1999 KIA Sportage transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED STRONG FUEL FUMES ON THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED THREE TIMES AND WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE DRIVE TRAIN FAILED ONCE AND WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE CRANK SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED ONCE. THE CONTACT ALSO WAS EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN WHICH THE GEARS SLIPPED RANDOMLY AND WERE SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SEALS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FUEL LEAK CONTINUED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 333,000.

NHTSA complaint #10778236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA complaint #10588573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

REAR FRAME OF MY 1999 KIA SPORTAGE ROTTED, AND CAUSING THE WHOLE REAREND TO SHIFT SEVERELY. AT 30MPH. CAUSING ME TO PARK MY SPORTAGE. REST OF THE FRAME IN GOOD SHAPE.

NHTSA complaint #10557195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AND WHEN IT WOULD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10426954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

4WD FAILURE, WILL ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLIP OUT . ON THIRD TRIP TO MY MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM, HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE REGARDING THE 4WD HUBS. UPON TALKING TO THE KIA REP HE WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WERE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE REP GAVE HIM NO SATISFACTION ON MY BEHALF. I WILL BE CALLING KIA AS WELL, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ACTIVATE THIS SERVICE BEFORE THE FACT AS I DO NOT EXPECT ANY SATISFACTION.

NHTSA complaint #10219125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

99 KIA SPORTAGE TIMING BELT SNAPPED BECAUSE OF A FREEZING VALVE, CAUSE HEAD TO WARP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING AND STALLED ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10213654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY DEVELOPED A HOLE CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND DETERMINED THE STORAGE ASSEMBLY ALSO HAD A LEAK WHICH COULD NO LONGER BE SEEN. GAS TOTALLY COVERED THAT AREA WHERE THE HOLE WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS LOCKED, THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE LOCK. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE DEALER FAILED TO FIX THE DOOR WHILE IT WAS THERE FOR SERVICE. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS NOT ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VACUUM LINES.

NHTSA complaint #10164972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

I HAVE A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AS OF JULY 5, 2006. IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 I STARTED NOTICING A REALLY STRONG FUEL SMELL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT IN AROUND THANKSGIVING TO FIND OUT THAT THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO PAY ALMOST $1,000 FOR THIS REPAIR. ALSO, IN MAY OF 2006 POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER MY GARAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN SUMMER STORAGE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT IS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE DAMPING PIPE RUSTING OUT. THIS CAR HAS ALSO ALREADY HAVE TO GET NEW FRONT BRAKE ROTORS (RUSTED/WARPED) AS WELL AS A NEW EXHAUST PIPE SINCE THE PREVIOUSLY ONE RUSTED OFF THE MUFFLER. WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS ONE OF THE BEARINGS WENT BAD AND THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE WHOLE FRONT AXLE UNIT. THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS AND WITH LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT BASICALLY MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU AFTER READING ON WWW.KIA.COM TECHNICAL/OWNERS SECTION ABOUT A "SERVICE CAMPAIGN" FOR THE LEAKING FUEL TANKS IN MAY 2006. NOBODY HAS NOTIFIED ME AND I JUST HAPPENED TO RUN INTO MYSELF AS I WAS RESEARCHING INFORMATION RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM SINCE THAT STARTED LEAKING IN MAY 2006.

NHTSA complaint #10161481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

4 WHEEL DRIVE HUBS WON'T ENGAGE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE STRAINS AS IF IT IS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE DISPLAY SHOWS IT IS ENGAGED.

NHTSA complaint #10103975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

VEHICLE HAD DRIVESHAFT REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON WET ROAD CONDITION, WATER IS GETTING INTO THE SEAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10083276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS ON MY '99 KIA SPORTAGE HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE HAD A VACUUM LINE REPLACED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. LAST YEAR THEY WOULD NOT WORK DURING A SNOW STORM , CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET STUCK IN A SNOW DRIFT. HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A WEEK LATER---AND THEY WERE WORKING. TEMPERATURES WERE WARMER WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED AT THEM. DURING RECENT SNOW STORM (12/5/03) HUBS ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT ENGAGE. INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, BUT THE REAR WHEELS SPIN IN THE SNOW. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE WITH MANUAL LOCKING HUBS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #10049329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, BUT 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGE. PH

NHTSA complaint #10006745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

WE BOUGHT A 1999 KIA IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT. EVERY SIX MONTHS THERE IS SOMETHING GONE WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10000887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #564571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #564571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WHILE TRYING TO ENGAGE FOUR WHEEL IT DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS SLIDING IN SNOW. ALSO, ONLY BACK WHEELS WERE TURNING.

NHTSA complaint #8003480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #561698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAME INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED KNUCKLE PACKAGE, BOTH HUB ASSEMBLIES, BOTH AXLE ASSEMBLIES, DAMAGES SEALS, VACUUM SEAL, AND VACUUM HOSED WAS REPAIRED. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

NHTSA complaint #560963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WAS DRIVING IN SNOW WHEN 4WD LIGHT CAME TO INDICATE IT WAS ENGAGED, BUT 4WD WAS NOT WORKING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND HAD IT REPAIRED. MECHANIC IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT FOR A THIRD TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD DUE TO 4WD NOT WORKING. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #891402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WAS DRIVING UP A SMALL HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSS POWER...AND SPEED DROPPED.

NHTSA complaint #746880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

FRONT BEARINGS WERE DISENTERGRATED, CAUSING TIRES TO WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED BEARINGS AND HUB. *AK

NHTSA complaint #888386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE, THEN STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO USE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW VEHICLEDOWN.*AK 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. WIFE OF THIS VEHICLE'S OWNER ALSO HAS EXACT SAME VEHICLE, VIN [XXX] WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, ALSO CONSUMER EXPERIENCED POWER WINDOW FAILURE AND HAS EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. *SLC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #887795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE, THEN STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO TURN, AND BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO USE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW VEHICLEDOWN.*AK 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. WIFE OF THIS VEHICLE'S OWNER ALSO HAS EXACT SAME VEHICLE, VIN [XXX] WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, ALSO CONSUMER EXPERIENCED POWER WINDOW FAILURE AND HAS EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. *SLC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #887795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

EVER SINCE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP WHEN GOING FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, AND WILL CONTINUE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES, NOISE WILL RANDOMLY DISAPPEAR. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSES DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #886492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

MANY SAFETY PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP. VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. 4 WHEEL DRIVE INOPERABLE DURING SEVERE SNOWSTORM. BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATER HAS BEEN REPLACE TWICE NOW BOTH TIMES SUBZERO WEATHER. THE STARTER WAS REWIRED ONCE AND THEN REPLACE TWICE, EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED.CATALYTIC CONVERTOR REPLACED ONCE SO FAR. DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM BROKE OFF AT 55 MPH DURING RAINSTORMSPARE TIRE RELEASE REPLACED TWO TIMES NOW FIRST TIME COULDN'T OPEN IT, SECOND TIME IT WOULDN'T SHUT. WATER COMING IN FROM SOMEWHERE RUNNING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE GLOVE BOX DEALER DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT IT. MUFFLER ASSEMBLY REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BATTERY AFTER ALL THE STARTER PROBLEMS. I HPE SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING WITH THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOME MAJOR TRADGEDIES OCCUR, I ALREADY SAW AT LEAST ONE FATALITY ON THE COMPLAINT BOARD WHILE SKIMMING OVER IT. I HAVE CALLED THE DISTRICT MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD I WAS THE ONLY ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH HIM HE HUNG UP ON ME. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM NOT SURE HOW SAFE THIS VEHICLE REALLY IS

NHTSA complaint #742576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH IN RAIN DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED. THEN, PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED AS WELL. DEALER FOUND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAD BROKEN. REPLACED BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ON JANUARY 10, 2001 WHILE SNOWING, VERY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING TO DEALER'S LOT DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF. *AK THE COMPLETE 4 WHEEL DRIVE KIT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE RESULTING IN BUMPING, GRINDING NOISE AND NO TRACTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *YH 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NEVER IN WORKING ORDER IN VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND GOT STUCK. THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. LIGHT INDICATING THIS OPTION WAS WORKING HAD BEEN ON. DEALER FOUND 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAD NOT BEEN WORKING IN VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. DEALER REPLACED 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NOW SAME PROBLEM WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE, SAME GRINDING SOUND BACK.

NHTSA complaint #882441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL DID NOT WORK, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF SNOWY CONDITION. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

AFTER REPAIR AND WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW THE 4WD WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLID DOWN A HILL, UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4WD WAS NOT WORKING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #559370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE.

NHTSA complaint #880366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE THEN. ACCORDING TO DEALER,PART IS ON BACKORDER, NOT KNOWN WHEN WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK THE DEALER DENIED THE VEHCILE WAS ON RECALL BUT FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER LONG DELAY.

NHTSA complaint #880121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.