AFTER BEING STUCK IN A SNOW STORM CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, EVENTHOUGH THE SYSTEM WAS ENGAGED IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT
Kia Sportage transmission problems
137 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.
General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.
6 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports
Reports by model year
YearTopic reportsRecallsInvestigations
20151
2220083
3120061
1020051
30200210
14200110
02200018
26199930
38199839
36199715
3419967
3219952
21Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 22 of 137 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 owners actually said
137 reportsWHILE TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS, GEARS STICK IN BETWEEN SHIFTING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS AIR LEAKS & AT HIGH SPEEDS THE WIND IS ANNOYING. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS INTO PLACE AS SOON AS THE PASSENGER CLAMPS INTO PLACE. ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO PRESS BRAKE PEDDLE FOR IT TO TIGHTEN AROUND PERSON. WHEN DRIVING AND PARTICULARLY ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT THE GEAR LINKAGE DISENGAGES A…
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FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS AIR LEAKS & AT HIGH SPEEDS THE WIND IS ANNOYING. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS INTO PLACE AS SOON AS THE PASSENGER CLAMPS INTO PLACE. ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO PRESS BRAKE PEDDLE FOR IT TO TIGHTEN AROUND PERSON. WHEN DRIVING AND PARTICULARLY ENGAGING THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT THE GEAR LINKAGE DISENGAGES AND THE GEARS CAN'T BE LOCATED ESPECIALLY IN SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH GEARS AND BECAUSE OF SUCH HAS ALMOST CAUSED THREE CRASHES. WE HAD THIS CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM. I BEG TO DIFFER BECAUSE I DRIVE THAT CAR EVERY DAY AND I'VE DRIVEN MANY MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSIONS CARS AND I BELIEVE THAT AFTER DRIVING FOR SOMETIME (I.E., ONE TO TWO HOURS) THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP AND CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SELECTION.
SHIFT-0N-THE-FLY IS HARD TO SHIFT. TAKES ALL 150 POUNDS OF ME AT TIMES TO PULL IT BACK. DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. "ON SNOW COVERED ROAD IT GOES BETTER IN 2WD. UPON SHIFTING INTO 4HI OR 4LOW REAR END COMES OUT WITH ANY GAS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY KIA. KIA NEEDS TO GET ON THE BALL AND TAKE A NOTE OF WHAT THE…
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SHIFT-0N-THE-FLY IS HARD TO SHIFT. TAKES ALL 150 POUNDS OF ME AT TIMES TO PULL IT BACK. DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. "ON SNOW COVERED ROAD IT GOES BETTER IN 2WD. UPON SHIFTING INTO 4HI OR 4LOW REAR END COMES OUT WITH ANY GAS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY KIA. KIA NEEDS TO GET ON THE BALL AND TAKE A NOTE OF WHAT THEY ARE PRODUCING.
BACK HATCH LOOSE CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION AND THEFT ALARM SYSTEM TO FAIL, SINCE PURCHASE.
THIS VEHICLE IS GARBAGE - BOTH FRONT WINDOW MOTORS-REPLACED. TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND IS NOW ACTING UP AGAIN. REAR-END REPLACED, ACTING UP, ENGINE SQUEALS, DEALER CAN'T HEAR IT, BURNING ANTI-FREEZE SMELL UPON WARMUP, TEMP GAUGE GOES CRAZY, IN 4WD VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO TURN, ONLY WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT, MAKINGS HARD "CLUNKING…
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THIS VEHICLE IS GARBAGE - BOTH FRONT WINDOW MOTORS-REPLACED. TRANSMISSION REPLACED, AND IS NOW ACTING UP AGAIN. REAR-END REPLACED, ACTING UP, ENGINE SQUEALS, DEALER CAN'T HEAR IT, BURNING ANTI-FREEZE SMELL UPON WARMUP, TEMP GAUGE GOES CRAZY, IN 4WD VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO TURN, ONLY WANTS TO GO STRAIGHT, MAKINGS HARD "CLUNKING" NOISE IF YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN. THE YUGO WAS A BETTER VEHICLE! *AK
WAS TOLD ABLE TO SHIFT INTO 4-D UP TO SPEEDS OF 50MPH. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO/ INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON LONG AFTER SHIFTED OUT OF 4-WD. *AK
TRANSMISSION COULD SWITCH TO REVERSE BY ITSELF ON LOW TEMPERTURE OR COLD WEATHER AND THE TIRES MOVE SIDE BY SIDE. *AK
EVENTHOUGH THE 4- WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, IT IS NOT ENGAGING IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE COLD WEATHER CAUSES THE SEALS IN THE VACUMM TO SHRINK. THE MANUFACTURE/DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROLBEM. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. VEHICLE SURGES AND BUCKS. A HOLD LIGHT IS FLASHING WHICH MEANS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
Related Official recalls
0No component-matched recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Related NHTSA investigations
0No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.