1997 Kia Sportage — Model Year Report: verdict, complaints & recalls

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

1997: 181 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1995	56
1996	57
1997	181
1998	303
1999	284
2000	304
2001	228
2002	234
2003	4
2005	68
2006	111
2007	77
2008	98
2009	80
2010	20
2011	181
2012	392
2013	380
2014	122
2015	146
2016	130
2017	394
2018	158
2019	68
2020	153
2021	46
2022	42
2023	182
2024	64
2025	49
2026	19

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 22%

22% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 39 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

AIR BAGS 12%

12% of complaints: air bags — 21 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER VISITED THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.*AK *NM

NHTSA ODI report, 20040707

COMING TO A STOP SIGN, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CLUTCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, LOST CONTROL, ENDED UP HITTING 3 TREES AND THEN A HOUSE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19971215

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT HIT, AND THAT IS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19971126

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%

11% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 20 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

COMING TO A STOP SIGN, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CLUTCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, LOST CONTROL, ENDED UP HITTING 3 TREES AND THEN A HOUSE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 19971215

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN APPROXIMATELY AT 55MPH ENGINE WILL STALL. SLOW DOWN AND STOP WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20140502

AIR BAGS 8%

8% of complaints: air bags — 14 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130723

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20040412

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE OCCUPIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI report, 20181016

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%

5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 9 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1997 — complaint volume: 181

R 19971215 — latches/locks/linkages

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.

Campaign 97V234000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990630 — SQ (closed 20000202)

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON

R 20000125 — electrical system

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.

Campaign 99V325000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20020617 — PE (closed 20020920)

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION

I 20021018 — RQ (closed 20030902)

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

R 20021220 — seat belts

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD

Campaign 02V216000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060509 — EA (closed 20071130)

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1997 Kia Sportage — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (39 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for air bags issues (21 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (20 reports on file for this year).
Verify recall 97V234000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
Verify recall 99V325000 (electrical system) has been completed.
Verify recall 02V216000 (seat belts) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

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WORST YEARS

■ 2017 ■ 2012 ■ 2013

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FAQ

Is the 1997 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Kia Sportage is rated "worse than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Kia Sportage?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1997 Kia Sportage have?

3 recalls on file for this model year.