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2007 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 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

57 reports with mileage · 20 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

13 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2023
Electrical SystemFire

Just bought this vehicle Feb 16 and esc plus engine light came on replaced sensors they didnt go off pulling into drive at home it caught fire and burned totally destroyed panel on front passenger side at headlight near power box.Fire dept came they said it looks electrical and was the 2nd 2007 kia sportage they had put out toda…

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Just bought this vehicle Feb 16 and esc plus engine light came on replaced sensors they didnt go off pulling into drive at home it caught fire and burned totally destroyed panel on front passenger side at headlight near power box.Fire dept came they said it looks electrical and was the 2nd 2007 kia sportage they had put out today.

NHTSA ODI #11514966

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE CONTACTED AND GONE TO DEALERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION. WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AND THERE IS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL NEAR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAVE READ AND PRINTED MANY REPORTS FROM ONLINE COMPLA…

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THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE CONTACTED AND GONE TO DEALERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION. WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AND THERE IS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL NEAR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAVE READ AND PRINTED MANY REPORTS FROM ONLINE COMPLAINTS WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING SAME THING HAPPENS TO THEM. I ALSO HAVE VIDEO THAT I TOOK THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK TO DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE TRYING TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AT A DEALERSHIP BY SPRAYING WATER ON IT DOES NOT HELP. I SHOWED A CO-WORKER THE VIDEO THIS MORNING AND HE SAID FOR ME TO KEEP IT BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP THE LAWSUIT. I REPORTED THIS ORIGINALLY IN 2017 BUT HAS OCCURRED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN. THIS MORNING WAS THE MOST RECENT AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING THIS CAR. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING GETS ADDRESSED???

NHTSA ODI #11115322

124,000 miles · Apr 17, 2018
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A LITTLE OVER 2 WEEKS AGO FOR MY SON AND ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START, IV'E HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY, SAID IT WAS GOOD, SAID THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD ALSO, THEY HAD THE VEHICLE ALL WEEKEND, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE STARTER, PICKED…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A LITTLE OVER 2 WEEKS AGO FOR MY SON AND ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO START, IV'E HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY, SAID IT WAS GOOD, SAID THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD ALSO, THEY HAD THE VEHICLE ALL WEEKEND, THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE STARTER, PICKED THE VEHICLE UP YESTERDAY, MY SON TOOK IT TO SCHOOL TODAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, I TRIED TO JUMP START IT WITH NO LUCK, I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR MY SON TO DRIVE, THEY ARE TRYING TO FIX IT AS WE SPEAK, WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE FOR GETTING MY MONEY BACK FOR THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #11088730

100,000 miles · Sep 12, 2017
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON WET ROAD SURFACES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BATTERY AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB KING KIA (1725 LINK RD, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 (336) 724-3866) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON WET ROAD SURFACES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE BATTERY AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB KING KIA (1725 LINK RD, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103 (336) 724-3866) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11022856

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE CHIEF INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE CHIEF INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10817634

53,023 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

MY SUV WAS IN MOTION AND THE ABS, ESC AND THE DIAGRAM OF THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN LIT UP. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10790084

94,000 miles · Jul 7, 2015
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY SAID THAT IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY TH…

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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER CONNECTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY SAID THAT IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE THE BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT YOU CAN BUY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND UNSAFE!!! HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL WHEN IT IS A MATERIAL DEFECT AND IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE? I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE ISSUE OF THEIR AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON AND LITTLE DO THEY KNOW THAT IT'S LINKED TO THIS WHOLE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I FOUND THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT WHICH IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE SAME MATERIAL DEFECT. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/15/15*JB

NHTSA ODI #10732567

40,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Electrical System

STARTED EXPERIENCING TIMES WHEN I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING THE CAR. NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND TOLD IT EFFECTS BRAKE LIGHTS BUT MAY ALSO EFFECT SHIFTING. PART WAS REPLACED FOR THE 2009 RECALL. IN DECEMBER OF 2014 EXPERIENCED THE SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM, MECHANIC SAID THAT BRAKE LIGHT S…

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STARTED EXPERIENCING TIMES WHEN I COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER STARTING THE CAR. NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND TOLD IT EFFECTS BRAKE LIGHTS BUT MAY ALSO EFFECT SHIFTING. PART WAS REPLACED FOR THE 2009 RECALL. IN DECEMBER OF 2014 EXPERIENCED THE SAME SHIFTING PROBLEM, MECHANIC SAID THAT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I CHECKED KIA'S WEBSITE AND NOTICED A SECOND RECALL FOR THIS PART FROM 2013, BUT KIA SAID THEY ONLY HONOR THE ONE RECALL FROM 2009 SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED AGAIN EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER HAD PUT OUT A SECOND RECALL. IF SECOND RECALL ISSUED AND PROBLEM CAME BACK WHY WOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THE PART?

NHTSA ODI #10720935

54,270 miles · Mar 8, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

I PARKED MY CAR I WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND MY STEERING WAS LOCKED,MY IGNITION WAS LOCKED AND MY SHIFTER WAS LOCKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692769

80,000 miles · May 10, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF STANDING WATER, THE 'SPLASH' OF WATER THAT ENTERED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE 'CHARGING' WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, THE ENGINE TO STALL, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAD NEVER OCCURRED IN ALL MY PREVIOUS YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, BUT HAS RECURRED MUL…

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WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF STANDING WATER, THE 'SPLASH' OF WATER THAT ENTERED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE 'CHARGING' WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, THE ENGINE TO STALL, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO BOTH STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAD NEVER OCCURRED IN ALL MY PREVIOUS YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, BUT HAS RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. I HAD VEHICLE SERVICED THIS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS 'NORMAL' AND RELATED TO THE ALTERNATOR ON THE VEHICLE BEING MOUNTED 'LOW TO THE GROUND'. WELL, THE ALTERNATOR POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED, AND I HAD DRIVEN THROUGH PUDDLES MANY TIMES OVER THE PREVIOUS SIX YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW OR A DEALERSHIP THAT SIMPLY WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, BUT LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING ASSIST COMPROMISES SAFE OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511361

Official recalls

2

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 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 & remedy

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.

09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 17, 2009

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER 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