2001 Kia Sportage

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EXTENDED 10 YEAR, 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I ONLY USE THE 4WHEEL DRIVE WHEN IT SNOWS. TWO YEARS AGO I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW VACUUM LINES TO THE FRONT HUBS. WITHOUT VACUUM TO THE HUBS THEY WON'T ENGAGE. I HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IN 2008 WHEN IT SNOWED AGAIN I AGAIN FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I HAVE TO BUY $1500.00 WORTH OF PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THE FRONT HUBS SO THAT THEY WILL MAINTAIN A VACUUM. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY FIX AND BECAUSE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX THE PROBLEM ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS ON THE VEHICLE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WARRANTY THEM. THE SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVED HERE IS THAT WHEN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS ENGAGED THE DASH HAS AN INDICATOR THAT SAYS THE VEHICLE IS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THIS CAN LEAD TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH LOSS OF CONTROL ON SNOW OR SLICK SURFACES. *TR

I BOUGHT MT 2001 KIA SPORTAGE IN 2003. IT WAS A 2 DOOR AUTOMATIC SOFT TOP. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTED WITHIN MONTHS. FIRST THE "HOLD" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN WHILE DRIVING THE CARE WOULD STICK IN ONE GEAR. I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN WITH OUT IT STALLING ONCE THE GEARS GOT STUCK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM B/C IT STILL HAPPENS EVEN TO THIS DAY AND EVERY PLACE I TAKE IT TO SAYS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. IN 2005 EVERYTHING STARTED GOING DOWNHILL. THE POWER WINDOWS DONT WORK THE CD PLAYER EATS YOU CDS AND I GET NO RESEPTION ON THE RADIO. NOT TO MENTION THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND CONTINUES TO FLASH AND BEEP EVEN WITH YOUR SEAT BELT IS ON. THE PASENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT STAY CLASPED. THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IF I TURN ON THE AIR. THE AIR ONLY BLOWS ON YOUR FEET. MY CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY IT I GO ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR MAKES A WIERD CHATTERING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. AND THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON. ALL OF THESE THINGS I HAVE STATED ARE TRUE AND I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS OF TIMES AND SEEM TO GET IT "FIXED" BUT SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS BEFORE THE MONTH ENDS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS TOTAL, AND IT STILL DOESNT RUN PROPERLY. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE TRAMISSION REPLACED, THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, THE MASTER AND REAR CYLINDER(2X), WHEEL BARRING, ALTERNATER, STARTED , BATTERIES(4X),AIR VENTS, AD MANY OTHER THING BUT I CANT KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IM A COLLEGE STUDENT THAT HAS A VERY LIMITED INCOME, AND I CANT WASTED ANY MORE TIME AND MONEY DEALING WITH THIS CAR THAT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN I IS. MY FIRST CAR WAS BETTER THA THIS ONE AND IT WAS MADE IN THE 80'S.

2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4WD DOES NOT ENGAGE. IT WORKED GOOD IN WINTER OF 2005, BUT THIS YEAR FINALLY HAVING SNOW IN JANUARY, I TRIED THE 4WD WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT SPINS, SO THE TRANSFER CASE WORKS, HOWEVER THE DRIVE ISN'T BEING INITIATED TO THE FRONT WHEELS. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEMS OCCURRED TO SAME MAKE AND MODEL, BUT IN A DIFFERENT YEAR. IT IS ALSO STATED THAT THE DOUBLE SEALED HUBS WAS APPARENTLY SUPPOSED TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM WITH THE HUBS BECOMING FROZEN DUE TO RUST. COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT THIS REMEDY DIDN'T ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10MPH IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL DISLODGED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. IT WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION, AND HAD PASSED STATE INSPECTION IN JUNE 2005 AT 32,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATING AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD FAILURES IN SHIFTING GEARS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE ECT CONNECTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS DESPITE THE REPAIRS. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/13/06. *JB

2001 KIA SPORTAGE 4 DR WITH 50,000 MILES FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF BROKEN WHEEL BEARING AND RIGHT IDLER ARM. I HAD THESE REPAIRED, FORTUNATELY, UNDER WARRANTY. I'M DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY THAT SUCH CHEAP PARTS WERE USED IN MANUFACTURING (DISCOVERED BROKEN AT 50,000 MILES) WHICH GREATLY INCREASES THE RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT. NOT A SAFE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE MANUFACTURING. *NM

2001 KIA SPORTAGE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED.*MR THE COOLANT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, THE REAR HATCH PANEL INSIDE FELL OFF, NEW CLIPS WERE INSTALLED. REPLACED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH, TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, WIND NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREA. *BF

MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAS A DEFECT IN ITS DESIGN. THE SOLENOID, & HOSES THAT CONNECT TO IT ARE PLACED IN AN AREA ON THE VEHICLE WHERE THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO THE ELEMENTS-&-IN HARMS WAY OF BEING DAMAGED FROM NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I DO NOT HAVE THE SERVICE PAPER WORK ON ME, AT THE MOMENT (I AM AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-DOING RESEARCH ON KIA'S MANY SAFETY ISSUES)-IF YOU NEED COPIES OF MY SERVICE RECORDS, OR ANY FURTHER INFO-PLEASE CONTACT ME BY MAIL. WHEN SOLENOID/HOSES FAILED - I WAS UNAWARE THAT MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE. THERE WERE MANY TIMES, IN THE WINTER MONTHS- WHERE MY KIA WOULD SLIP/SLIDE-HANDLE ERRATICALLY IN THE SNOW/RAIN. I HAVE LOST TRACK OF THE TIMES I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE DURING THIS TIME FRAME (2001-2004). NOW I REALIZE THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST SPUN OUT-WITH NO ONE ELSE HITTING ME; THANK GOD FOR THAT. THE SPORTAGE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE-WHEN IT IS RAINING/SNOWING-IT'S WHEEL BASE MAKES IT DANGEROUS. THE FIRST SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER KIA'S 10 YEAR/ 100,000 COVERAGE-SO I HAD TO PAY $85 TO FIX IT. IT WORKED TWO MORE TIMES, AND NOW THE HUBS ARE SHOT (AFTER A MERE 29,000 MILES). I WAS NAIVE ABOUT KIA'S RECORD AT THE TIME. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT KIA NOW- AND I WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT THEM TO COME OUT. I HAVE CONTACED KIA ABOUT MY PROBLEM(S) MANY TIMES. THEY ARE VERY SMUG, AND KNOWLEGEABLE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO FOR YOU. IF THEY SPENT 1/2 THE MONEY THAT THEY DID ON HAVING A SLICK LAW FIRM WRITE THEIR 10 YEAR COVERAGE PLAN-AS THEY DID MAKING A SAFE/RELIABLE VEHICLE-MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE MUCH SAFER FOR IT. *AK