2002 Kia Sportage

THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMELL THAT PERMEATES THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE UPON STARTING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS TO INCLUDE THE LOCAL KIA DEALER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM - NEW FUEL FILTER, EXHAUST, ETC. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET TURNED UP A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 99-02 SPORTAGE GAS TANKS LEAKING DUE CORROSION CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN/MATERIAL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE NHTSA WILL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THIS MAKE/MODEL/YR VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A GIFT FOR TEENAGE DRIVER. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DRIVE IT DUE MY CONCERNS FOR THEIR SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE O-RINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE O-RINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ UPDATED 03/29/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK MODULE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,473.

FUEL SPILL AT WAWA GAS STATION. RECENTLY MY SON FUELED MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE AS I WENT IN WAWA; HE DIDN'T KNOW FUEL PROBLEM TRIED TO FILL THE TANK WITH THAT AUTO FILL CLIP (WHERE DON'T HAVE HOLD) GAS PUMP. GALLONS OF FUEL SPIT, SPILLED IN WIDE AREA PUMP OTHER PATRONS AVOIDED THE AREA. NEIGHBORING GAS PUMPS HAD PEOPLE ON CELL AND SMOKERS CAR WERE START UP MOVING OUT WITH EXHAUST PIPE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SPILL. MY SON AND HIS CLOTHING WAS SATURATED WITH GAS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GAS SPILLING AND SPITTING SEVERAL FEET OUT OF THE GAS TANK IS GETTING WORST. THE CONSTANT FUEL VAPORS ARE CAUSING ME HEALTH PROBLEMS. ANYWHERE I PUMP GAS GASOLINE SPILLS, EVERYONE LOOKS AT ME; I TRY TO CAREFULLY TO PUT THE MINIMAL TAKING 10-15MINUTES BUT CANNOT AVOID SPILLS. I'M RETIRED CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AND PAID OVER $3800.00 IN ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL REPAIRS RECENTLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. THIS PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MIENEKE AND LOCAL KIA DEALER WHO KEEP WRONG PARTS REPLACING PARTS AT MY EXPENSE. THE LOCAL KIA DEALER TOLD ME IT RECALL IS ONLY THE 2005 KIA I CHECKED INTERNET AND IN FACT IT IS THE KIA 2005 SPORTAGE:05V212000, HTTP://AUTO RECALLS.JUSTIA.COM/KIA/SPORTAGE/2005/05V212000/INDEX.HTML MY 2002 KIA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND KIA MUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS HAZARD FREE UNDER RECALL IMMEDIATELY. *TR

MY DAUGHTER JUST PURCHASED 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 105164 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PURCHASED DURING THE DAY AND TEST DROVE DURING THE DAY WHEN WEATHER WAS WARMER APPROX 50 DEGREES OR HIGHER. IT HAS TURNED COLD THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING AND NOW HIGH TEMP IS 24 DEGREES. HAVE NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF CAR. SHE STARTED IT TO WARM IT UP THIS MORNING BEFORE LEAVING AND NOTICED THE STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN SHE STARTED TO LEAVE. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS. HAD MECHANIC CHECK CAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. NOW SHE IS ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE DUE TO GAS SMELL. *TR

LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I AM SEEING, I HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 68000 MILES AND IT IS HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH FUEL VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND A SOURCE FOR THE FUEL SMELL. THE VAPORS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG AND I GET VERY NAUSEOUS; I HAVE TO OPEN A BACK WINDOW SO I DO NOT GET A MIGRAINE HEADACHE. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN SO IT IS VERY COLD IN THE WINTER TIME TO DO THIS WITH THE OPEN WINDOWS BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR ANY OTHER WAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE NHTSA WOULD LOOK FURTHER INTO INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE KIA ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR... I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND BESIDES THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BREAKING ONCE, AND THIS HORRIBLE GAS SMELL I HAVE NOT HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR

MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER LEAKS GAS VAPORS THRU THE VENTS, ENOUGH TO GIVE MY WIFE MIGRAINES AND NAUSEA, IT MIGHT EVEN BE A HAZARDS IF YOU SMOKE IN THE CAR. THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE SHOWS UP WITH A CANCER OR A CAR EXPLODES. WE ARE ABOUT TO BUY ANOTHER CAR CAUSE WE ARE CONCERN ABOUT OUR NEWBORN AND FUEL VAPORS NOT A GOOD MIX. *TR

LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I AM SEEING, WE HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 69000 MILES AND ARE HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH RAW FUEL VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPON START UP AND SITTING STILL. I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE SEARCHED FOR AN ACTIVE FUEL LEAK, BUT CAN NOT FIND ONE.. THE VAPORS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG AND I AM SURE PRESENT A FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD (ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING).. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE KIA ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR... *TR