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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

Service Brakes complaints

15 reports
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55,303 miles · Apr 22, 2015
Service Brakes

I PURCHASED MY 2008 KIA SPORTAGE BRAND NEW, I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. CURRENTLY I HAVE 55,000 MILES ON IT, LAST WEEK THE ABS, PARKING BRAKE AND ESC LIGHTS CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST $90.00. I WAS TOLD THE HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, EST COST OF $2,311.25 AND THAT MY…

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I PURCHASED MY 2008 KIA SPORTAGE BRAND NEW, I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. CURRENTLY I HAVE 55,000 MILES ON IT, LAST WEEK THE ABS, PARKING BRAKE AND ESC LIGHTS CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST $90.00. I WAS TOLD THE HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, EST COST OF $2,311.25 AND THAT MY CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL. THEREFORE MY CONCERN IS SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL ITEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712130

93,000 miles · Sep 14, 2014
Service BrakesFire

MY SISTER IN LAW'S 08 KIA SPORTAGE EX HAD ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, THE CODE SHOWED P0501 WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION. I REPLACED RT FRT SENSOR AND STILL SAME CODE. TOOK IT TO LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SAID SOMETHING IS SHORTED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T READ ALL THE LIGHTS ON. I CHECKED SOME FUSES BUT FOUND NONE BLOWN. IT SEEME…

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MY SISTER IN LAW'S 08 KIA SPORTAGE EX HAD ALL THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, THE CODE SHOWED P0501 WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION. I REPLACED RT FRT SENSOR AND STILL SAME CODE. TOOK IT TO LOCAL SHOP AND THEY SAID SOMETHING IS SHORTED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T READ ALL THE LIGHTS ON. I CHECKED SOME FUSES BUT FOUND NONE BLOWN. IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE A LITTLE WEAK AND I DROVE IT FOR A TEST AND NOTICED IT WAS PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT, THEN IT STARTED TO PULSE AS IF THE ABS WAS STUCK ON. I TURNED FOR HOME AND PARKED IT. NEXT DAY WENT TO TRY IT AGAIN AND IT WAS DEAD, I CHARGED BATTERY, THE DOOR LOCKS WERE CLICKING ON/OFF AND HORN BLOWING. I UNHOOKED BATTERY TERMINALS TO CHARGE BATTERY AND WHEN IT WAS FULLY CHARGED I HOOKED IT UP AND THE ABS MODULE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR WAS RUNNING AND GETTING HOT. LIKE SOME ONE ELSE ON THIS SITE, I'M SURE IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE BUT I PULLED THE BATTERY CABLES. AFTER LOOKING INTO PURCHASING THE MODULE I REALIZE WHY KIA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART, PRICE IS AROUND $1000 TO $1800 FOR THIS ABS MODULE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE YOU ARE DEALING WITH BRAKES AND ALSO AUTO FIRES. KIA NEEDS TO STEP IT UP AND RECALL THIS ISSUE. I HOPE OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ALSO PUT IN A COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632998

45,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Service Brakes

I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING SQUEAL/GRIND IN THE REAR LEFT. THEY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS BRAKES AND I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR BRAKES WHICH I CHALLENGED GIVEN ONLY 45000 MILES. I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE AND OF COURSE CANT FIND A THING. I BELIEVE ITS THE CV JOINT OR AXLE. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR CANT BE T…

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I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING SQUEAL/GRIND IN THE REAR LEFT. THEY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS BRAKES AND I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR BRAKES WHICH I CHALLENGED GIVEN ONLY 45000 MILES. I STILL HAVE THE ISSUE AND OF COURSE CANT FIND A THING. I BELIEVE ITS THE CV JOINT OR AXLE. WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR CANT BE THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO POST THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566310

147,500 miles · May 14, 2013
Electrical SystemService BrakesFire

I WAS IN THE CAR, PARKED IN A WENDYS PARKING LOT, ENGINE OFF, RADIO ON. THERE WAS A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY SMOKE, A GENTLEMAN IN A TRUCK 3 SPACES AWAY HEARD IT AND SAW IT. WE GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING, I OPENED THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SEE FLAMES ABOUT 2 INCHES HIGH AROUND THE BOX MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE C…

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I WAS IN THE CAR, PARKED IN A WENDYS PARKING LOT, ENGINE OFF, RADIO ON. THERE WAS A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY SMOKE, A GENTLEMAN IN A TRUCK 3 SPACES AWAY HEARD IT AND SAW IT. WE GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING, I OPENED THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SEE FLAMES ABOUT 2 INCHES HIGH AROUND THE BOX MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UP NEAR THE HEADLIGHTS AND OVER THE WHEEL WELL. WE SHUT IT AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT COULD MELT DID MELT, ALL THE PAINT ON THE HOOD ETC, PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR SHUT WITHOUT NOISE AND AN EXTRA PUSH OR PULL. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE LITTLE BLACK BOX WAS THE ABS CONTROLLER. JUST LUCKY THAT I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511940

28,200 miles · Apr 22, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

APPROXIMATELY, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN 01/2013, "ESC OFF," LIGHT CAME ON MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING VEHICLE START UP. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO PLACE OF PURCHASE REGARDING INTERMITTENT, "ESC OFF," LIGHT. PRESSING " ESC OFF," DASH BUTTON HAS NO EFFECT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER OF PURCHASE TOOK VEH…

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APPROXIMATELY, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN 01/2013, "ESC OFF," LIGHT CAME ON MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING VEHICLE START UP. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO PLACE OF PURCHASE REGARDING INTERMITTENT, "ESC OFF," LIGHT. PRESSING " ESC OFF," DASH BUTTON HAS NO EFFECT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER OF PURCHASE TOOK VEHICLE TO KIA SERVICE AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS TPMS LIGHT IS ON, ADVISE. AT NO TIME DID THE TPMS LIGHT EVER COME ON, NOR WAS IT REPORTED AS SUCH. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED WITH NO WORK DONE, AND PLACE OF PURCHASE WAS INFORMED THAT TIRE(S) WERE LOW. CURRENTLY, THE "ESC OFF," LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATING AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. TIRE PRESSURE CHECK BY RECENT SERVICE (OIL CHANGE) WAS REPORTED AS NORMAL. ACCORDING TO KIA CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP OF SERVICE, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ISSUED 01 APRIL, 2013. PURCHASE MILEAGE 27,476, MILEAGE AT KIA SERVICE 30,328 ON 21 FEB, 2013. SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS INCLUDING KIA-FORUMS.COM REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS FAR BACK AS 2007 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509076

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