2005 Kia Sportage recalls and problems

The 2005 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls and 68 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is fuel system.

How the 2005 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 26 Sportage model years — 20th most.

3recalls

68complaints

6crashes

2fires

5injuries

78,600median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Parking Brake

Jul 8, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V318000 · 3,672 vehicles

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the parking brake lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and my damage the teeth of the parking brake lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth May prevent the parking brake from engaging or May allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.

Risk: The inability to engage, or the inadvertent release of, the parking brake lever May allow your vehicle to roll while it is parked and May result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE, OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the parking brake lever assembly. The recall began on August 1, 2005. Owners May contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia recall no. Sc-050.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Fuel System

May 3, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V212000 · 10,360 vehicles

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, fuel May leak from the o-ring into the internal vapor chamber located in the fuel tank at full tank conditions.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE O-RING INTO THE INTERNAL VAPOR CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AT FULL TANK CONDITIONS.

Risk: The engine May stall when coming to a stop. It will be hard to fill the gas tank and external fuel May leak from the evaporative air filter inlet. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND EXTERNAL FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE AIR FILTER INLET. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank and replace the charcoal canister free of charge. The recall began on May 31, 2005. Owners May contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia recall no. Sc-048.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Electronic Stability Control

Mar 29, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V120000 · 7,619 vehicles

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability program (esp), the yaw rate sensor May become too sensitive and May recalibrate inaccurately. While driving the esp program May cause the engine to reduce power and May cause a brake at one of the wheels to be inappropriately.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.

Risk: Brake application caused by inadvertent esp activation May result in loss of control and a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reprogram the esp hydraulic electronic control unit free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2005. Owners May contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Kia recall no. Sc-044.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Unknown or other7

Electronic Stability Control4

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2005 vs. other Kia Sportage years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2005. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2005 Kia Sportage have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Kia Sportage, the latest from Jul 8, 2005 (parking brake). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Kia Sportage?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention fuel system (14), air bags (12), electrical system (8). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.