Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Kia Sportage problems

Owners filed 98 complaints about the 2008 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Aug 2008 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (27).

Complaints
98
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
24
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system27
  2. Engine17
  3. Service brakes15
  4. Structure13
  5. Power train12
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)9
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  8. Exterior lighting7
  9. Engine and engine cooling5
  10. Air bags5
  11. Tires4
  12. Suspension2
  13. Latches/locks/linkages2
  14. Visibility2

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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20085
20096
20104
20113
20122
20138
20148
20157
201613
20179
20186
20194
20206
20213
20222
20237
20245

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

27 reports14 fires1 related recall
“Smoke was pouring out from the passenger front side of the motor compartment. The fuses for the ABS (I think) were taken out so it would stop. I was a told a control module could have something to do with it.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2022Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesFire reportedODI 11453298

Engine

17 reports7 fires
“The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was shuddering. Additionally, the contact stated while driving on another occasion, the vehicle experienced brake failure, which nearly led to a crash. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact decided to total the vehicle. The vehicle was totaled. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2024Service brakes, hydraulic, EngineODI 11596177

Service brakes

15 reports3 fires
“WHILE DRIVING AT A CONTINUOUS SPEED OF 55MPH ON THE MAIN ROAD, THE ESC LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON AND THE CAR JOLTED INTO 1ST GEAR. I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT AND IT WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. SINCE THEN, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11322464

Structure

13 reports7 fires
“I bought my car July 27,2022 from Rt 119 Auto Sales and service. It came with a drive train warrenty. Nothing was said to me of a problem until I took it to get inspected then I found out my frame is rotted out on both sides.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2023StructureODI 11503388

Power train

12 reports1 fire
“WHILE DRIVING RPMS WOULD JUMP. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OR GET IT REBUILT. REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. RPM'S STILL JUMP WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST AS IF I'M PUSHING THE GAS DOWN HARD THEN LETTING OFF. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE, IVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE THE CRUISE CONTROL OR POSSIBLY SHIFT SOLENOID. VEHICLE STALLS/JUMPS WHILE IN MOTION, HAPPENS ON INTERSTATE AS WELL AS CITY STREETS AND BACK ROADS. SEEMS TO JERK MORE AROUND 40MPH AND 80MPH BUT HAS DONE IT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AS WELL. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS WELL AS FILTERS, ALL FLUIDS LOOK GOOD. UNSURE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2020Power train, Unknown or otherODI 11326719

Electronic stability control (esc)

9 reports
“The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "ESC Off" was displayed and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to several independent mechanics; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2024Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11611194
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.