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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

98 reports
100,000 miles · Jan 18, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT BANGED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT THEN FADED OUT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT BANGED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT THEN FADED OUT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10946182

48,809 miles · Jan 13, 2017
Electrical System

WENT TO KIA OF CHEYENNE ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT DATE FOR RECALL NOTICE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK BACK IN A WEEK. WHEN I CALLED TO CHECK ON REPAIR DATE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM NEBRASKA I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND TO CHECK BACK ON THE 31ST OF JANUARY. MY VEHICLE IS NOT S…

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WENT TO KIA OF CHEYENNE ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT DATE FOR RECALL NOTICE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK BACK IN A WEEK. WHEN I CALLED TO CHECK ON REPAIR DATE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM NEBRASKA I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND TO CHECK BACK ON THE 31ST OF JANUARY. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD AND NO ABS BRAKES DUE TO THE SEAL OF HECU BEING BAD. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 2013, THEY REFUSED TO FIX BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10945119

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2016
Electrical System

2008 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

NHTSA ODI #10938188

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10936577

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2016
Air Bags

AIR BAG SING ON.I TALK TO KIA SERVICES THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY $129 FOR JUST CHECK UP.MY CAR MILLEGE ONLY 80K.I FEEL NOT COMFORTABLE AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #10935311

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2016
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START AFTER MORE THAN TWO ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START AFTER MORE THAN TWO ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE AND FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI #10934623

79,000 miles · Nov 8, 2016
Service Brakes

I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE BRAKES WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND NO BRAKES. THE GARAGE SAID THAT IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE ABS BOX AND SHORTED IT OUT. THEY WANTED 3100.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DONT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. PLEASE HELP BY GETTING KIA TO DO A RECALL. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS OK.…

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I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE BRAKES WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND NO BRAKES. THE GARAGE SAID THAT IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM. THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE ABS BOX AND SHORTED IT OUT. THEY WANTED 3100.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DONT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. PLEASE HELP BY GETTING KIA TO DO A RECALL. MY HUSBAND AND I WAS OK. PLEASE HELP BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE. I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I TRIED TALKING TO KIA HEADQUARTERS THEY WERE NO HELP.

NHTSA ODI #10924967

78,000 miles · Sep 25, 2016
Unknown Or OtherCrash

LAST MARCH, I WAS TRYING TO STOP TO AVOID REAR ENDING A VEHICLE TURNING LEFT INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. I WAS DOING LESS THAN 25MPH WHEN I SAW HER BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP SAFELY. HOWEVER, AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE THE ESC, BRAKE WARNING AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND…

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LAST MARCH, I WAS TRYING TO STOP TO AVOID REAR ENDING A VEHICLE TURNING LEFT INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. I WAS DOING LESS THAN 25MPH WHEN I SAW HER BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP SAFELY. HOWEVER, AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE THE ESC, BRAKE WARNING AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED HARDER AND HARDER UNTIL THE PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. AT THIS POINT THEY LOCKED UP PREVENTING ME FROM STEERING AWAY FROM THE CAR THAT I THEN HIT. AFTER THE COLLISION REPAIRS, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THE ABS COMPUTER FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKING FAILURE. HE SUGGESTED TAKING IT TO KIA. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS COMPUTER MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME MY CAR ONLY HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE ABS MODULE TO FAIL WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MOSTLY HIGHWAY (NO BRAKING NECESSARY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE DRIVE) MILES ON THE CAR. THE IS, OBVIOUSLY, A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY WANT $2,500 TO REPAIR AN ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE REPLACED QUITE A FEW OF THESE MODULES BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE A SEATBELT/AIRBAG SENSOR DINGING ALL THE TIME SO THAT'S ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY RESTRAINT SYSTEM!

NHTSA ODI #10909534

98,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE CAR IS RUNNING .

NHTSA ODI #10884427

154,000 miles · Jun 27, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ODI #10876860

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