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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

Air Bags complaints

12 reports
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128,000 miles · Nov 13, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS, INC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #11045680

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2017
Air BagsExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE 2005 KIA . FIRST THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT I USE AT FIRST SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT INDICATOR AND WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOW IS SAYING THAT SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY , …

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THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE 2005 KIA . FIRST THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT I USE AT FIRST SAID THAT IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT INDICATOR AND WAS NOT PROBLEMATIC EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOW IS SAYING THAT SINCE THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY , AND THAT OF COURSE IS A BIG PROBLEM. SECONDLY, WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK AND WHEN COMPLETED THE CAR STALLS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING, PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL THE NEXT REFILL. THIRD REOCCURRING PROBLEM IS THAT ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS SHORT OUT ON A REOCCURRING BASIS.

NHTSA ODI #11043184

107,900 miles · Jul 23, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON JULY 16 2016. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUSSMAN KIA IN JENKINTOWN PA.TO CHECK LIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SEAT BELT .THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELY ASSEMBLY $715.25. THE WORK ORDER INVOICE #52875--20 JULY 2016.SHOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALL ITEM FOR SAFETY BY KIA MOTORS…

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MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON JULY 16 2016. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUSSMAN KIA IN JENKINTOWN PA.TO CHECK LIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SEAT BELT .THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELY ASSEMBLY $715.25. THE WORK ORDER INVOICE #52875--20 JULY 2016.SHOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALL ITEM FOR SAFETY BY KIA MOTORS?

NHTSA ODI #10887930

64,649 miles · Jul 19, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT ON CONTINUALLY. NO ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10885945

78,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10808729

150,000 miles · Dec 20, 2013
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS REMAINED ON EVERY SINCE. NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. BASED ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT I SEEN, MUST BE A FACTORY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556876

91,000 miles · Aug 28, 2013
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON! TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO "FIX IT" FOR $72, AND ONLY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD TO PULL ON AND JIGGLE THE PASSENGERS SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT GO OFF, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T WORK. DO I WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER $72 TO "FIX IT"? THE COST TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY…

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AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON! TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO "FIX IT" FOR $72, AND ONLY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD TO PULL ON AND JIGGLE THE PASSENGERS SEAT BELT TO MAKE IT GO OFF, HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T WORK. DO I WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER $72 TO "FIX IT"? THE COST TO REPLACE THE SENSOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $435. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE BIG RISK IS THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT RESPOND IN AN ACCIDENT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10537630

89,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY 2005 KIA SPORTAGE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DURING AN AUTO ACCIDENT. NEITHER AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450419

52,400 miles · Dec 8, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

2005 KIA SPORTAGE T-BONE CRASH AND THE SIDE SEAT AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING SEVERE HEAD CONCUSSION AND NECK BACK INJURIES. PRODUCT LIABILITY/DEFECTIVE KIA SRS SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295016

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

2005 KIA EX CARE ACCIDENT MOTHER HIT BY DRUNK DRIVER ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAUSING HEAD INJURY CONCUSSION. SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAN CAUSE LONG TERM EFFECTS AND SHE IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290322

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.

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