10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
17 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
16 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,381 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Kia Sportage seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Kia Sportage Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Oct 232004

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air bags deployed while the consumer was sitting in a parking lot. The manufacturer stated they needed to inspect the vehicle, however no assistance with the towing would be provided. The vehicle was in the park position when the failure occurred.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #20

Jun 032004

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles
Consumer was driving when the driver's airbags deployed vehicle was towed to the dealer. Manufacturer was supposed to inspect the vehicle. However they never came to inspect. Manufacturer offered to replace the deductible.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #19

Jun 222004

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
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.

- Andalusia, AL, USA

problem #18

Oct 282001

Sportage

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving 10-20 mph applied on brakes and without warning brakes did not function. Consumer then tried to shift vehicle manually; however, transmission malfunctioned, resulting in a head-on collision. Driver sustained major leg injuries. Consumer adds that the accelerator was stuck. The air bags failed to deploy.

- Ridgeway, VA, USA

problem #17

Oct 282001

Sportage 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving at 10-15 mph applied brakes and without warning, brakes did not function, driver had to run a red light, resulting in a head on collision, driver sustained major leg injuries. Consumer states that the airbag failed. Consumer also states that the accelerator and transmission stuck.

- Ridgeway, VA, USA

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problem #16

Oct 282001

Sportage

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving 10-15 mph and without warning, was involved in a head-on collision in which the air bags did not deploy, driver sustained major injuries. The transmission jammed and the accelerator stuck.

- Ridgeway, VA, USA

problem #15

Oct 282001

Sportage 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving at 10-15 mph, front of the vehicle was hit and none of the air bags deployed. Contacted dealer. Consumer adds the brakes failed. The transmission failed. Experiencing problems with the accelerator.

- Ridgeway, VA, USA

problem #14

Feb 012001

Sportage

  • miles
Air bag light on the instrument panel would come on intermittently. Dealership could not reproduce problem. Recently, the air bag light would stay on and would not go off. Dealership has again examined vehicle, and informed consumer that warranty expired, and was not covered under any recall. No reason was given as to component causing air bag light to come on. Please provide any additional information / attachments.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #13

Mar 132001

Sportage

  • miles
Consumer was involved in head on collision while traveling at approximately 35 mph. Driver's airbag failed to deploy. Please provide any additional informatinon/attachments.

- Hagerstown, MD, USA

problem #12

Jul 042000

Sportage

  • miles
Consumer hit another vehicle with 55 mph impact, and dual airbags did not deploy, causing driver to hit steering wheel and passenger to hit dashboard. Seatbelts were not worn at time.

- Tallassee, TN, USA

problem #11

Oct 211999

Sportage 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving at about 20-25 mph consumer was hit from drivers side which caused vehicle to contiunously flipover, resulting in some injuries to head and body. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Did not contact dealer or manufacturer.

- Elmont, NY, USA

problem #10

Aug 072000

Sportage

  • miles
I was concerned that my airbag had not deployed during my accident on August 7th. Since I suffered a front end collision, I wondered why it had not. I contacted Kia and after being put off for about 5 days, they finally instructed me to contact my insurance company to have them report the problem to Kia. State farm indicated that since the air bag was not deployed, it was not a part that had to be repaired. State farm indicated that their adjusters had no way of knowing why a part built by Kia was not working at that it was Kia's responsibility. Finally getting the car back from it's second trip to be repaired from the accident (another story all together), I took it in to central Kia in plano, tx and was told that it had a defective module which they would repair for $892 plus labor. When I inquired as to why I would be charged for the repair of this "defective" part, I was told that the car has 54,000 miles on it and that the repair of the airbag is covered only by warranty up to 36,000 miles. Unfortunately, the only way I found out that the part did not work was because I was in an accident. I was wondering if I have any ground to stand on in thinking that it is Kia's responsibility to fix the problem. All I can think is what would have happened if I hadn't seen the collision coming. The airbag that I paid for when the car was purchased, was purchased in good faith that it would actually work... it didn't.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #9

Sep 071999

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
When driving northbound on highway 682, up a steep hill and curve a car ran head on into my 1997 Kia Sportage. The car had damage in the front center, front left, and left side of the vehicle. The driver of the car that hit me stated that her car was sliding and she could not control it. 911 was called and the police and ambulance came to the seen of the accident. Both of us went to the hospital and she was given the ticket and found at fault for the accident at the point of impact, the drivers side airbags did not deploy. There are 2 airbags on the drivers side, one in the steering wheel, and one in the dashboard to protect the knee and leg areas. Neither one of the airbags deployed. I was restrained in a seat belt, but I did bump my head and bumped my knees and the left side of my body. I still have the knot on my head and my knees and left side continue to hurt.

- Lynch Station, VA, USA

problem #8

Mar 102000

Sportage

  • miles
While driving on county road an animal ran out in front of vehicle, it swerved to avoid hitting the animal. Road was wet. Went into a ditch, and neither airbag deployed.

- Westminster, SC, USA

problem #7

Mar 062000

(reported on)

Sportage

  • miles
When driving and upon crossing an intersection consumer was rear ended, and pushed head on by another vehicle. Upon impact, neither driver's side nor passenger's side air bag deployed. Also, vehicle was a total loss.

- Foral Park, NY, USA

problem #6

Feb 052000

Sportage

  • miles
While vehicle was at a stop it was hit in the front by the side of another vehicle.upon impact, there was no deployment of the front air bags. Vehicle has been repaired.

- Tuskegee, AL, USA

problem #5

Dec 221999

Sportage

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving 40mph and had a frontal impact, and driver's airbag did not deploy.. driver sustained injuries.

- West Hills, CA, USA

problem #4

Jul 151999

Sportage

  • miles
When vehicle was involved in a head-on collision traveling at 45 mph. Upon impact, there was no deployment of driver's side air bag. The vehicle is being repaired.

- Belleville, MI, USA

problem #3

Dec 031997

Sportage

  • miles
While driving about 45 mph vehicle was involved in a collision. The airbag did not deploy, and the restraints failed to lock up upon impact. The manufacturer has been notified.

- Booneville, AR, USA

problem #2

Nov 151997

Sportage

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
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.

- Miami Shores, FL, USA

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