no report yet
Front: buckle assembly
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
1997 Kia SportageProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 181 owner complaints about the 1997 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 18, 2019. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1997 Kia Sportage has problems
181 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
56Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
39Air bags25 crash/fire/injury
25Power train7 crash/fire/injury
22Vehicle speed control7 crash/fire/injury
21Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
19Service brakes, hydraulic6 crash/fire/injury
16Fuel system, gasoline
10Structure
9Visibility
4512 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 56 | 1 |
| Air bags | 39 | 25 |
| Power train | 25 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 21 | 4 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 19 | 6 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 16 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 1 |
| 12 other systems | 45 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
1997 Kia Sportage recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Hatchback/liftgate: lock
Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
1997 vs. every other Sportage year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportage median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1997 Kia Sportage safety ratings
1997 Kia Sportage 4-DR. 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1997 Kia Sportage, and the recalls they led to.
- FUEL TANK LEAKAGENo recall
- SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONLed to recall 02V-216
- ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALLLed to recall 99V-325
- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ONLed to recall 99V-325
In owners' words
What Sportage owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KIA SPORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE USED CAR DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND THE MAIN HOSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT, AND WHEN DIAGNOSED,THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE OVERHEATING WAS DUE TO THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AND THE FAN…
KIA REFUSES TO INCLUDE MY 1997 SPORTAGE EX 4WD IN RECALL FOR 1997 KIA SPORTAGES EX 4WD. RECALL 1CMP005 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) HAS NEVER BEEN PERFORMED. ALSO NOT SURE THAT RECALL 2CMP014 ON WIRING HAS BEEN PERFORMED. MY MAIN CONCERN AND THE REFUSAL FROM KIA IS ON THE ECM. *JB
NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V325000; KIA ISSUED AN ENGINE STALLING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. *AK
Own a 1997 Sportage?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.