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2008 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 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

64 reports with mileage · 34 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports24 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2022
Electrical SystemPower TrainService BrakesFire

Smoke was pouring out from the passenger front side of the motor compartment. The fuses for the ABS (I think) were taken out so it would stop. I was a told a control module could have something to do with it.

NHTSA ODI #11453298

159,000 miles · Jun 1, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING RPMS WOULD JUMP. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR GET IT REBUILT. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. RPM'S STILL JUMP WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST AS IF I'M PUSHING THE GAS DOWN HARD THEN LETTING OFF. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE, IVE BEEN TOLD I…

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WHILE DRIVING RPMS WOULD JUMP. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR GET IT REBUILT. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. RPM'S STILL JUMP WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST AS IF I'M PUSHING THE GAS DOWN HARD THEN LETTING OFF. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE, IVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE THE CRUISE CONTROL OR POSSIBLY SHIFT SOLENOID. VEHICLE STALLS/JUMPS WHILE IN MOTION, HAPPENS ON INTERSTATE AS WELL AS CITY STREETS AND BACK ROADS. SEEMS TO JERK MORE AROUND 40MPH AND 80MPH BUT HAS DONE IT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AS WELL. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS WELL AS FILTERS, ALL FLUIDS LOOK GOOD. UNSURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11326719

17,500 miles · Jan 24, 2017
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

MY FAULTY 2008 KIA SPORTAGE STRIKES AGAIN. THE LAST 2 MAJOR INCIDENCES WITH MY KIA ARE DOCUMENTED IN MY NHTSA COMPLAINT (10621705) OCCURRED ON AUG 2013 -W/11K MILES( TRANSMISSION & ELECTRICAL) AND W/12K MILES -AUGUST 2014 ( ALTERNATOR &ABS PUMP). IT'S NOW JANUARY 2017 - CAR HAS 17.5K TOTAL MILES AND I NEEDED TO TOW MY KIA SPORT…

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MY FAULTY 2008 KIA SPORTAGE STRIKES AGAIN. THE LAST 2 MAJOR INCIDENCES WITH MY KIA ARE DOCUMENTED IN MY NHTSA COMPLAINT (10621705) OCCURRED ON AUG 2013 -W/11K MILES( TRANSMISSION & ELECTRICAL) AND W/12K MILES -AUGUST 2014 ( ALTERNATOR &ABS PUMP). IT'S NOW JANUARY 2017 - CAR HAS 17.5K TOTAL MILES AND I NEEDED TO TOW MY KIA SPORTAGE 2008 TO A SERVICE CENTER AFTER THE CAR STALLED ON A MAJOR ROAD WITH 2 OF MY KIDS IN THE CAR. THE CAR IS BEHAVING SIMILARLY TO HOW IT BEHAVED IN 2013 ' ENGINE KNOCKS AS IT SHIFTS INTO GEARS EVENTUALLY STALLING. IN 2013 ' KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AS I STATED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR SINCE IT NOW APPEARS I HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AGAIN 6K MILES LATER SINCE THE LAST INCIDENT . JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT MY KIA NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION ! 3 TRANSMISSIONS IN 17,000 MILES ' JUST DOESN'T ADD UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10947468

110,000 miles · Feb 22, 2016
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

KIA IS RIPPING PEOPLE OFF TO THE TUNE OF $1,700 TO $1,800 FOR THEIR FAULTY ABS BRAKE CONTROLLERS PLUS LABOR. IT IS A WIDELY KNOW PROBLEM THAT BRAKE FLUID SEEPS OUT OF THE BACK OF THIS UNIT ONTO THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND CAUSES A VARIETY OF SAFETY AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ESC TR…

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KIA IS RIPPING PEOPLE OFF TO THE TUNE OF $1,700 TO $1,800 FOR THEIR FAULTY ABS BRAKE CONTROLLERS PLUS LABOR. IT IS A WIDELY KNOW PROBLEM THAT BRAKE FLUID SEEPS OUT OF THE BACK OF THIS UNIT ONTO THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND CAUSES A VARIETY OF SAFETY AND MECHANICAL ISSUES. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ESC TRACTION LIGHT COMING ON, FOLLOWED BY A FLASHING 4X4 LIGHT AND THEN FINALLY A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT THEN SLAMS ITSELF INTO FIRST GEAR GOING DOWN THE ROAD! YES, YOU HEARD THAT CORRECTLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY. KIA, YOU HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE! I REPLACED THE UNIT WITH A USED ONE FOR $350 PLUS INSTALLATION AND NOW IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM A YEAR AND A HALF LATER. THERE WERE TWO POSSIBLE CONTROLLER UNITS FOR THE 2008 SPORTAGE AND THEY LOOK IDENTICAL BUT ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. THE OTHER ONE I CAN PURCHASE NEW, DIRECT FROM SOUTH KOREA AS AN OEM PART IN A KIA/HYUNDAI BOX FOR AROUND $500. BUT NOT THIS ONE, THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AS THIS CAN UNEXPECTEDLY PULL YOU DOWN TO A CRAWL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THEY ALSO HAVE KEPT THE PRICE EXTREMELY HIGH ON THIS UNIT TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS ON A SAFETY ITEM THEY REFUSE TO FIX. I'M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER USED UNIT AND THEN I'LL DUMP THIS LEMON.

NHTSA ODI #10837581

88,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN MY ESC LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . I JUST GOT THE CAR INSPECTED AND IT PASSED FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY SAID AN OIL SENSOR WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THAT. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO GEARS. IT WAS JUMPING …

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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN MY ESC LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . I JUST GOT THE CAR INSPECTED AND IT PASSED FINE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY SAID AN OIL SENSOR WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THAT. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS WENT ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO GEARS. IT WAS JUMPING AND ACCELERATING INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAD 4 TRANSMISSION CODES. THEY SAID THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO ALSO BE REPLACED WHICH THE PART ALONE WAS OVER $2000.00. THIS CAR ONLY HAD 88,000 MILES. I DROVE THE CAR TO MCCAFFERTY FORD WHERE THEY ADVISED ME TO NOT FIX VEHICLE THE COST WAS FAR MORE THAN WHAT I WOULD GET AS A TRADE. IT NEEDED A NEW ABS BOX WHICH ALONE WAS OVER 2000 WITHOUT LABOR. IT NEEDED A TIMING CHAIN 600 AND SOME MAINTANCE STUFF 700. THIS CAR NEVER NEEDED ANYTING BUT TIRES, BRAKES, OIL CHANGES ETC. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AT 88, 000 ALL THIS COULD GO WRONG UNLESS THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ABS OR TRANSMISSION. AFTER LOOKING THIS UP I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND CONCERN. I TRADED IN VEHICLE AND WAS ONLY GIVE 500 AS A TRADE.

NHTSA ODI #10836822

10,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
EnginePower Train

I AM AN OWNER OF A KIA 2008 SPORTAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES. ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, THE ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN YOU WOULD GO PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE ETC... THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ALL NEW…

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I AM AN OWNER OF A KIA 2008 SPORTAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES. ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, THE ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS WENT ON. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT CAR HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE KNOCKING WHEN YOU WOULD GO PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE ETC... THE DEALERSHIP SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ALL NEW BRAKES. THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY ON A CAR THAT HAD AT THE TIME LESS THAN 11,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR A MONTH BECAUSE THEY LEARNED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED REPAIRING AS WELL WHICH WASN'T COVERED UNDER MY PLAN THEY NEEDED CORPORATE TO PROVIDE AN APPROVAL TO REPAIR. IT EVENTUALLY GOT REPAIRED. 3 WEEKS AGO AT 12K MILES, MY DRIVERS PANEL TURNED INTO A CHRISTMAS TREE. THE ESC ON/OFF, ABS, BRAKES, ENGINE AND TPMS LIGHTS ARE ALL ON. I ALSO FEEL THE ENGINE BEGINNING TO KNOCK AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID I NEED A NEW ABS PUMP AND MODULE AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $2700 TO FIX. I DECIDED NOT TO REPAIR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEIR SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL DESIGN FLAW CAUSING THESE ISSUE. I HAVE READ THAT ABS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON FOR KAI SPORTAGE OWNERS - I HAVE READ THAT ENGINE FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THESE CARS. I FEEL UNSAFE FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND I AM LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON HOW BEST TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. KIA REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621705

17,901 miles · Apr 6, 2012
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY SHARP AND ROUGH FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, APPROXIMATELY AT 25 MPH. ON 17 MAR 11, THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED A COMPUTER CHIP FOR THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN TSB ENG 075--ECM UPGRADE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS, BUT THEN SAME PROBLEM STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGH…

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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY SHARP AND ROUGH FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, APPROXIMATELY AT 25 MPH. ON 17 MAR 11, THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED A COMPUTER CHIP FOR THE TRANSMISSION UNDER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN TSB ENG 075--ECM UPGRADE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS, BUT THEN SAME PROBLEM STARTED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 2012, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN, AND A NEW ONE PROVIDED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD TO STAND BY AND THEY WILL CALL WHEN IT IS READY. I CALLED ONCE A WEEK FOR A MONTH TO INQUIRE, AS I RECEIVED NO CALLS, BEING TOLD THAT THE APPROVAL PROCESS WAS UNDERWAY. TODAY, 06 APR 12, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CHIP NEEDED TO BE RE-PROGRAMMED AGAIN. IT DIDN'T WORK BEFORE, WHY WOULD IT WORK NOW? I JUST WANT MY CAR PROPERLY FIXED, AND THE DEALER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WILLING TO DO IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454382

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

I PURCHASED A KIA SPORTAGE 2008 AUG OF 2010 ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED THE ESC LIGHT THAT CAME ON, WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON THE ENGINE FORCES ITSELF TO DO MORE WORK, THE CAR WON'T GO MORE THEN 40MPH, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, 2 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, HERE WE ARE 1YR LATER AND IT'…

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I PURCHASED A KIA SPORTAGE 2008 AUG OF 2010 ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING I NOTICED THE ESC LIGHT THAT CAME ON, WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON THE ENGINE FORCES ITSELF TO DO MORE WORK, THE CAR WON'T GO MORE THEN 40MPH, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, 2 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, HERE WE ARE 1YR LATER AND IT'S STILL HAPPENING. THE DEALER I TAKE IT TO TELLS ME "THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS THIS TYPE OF CAR" AND KNOW THE BATTERY LIGHT IS COMING ON AT THE SAME TIME THE ECS LIGHT IS COMING ON. I HAVE AN APPT. TO GO TO THE DEALER BACK ON MONDAY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND I'M STILL GETTING NO ANSWERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451747

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AFTER IT HAS A CHANCE TO WARM UP. THIS OCCURS FROM EITHER A STAND-STILL OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN ROLLING AND SHIFTS TO A HIGHER GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER ISSUES OF THIS TYPE, BUT I HAD ANOTHER KIA IN THE PAST AND THE SAME THING OCCU…

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TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AFTER IT HAS A CHANCE TO WARM UP. THIS OCCURS FROM EITHER A STAND-STILL OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN ROLLING AND SHIFTS TO A HIGHER GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER ISSUES OF THIS TYPE, BUT I HAD ANOTHER KIA IN THE PAST AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO WHAT MAY BE CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION OR NOT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411739

24,900 miles · May 15, 2010
Power Train

ACCELERATED AFTER A STOP SIGN AND THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT AS STRUGGLING TO SWITCH GEARS. LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330574

Official recalls

3

22V800000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Oct 24, 2022

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and other vehicles until the recall repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the HECU, its wiring harness, and its fuses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC253.

16V815000 · Electrical System:wiring

Nov 10, 2016

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and the connector cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 28, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC138.

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.

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

1

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

Go deeper into Kia Sportage problems