FaultScore

1997 KIA Sportage brake problems

20 of the 299 complaints about the 1997 KIA Sportage are about the braking system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 52,575 miles.

F

20

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 9 45.0%
Master Cylinder 4 20.0%
Foundation Components 4 20.0%
Disc 1 5.0%
Caliper 1 5.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 5.0%

Brakes across every KIA Sportage year

1996 23 3.9%
1997 20 3.4%
1998 82 14.0%
1999 48 8.2%
2000 61 10.4%
2001 27 4.6%
2002 26 4.4%
2006 10 1.7%
2007 12 2.0%
2008 23 3.9%
2009 16 2.7%
2011 25 4.3%
2012 11 1.9%
2013 25 4.3%
2014 24 4.1%
2015 31 5.3%
2016 38 6.5%
2017 26 4.4%
2018 11 1.9%
2020 12 2.0%
2023 35 6.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 52,575 miles Norfolk, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

ABS AND PARKING BRAKE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID THAT LOW FLUID IN MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED THE LIGHTS AND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LEAK AND NEEDED REPLACED. ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR VEHICLE. COULD HAVE LOST ALL BRAKING CAPABILITY IF CAR WAS CONTINUED DRIVEN WITH THE LIGHTS ON CAUSE FLUID LEVELS WOULD DROP.

NHTSA complaint #10033448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hillsborough, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

CONSUMER STATES TOOK VEHICLE FOR SERVICES AND THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING ALSO FOUND PASSENGER BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10002022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgeway, VA Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG FAILED. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND TRANSMISSION STUCK. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8011384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgeway, VA Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #8011385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgeway, VA Crash 2 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THE BRAKES FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR.

NHTSA complaint #8010541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garland, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DUE TO REAR CYLINDERS.

NHTSA complaint #886636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huffman, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #551384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

THE FRONT CALIPER EATS UP THE DISC. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DISC 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #860389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marietta, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES AND HEARD NOISE, LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #859255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES- EXCESSIVE BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED; ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM- VEHICLE OVER HEADED CAUSED VENTS ON DASHBOARD TO POP; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER HOOD- CONTINUOUS "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS; ENGINE- SHAKES LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE, STALLS WHILE DRIVING, SCARED WILL CAUSE ACCIDENT/DEATH

NHTSA complaint #718699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kennewick, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

THE PADS A ROTORS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES BECOME VERY BAD. THE FIRST START TO SQUEK THEN SQUEL THEN SMELL AND THEN GRIND AND THE ABS LIGHTS COME ON. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO HELP! THIS IS ONLY ONE OF NEMOUROUS PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT SCARES ME. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. PLEASE HELP AS WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO TURN.

NHTSA complaint #718455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kennewick, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE PADS A ROTORS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS WILL COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES BECOME VERY BAD. THE FIRST START TO SQUEK THEN SQUEL THEN SMELL AND THEN GRIND AND THE ABS LIGHTS COME ON. I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO HELP! THIS IS ONLY ONE OF NEMOUROUS PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT SCARES ME. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. PLEASE HELP AS WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO TURN.

NHTSA complaint #718455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hackensack, NJ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CARS HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOP SINCE BEING PURCHEST WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS, INSUFFICIENT BRAKING. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN TIME, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #854153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maryville, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TOOK TO ORIGINAL DEALER 6 TIMES AND TO ANOTHER DEALER 1 TIME --- ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON --ORIGINAL DEALER HAS CLOSED.

NHTSA complaint #715919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chula Vista, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #847958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Cajon, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT, DAMAGING ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE GOUGING FUEL TANK IN SEVERAL PLACES. REAR END FELL LOCKING UP BRAKES AND THROWING VEHICLE INTO UNCONTROLLABLE BOUNCING FOR OVER QUARTER MILE. DRIVESHAFT FLEW INFRONT OF OTHER VEHICLES WINDSHIELD. WIFE(9 MO. PREG.) & SON IN CAR WITH ME.

NHTSA complaint #705742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Virginia Beach, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTINUOUSLY HAS INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT/ABS INDICATOR CONTINUALLY COMES LOOSE AND "BACKS OUT OF RELAY BLOCK/ POWER WINDOWS/MIRRORS SWITCH CONTACTS BACKING OFF, CAUSING "OPEN CIRCUITS".

NHTSA complaint #705126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boca Raton, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #540400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elmsford, NY Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #821529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Annandale, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE PROBLEMS;. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL IS VERY HARD AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE STOPPING ABILITY. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP SINCE JULY 9, 1997. IN ADDITION, WINDSHIELD WIPERS BROKE IN A DRIVING RAIN STORM, AND ELECTRIC SIDE MIRRORS BROKE, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM ADJUSTING THEM.

NHTSA complaint #814238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 KIA Sportage problems

← Full 1997 KIA Sportage report