IllustrationTHE GLASS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SHATTERED WHEN ROLLING WINDOW DOWN. IT CRACKED HORIZONTALLY ALL ALONG THE EDGE OF THE DOOR. *TR
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sportage years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
625–50K
750–75K
875–100K
15100–150K
4150K+
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
Visibility complaints
3 reportsKIA MOTORS USA, 2005 KIA SPORTAGE LX V6 4WD- [XXX] PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 05. VEHICLE MILES 61 AT PURCHASE. ON 10/27/05 TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. WIPERARM WAS FLAPPING AND LOOKS LIKE IT ROTATED 360 DEGREES. PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM ALSO MADE A 7 INCH SEMI CIRCLE SCRATCH IN…
Read full complaint
KIA MOTORS USA, 2005 KIA SPORTAGE LX V6 4WD- [XXX] PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 05. VEHICLE MILES 61 AT PURCHASE. ON 10/27/05 TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. WIPERARM WAS FLAPPING AND LOOKS LIKE IT ROTATED 360 DEGREES. PASSENGER SIDE WIPER ARM ALSO MADE A 7 INCH SEMI CIRCLE SCRATCH IN THE CORNER OF THE HOOD. PASSENGER SIDE WIPERARM METAL IS TWISTED IN A SPIRAL SHAPE. VEHICLE CHECKED BY BILL DORATY KIA IN MEDINA,OHIO ON 10/28/05 INVOICE#[XXX]. DEALER STATES LOOKS LIKE WIPER ARM WAS TWISTED BY OTHER MEANS. THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE DAMAGE. KIA MOTORS CONSUMER AFFAIRS ANALYST CENTRAL REGION,WITHOUT INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SIDES WITH THE DEALERS OPINION. THEY ARE WRONG! THE DAMAGE SHOWS IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY INVESTIGATED BEFORE THIS OCCURS TO SOMEONE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A STORM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THANK YOU. [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
DT: CONTACT STATED EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WERE DARK THAT THE CONSUMER HAS DIFFICULTY SEEING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR ON CLOUDY DAYS. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT BUILD THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED THE CONSUMER WITH THE KIA MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER SINCE THE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
DT: CONTACT STATED EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WERE DARK THAT THE CONSUMER HAS DIFFICULTY SEEING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR ON CLOUDY DAYS. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT BUILD THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED THE CONSUMER WITH THE KIA MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP IT WAS A PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER COULD NOT MAKE THE MANUFACTURER UNDERSTAND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP. *AK
Official recalls
305V318000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.