Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Kia Sportage problems
Owners filed 68 complaints about the 2005 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Apr 2005 and Nov 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (12).
Complaints
68
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags12
- Electrical system8
- Structure8
- Suspension7
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Steering5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Seat belts3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Visibility3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
6
4
3
3
5
5
5
6
0
4
5
4
5
2
0
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
12 reports5 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS, INC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.”
Electrical system
8 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND SHE OBSERVED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH HER HANDS AND DISCONNECTED THE WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HE SEPARATED THE WIRES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000.”
Structure
8 reports1 crash
“THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON OUR KIA SPORTAGE AND WHEN WE HAD IT AT THE AUTO MECHANIC, HE TOLD US, THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTY IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE ALARMED TO HEAR THIS CONSIDERING WE USED THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN SOMETIMES AND THOUGHT ABOUT WOULD COULD HAVE HAPPENED. CURRENTLY WE DO NOT EVEN WANT THE CLUTCH REPAIRED AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO CONSIDER EVEN DRIVING IT UNLESS THE FRAME SUB RAILS/FLOOR ARE REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE READ OTHER REVIEWS AND HAVE FOUND SIMILAR ALARMING CONCERNS. KIA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR, CANNOT FIX THE CLUTCH, SO IT IS JUST SITTING AT THE MECHANICS. WHAT DO WE DO, JUST JUNK THE CAR? WHAT A COST INFRINGEMENT. WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER KIA, NOR WILL PEOPLE THAT WE INFORM OF THIS ISSUE. I SHUDDER WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE ADVISE...”
Suspension
7 reports
“My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.”
Fuel system, gasoline
7 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED SMELLING OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V212000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED IN AUGUST 2005 UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE FINE. THE REPAIR WAS NEVER ACTUALLY PERFORMED AND THE VEHICLE HAD 1,040 MILES AT THE TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR UPDATED 06/18/13*LJUPDATED 06/21/2013*JS”
Fuel/propulsion system
6 reports
“MY KIA SPORTAGE.... STALLED IN MID TRAFFIC LIKE IT LOSSES POWER RIGHT AFTER I. PUT GASOLINE IN THE CAR, ALMOST MAKING ME LOOSE CONTROL AND GET IN A WRECK. IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL .AFTER I CONTINUED TO TRY AND REFUEL IT. I NOTICED A RECALL ONLINE ABOUT MY VEHICLE NUT DEALER IS ONLY SAYINH THE RECALL IS ON A FUEL STRAP TI HOLD THE FUEL TANK UP I NEED THIS SAFELY REPAIRED”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.