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2007 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

57 reports with mileage · 20 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports5 fire reports7 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

11 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE CONTACTED AND GONE TO DEALERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION. WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AND THERE IS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL NEAR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAVE READ AND PRINTED MANY REPORTS FROM ONLINE COMPLA…

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THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE CONTACTED AND GONE TO DEALERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION. WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR SOMETIMES STALLS AND THERE IS A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL NEAR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAVE READ AND PRINTED MANY REPORTS FROM ONLINE COMPLAINTS WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING SAME THING HAPPENS TO THEM. I ALSO HAVE VIDEO THAT I TOOK THIS MORNING ON THE WAY TO WORK TO DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE TRYING TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AT A DEALERSHIP BY SPRAYING WATER ON IT DOES NOT HELP. I SHOWED A CO-WORKER THE VIDEO THIS MORNING AND HE SAID FOR ME TO KEEP IT BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP THE LAWSUIT. I REPORTED THIS ORIGINALLY IN 2017 BUT HAS OCCURRED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IN THE RAIN. THIS MORNING WAS THE MOST RECENT AND I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING THIS CAR. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING GETS ADDRESSED???

NHTSA ODI #11115322

119,570 miles · Apr 11, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS ALL DESCRIBED BY THE 2013 RECALL. THE BRAKE LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. I HAVE HAD THE CRUISE FAIL TO TURN OFF, THE ESC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE CAR CAN BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BREAK WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES W…

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THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS ALL DESCRIBED BY THE 2013 RECALL. THE BRAKE LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. I HAVE HAD THE CRUISE FAIL TO TURN OFF, THE ESC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE CAR CAN BE SHIFTED INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BREAK WITH THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE BREAK TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS CAUSING THE INTERMITTENT ESC OFF LIGHT WARNING TO RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE. IT WILL GO QUITE A TIME WITHOUT IT ON THEN RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF AND THEN STAY AND THEN REPEAT THE SAME TYPE PATTERN ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPORTS OF THE INITIAL RECALL. I HAVE REPORTED THESE ISSUES TO KIA IN WHICH I CALLED THE KIA US CORPORATE LINE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IT STILL CONTINUES DESPITE REGULAR SERVICE AND PROPER VEHICLE CARE. THE VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR IN MOVEMENT. IN MANY CASES THE ESC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR RIGHT AFTER ACCELERATING OR BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. THE ONLY WAY TO RESET IT IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. IF IT WORKS AT TIMES, AS SOON AS I MOVE THE SHIFTER AWAY FROM PARK IT ILLUMINATES THE ESC OFF LIGHT. IT IS INTERMITTENT THOUGH AND CAN BE HARD TO CATCH. WHEN IT HAPPENS THOUGH IT DOES SO ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. MECHANICS CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT EXCEPT EXPRESSING IT IS EXACTLY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AS MY VIN DIDN'T SHOT UP. HOWEVER THE KIA OFFICE TOLD ME THE CARS VIN WAS REGISTERED AS SPORTAGE WITHOUT AC EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS AC AND HAS SINCE MANUFACTURE. THE ISSUES NEED ATTENTION. I WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT MULTIPLE TIMES BUT I COULD NEVER REPRODUCE IT. I'VE ONLY CAUGHT IT ONCE AT NIGHT AS I CAN SEE THE REFLECTIONS OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEHIND ME. VARIOUS SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #10971774

53,023 miles · Nov 12, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

MY SUV WAS IN MOTION AND THE ABS, ESC AND THE DIAGRAM OF THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN LIT UP. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10790084

45,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT OPERATING AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT STAYS ON. KIA HAS A RECALL SC098 (NTHSA NUMBER 13V114000) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN DOES NOT FALL IN THAT RECALL, I SPOKE TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME, YET MY CAR HAS THE I…

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BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT OPERATING AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT STAYS ON. KIA HAS A RECALL SC098 (NTHSA NUMBER 13V114000) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN DOES NOT FALL IN THAT RECALL, I SPOKE TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME, YET MY CAR HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE THEY HAVE ALSO INFORMED ME THE HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE RECALL HAS VERBIAGE OF HYDRAULICS. MY CONCERN IS KIA STATES I AM OUTSIDE THE RECALL WINDOW WITH THE IDENTICAL ISSUE AS STATED ON THE RECALL FROM 2013 AND EXPANDED AT LEAST ONCE

NHTSA ODI #10762335

85,000 miles · Aug 15, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10622564

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

HI! I JUST TOOK MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TODAY, JULY 14, 2012 AND INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE BURNT OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT KIA RECALLED 2007 SPORTAGE IN 2009 BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL BREAK LIGH…

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HI! I JUST TOOK MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TODAY, JULY 14, 2012 AND INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE BURNT OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AT ALL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT KIA RECALLED 2007 SPORTAGE IN 2009 BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL BREAK LIGHTING ISSUES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL BY THE KIA DEALER WHATSOEVER AND HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS. I AM COMPLETELY BESIDE MYSELF THAT I DROVE A CAR FOR THREE YEARS WITH A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL. AT THIS POINT, I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I GUESS I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT IS NOT RIGHT TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION FROM CONSUMERS. IT IS NEGLIGENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE TO SELL A CAR TO SOMEONE IF IT HAS A SAFETY RECALL AND NOT TO NOTIFY OR WARN THEM ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465670

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) LIGHT IN MY CAR IS ILLUMINATING WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BUTTON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE BULBS (ALL OTHER TAIL LAMPS WORK...BLINKERS, FLASHERS & BACK-UP LIGHTS). I LOOKED UP ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT KIA HAD ISSUED A RE…

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THE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) LIGHT IN MY CAR IS ILLUMINATING WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BUTTON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE BULBS (ALL OTHER TAIL LAMPS WORK...BLINKERS, FLASHERS & BACK-UP LIGHTS). I LOOKED UP ON-LINE AND FOUND THAT KIA HAD ISSUED A RECALL "EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH" ANNOUNCED ON 4/17/2009 FOR THIS VERY THING. I CONTACTED KIA MOTORS DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP. THE RESPONDED ABSOLUTELY NOT, IT WAS MY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL. I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSE. HOW DO I KNOW ONCE IT'S FIXED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS: 1) DRIVING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND BEING UNAWARE; 2) THE ESC MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL/NOT SHUT OF WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I AM CONCERNED THAT PEOPLES SAFETY IS AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10445216

11,185 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR ESC LIGHT STAYING ON. FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS OK, NEXT 2 TIMES THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. WORKS FOR A WHILE THEN MALFUNCTIONS AGAIN. ESC LIGHT STAYS ON, CRUISE WILL NOT WORK, AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON. VEHICLE NOW HAS 71000 MILES AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. AFTER…

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VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR ESC LIGHT STAYING ON. FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS OK, NEXT 2 TIMES THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. WORKS FOR A WHILE THEN MALFUNCTIONS AGAIN. ESC LIGHT STAYS ON, CRUISE WILL NOT WORK, AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON. VEHICLE NOW HAS 71000 MILES AND LIGHT IS STILL ON. AFTER RESEARCHING THE WEB, LOCATED A RECALL ON THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM, 09V130000 IS THE NUMBER. CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THIS VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL, YET ITS THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINT AS THE RECALL. RECALL SAID IT CAN LEAD TO A CRASH. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10438945

70,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH KIA MOTORS AMERICA. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 'STOP LAMP SWITCH' IN 2009 FOR CERTAIN KIA MODELS INCLUDING MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE THEN THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED ON THE PART AND IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN (I HAVE NO FUNCTIONAL BRAKE L…

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MY COMPLAINT IS WITH KIA MOTORS AMERICA. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE 'STOP LAMP SWITCH' IN 2009 FOR CERTAIN KIA MODELS INCLUDING MY 2007 KIA SPORTAGE. I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED IN JUNE OF 2009 FOR THIS ISSUE. SINCE THEN THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED ON THE PART AND IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN (I HAVE NO FUNCTIONAL BRAKE LIGHTS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY MUST CHARGE ME THE FULL $160.00 TO FIX IT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THE PART, SO I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR LEGALLY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK UNTIL THE PART COMES IN. THIS IS CONCERNING, WHY IS THE STOP LAMP SWITCH CONTINUING TO FAIL? OBVIOUSLY SINCE THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER PROBLEM - THE RECALL SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED! I CONTACTED KIA MOTORS DIRECTLY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP. THE RESPONDED ABSOLUTELY NOT, IT WAS MY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR THE EXPENSE. HOW DO I KNOW ONCE IT'S FIXED IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE SAFETY CONCERNS: 1) DRIVING WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND BEING UNAWARE; 2) THE ESC MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL/NOT SHUT OF WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I AM CONCERNED THAT PEOPLES SAFETY IS AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422395

80,000 miles · May 10, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

ESC LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, ON PRIOR RECALL LIST, DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329734

Official recalls

2

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 17, 2009

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Kia Sportage problems