've died if there was.. the fuel system is always having issues as well amd ive changed it many times but I'm more worried about the fact that I lost control and the fact that when i use my parking break that the car won't hold completely so please please launch an investigation so I can get my car fixed, thank you.

NHTSA ODI #11555961

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2022
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's…

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My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.

NHTSA ODI #11463977

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2022
Vehicle Speed Control

Throttle body spring broke caused car to keep accelerating. Car would not stop.

NHTSA ODI #11455124

165,000 miles · Mar 27, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

MY KIA SPORTAGE.... STALLED IN MID TRAFFIC LIKE IT LOSSES POWER RIGHT AFTER I. PUT GASOLINE IN THE CAR, ALMOST MAKING ME LOOSE CONTROL AND GET IN A WRECK. IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL .AFTER I CONTINUED TO TRY AND REFUEL IT. I NOTICED A RECALL ONLINE ABOUT MY VEHICLE NUT DEALER IS ONLY SAYINH THE RECALL IS ON A FUEL STRAP TI HOLD T…

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MY KIA SPORTAGE.... STALLED IN MID TRAFFIC LIKE IT LOSSES POWER RIGHT AFTER I. PUT GASOLINE IN THE CAR, ALMOST MAKING ME LOOSE CONTROL AND GET IN A WRECK. IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL .AFTER I CONTINUED TO TRY AND REFUEL IT. I NOTICED A RECALL ONLINE ABOUT MY VEHICLE NUT DEALER IS ONLY SAYINH THE RECALL IS ON A FUEL STRAP TI HOLD THE FUEL TANK UP I NEED THIS SAFELY REPAIRED

NHTSA ODI #11405152

185,991 miles · Sep 3, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V212000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V212000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,991.

NHTSA ODI #11253038

106,433 miles · Jan 18, 2019
Service Brakes

ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SHUTTING OFF CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11170692

120,000 miles · Nov 21, 2018
Electrical System

WIRING HARNESS PLUGS JOINING AT RESISTOR & BLOWER MOTOR ARE MELTED.

NHTSA ODI #11153051

123,000 miles · Nov 3, 2018
Suspension

ROTTED REAR CROSS MEMBER.

NHTSA ODI #11145085

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2018
Unknown Or Other

TOOK CAR TO HAVE SOMETHING UNRELATED TO THIS CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTED REALLY BAD AND IS UNSFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND REMAINS STATIONARY FOR FEAR OF IT COMPLETELY BREAKING OFF AND CAUSING A CATASTROPHE TO MYSELF, MY LITTLE GIRLS OR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11140686

111,195 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING 80MPH ON FREEWAY, CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING, WOULDN'T RESTART FOR OVER 30 MINUTES

NHTSA ODI #11120685

Official recalls

3

05V318000 · Parking Brake

Jul 8, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE, OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

05V212000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

May 3, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE O-RING INTO THE INTERNAL VAPOR CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AT FULL TANK CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND EXTERNAL FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE AIR FILTER INLET. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

05V120000 · Electronic Stability Control:automatic (asc)

Mar 29, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESP HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Kia Sportage problems