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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
65,311 miles · Nov 29, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR LEAK. DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING. SUPPOSED REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BRING BACK DEALER SAY NOT LEAKING ANYMORE MUST BE RESIDUAL FLUID ON ENGINE. BROUGHT BACK AGAIN SAID NOW THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING. NOT COVERED PAID FOR NEW COOLER. BROUGHT HOME . NOTICED STILL HAVE…

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BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR LEAK. DEALER STATES TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING DUE TO IMPROPER SEALING. SUPPOSED REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BRING BACK DEALER SAY NOT LEAKING ANYMORE MUST BE RESIDUAL FLUID ON ENGINE. BROUGHT BACK AGAIN SAID NOW THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LEAKING. NOT COVERED PAID FOR NEW COOLER. BROUGHT HOME . NOTICED STILL HAVE A LEAK BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER. NOW THEY SAY IT IS A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR. WANT TO REPLACE THAT AT MY COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368244

129,000 miles · Jul 19, 2010
Steering

WHEN ACCELERATING WITH LOAD ON ENGINE GOING UP HILL, JUST BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO GEAR THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK-UP. THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING WHILE ON MOUNTAINOUS ROADS MAKES FOR A VERY DANGEROUS JOURNEY HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344121

36,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10328863

92,047 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHICH SHE NOTICED SINCE JANUARY 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,047.

NHTSA ODI #10322286

41,000 miles · Mar 17, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling

DURING ALL OF THE 5 INCIDENTS IN 2009 THE ENGINE MISFIRED VIOLENTLY. AT TIMES 35MPH WAS MAX SPEED. CRONIN KIA HAD MY VEHICLE OVER 30 DAYS IN 5 VISITS IN 2009. THEY HAVE REPLACED; TWO CAT. CONVERTERS, THE IGNITION COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS, A LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. PLEASE NOTE THE ERROR CODES FOR VISITS 1 …

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DURING ALL OF THE 5 INCIDENTS IN 2009 THE ENGINE MISFIRED VIOLENTLY. AT TIMES 35MPH WAS MAX SPEED. CRONIN KIA HAD MY VEHICLE OVER 30 DAYS IN 5 VISITS IN 2009. THEY HAVE REPLACED; TWO CAT. CONVERTERS, THE IGNITION COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS, A LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING. PLEASE NOTE THE ERROR CODES FOR VISITS 1 AND 5 (3/17/09 AND 7/14/09); P0300-P0303-P0305-P0273. VISIT NUMBER1 ALSO HAD CODES; P0420-P0430 AND P0170. THE DUPLICATE CODES INDICATE THE PROBLEM AFFECTS "BANK 1 ONLY. CODE P0170 SPELLS OUT THE PROBLEM; "FUEL TRIM MALFUNCTION-BANK 1".THE DESTROYED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE THE RESULT OF THE FUEL TRIM PROBLEM. THE SAME FOR THE LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR. I BELIEVE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE OTHER BANK 1 INJECTORS FAIL. THE FUEL TRIM MUST BE A FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER. I BELIEVE THE "BANK 1 FUEL TRIM MALFUNCTION" AND/OR THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM (ESP) AND/OR THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER ARE THE SOURCE OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ESP; SC-044 - MARCH, 2005. "THE ESP SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKING ACTION AT ONE OF THE WHEELS". "BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH".THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ON MY VEHICLE WERE WORN OUT AT 41,000 MILES. I ASKED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN AN INITIAL LETTER IF THIS WAS PREMATURE. OF COURSE, I RECEIVED NO ANSWER. AFTER THE NUMBER 5 INCIDENT(JULY, 2009) THE ENGINE WOULD STALL EVEN AFTER A LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING WERE REPLACED. IT STALLED LESS THAN A MILE FROM CRONIN AND THREE TIMES THE NEXT DAY. DURING THE NUMBER 5 INCIDENT THE ESP SHUT ITSELF OFF; "ESP OFF" APPEARED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I PASSED THIS INFORMATION TO JEFF WYLER KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS IGNORED. THE FINAL (NUMBER 6) ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM CONSISTED OF A JOY RIDE AFTER WHICH THEY DECLARED; "ALL OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL" THEY CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM AMUSING. THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT KIA! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320360

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

60,000 miles · Feb 18, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HOLD FUEL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE SPEWED BACK OUT FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V212000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HOLD FUEL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE SPEWED BACK OUT FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V212000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10259210

52,903 miles · Oct 16, 2008
Air BagsCrash

ON 10/16/08 AT APPROX. 7:20A I WAS T-BONED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND BACK PASSENGER DOOR BY A FORD F250 RED PICKUP TRUCK AS I WAS TRAVELING UP THE STREET DOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. HE WAS PULLING OUT OF HIS SUBDIVISION ONTO THE STREET AND HIS PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS FOGGED UP SO HE DID NOT SEE ME COMING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245644

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2008
Structure

I HAVE A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE HEADLINER AND SUN VISORS AND THE BACK ARE A CLOTH MATERIAL - THE REST IS LEATHER. THE PROBLEM IS LITTLE TINY BLACK FIBERS ARE COMING THROUGH THE TAN COLORED HEADLINER ETC. THERE FIBERS ARE COMING THROUGH IN ABUNDANCE, LAYING ON THE DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE. IT CAN BE CLEANED ONE DAY AND THE FIBE…

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I HAVE A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE HEADLINER AND SUN VISORS AND THE BACK ARE A CLOTH MATERIAL - THE REST IS LEATHER. THE PROBLEM IS LITTLE TINY BLACK FIBERS ARE COMING THROUGH THE TAN COLORED HEADLINER ETC. THERE FIBERS ARE COMING THROUGH IN ABUNDANCE, LAYING ON THE DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE. IT CAN BE CLEANED ONE DAY AND THE FIBERS ARE THERE AGAIN THE NEXT. THESE FIBERS ARE VERY VERY SMALL. THEY ARE ALSO GETTING ON MY SKIN - THEY ITCH AND STICK TO MY SKIN. THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT THESE FIBERS ARE SO SMALL, AND I KNOW THAT I AM BREATHING THEM IN. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I HAVE CONSULTED THE DEALER AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE MAIN WARRANTY DEPT TO GET BACK TO THEM - IN THE MEAN TIME I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY HEALTH - PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232780

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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