This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Smoke was pouring out from the passenger front side of the motor compartment. The fuses for the ABS (I think) were taken out so it would stop. I was a told a control module could have something to do with it.
So I have been having problems with my front right tire I feel that it wiggles and wobbles a clog my alignment to get my stuff and I always need work done on it about every 2 to 3 months. I have also been having problems continuously getting locked out of my car. My car on or off always locks me out of my car. My passenger door never locks unless I lock it myself manually. My trunk door never opens as well when I push the unlock button and the key mailed it won't fit in it to unlock it that way I feel that the car over or has a wiring electrical problem
The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sportage. While the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to an insurance tow lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system). The contact stated that an email was sent to the Kia manufacturer with documented proof, but a response had not been received. The failure mileage was unknown.
I bought a 2008 Kia Sportage at osage beach mo on July 12, 2016. I sent it to ghana in August, 2016 and cleared from the port in November, 2016. The said car was parked for several hours at hospital on August 21, 2018 and caught fire at 10.00pm the same day. The fire service was called and put out the fire. After examination the stated it was electrical fire caused by the wiring harness. I then learnt after the incident that there had been a recall ( # 16V815000 / SC 138) issued on November 10, 2016 of which I wasn't notified. Attached, please find pictures of the damage Kia Sportage and original title. I am waiting for a detailed report form fire service department at essam, ghana, which I will send to your office upon receipt. By this complaint, I am there requesting Kia motors America to repair all damages caused by the fire or replace the vehicle. Thank you for your attention.
- St. James, MO, USA
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The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sportage. While the vehicle was parked in the contact's driveway, the vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and deemed destroyed. The dealer was not contacted for a determination of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system) after the vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 125,000.
12/03/17, 03:15 a.M. while parked, not running, vehicle caught fire under the hood and became fully engulfed. Vehicle had been parked for several hours prior to this incident. Car was completely destroyed. Residence was built with vinyl siding, and front of house was damaged (melted vinyl). Parked at private residence. Family asleep inside residence when fire erupted. For 2 weeks prior to fire, the ABS indicator lamp on the dash panel was illuminated. Brakes had been inspected, and were in good braking order. I have the vehicle available for inspection by any interested party.
My faulty 2008 Kia Sportage strikes again. The last 2 major incidences with my Kia are documented in my NHTSA complaint (10621705) occurred on Aug 2013 -w/11K miles( transmission & electrical) and w/12K miles -August 2014 ( alternator &ABS pump). It's now January 2017 - car has 17.5K total miles and I needed to tow my Kia Sportage 2008 to a service center after the car stalled on a major road with 2 of my kids in the car. The car is behaving similarly to how it behaved in 2013 ' engine knocks as it shifts into gears eventually stalling. In 2013 ' Kia replaced the transmission and entire electrical system. As I stated in my previous complaint, there must be a design flaw associated with the car since it now appears I have the same transmission/electrical problem again 6K miles later since the last incident. Just learned today that my Kia needs a new transmission ! 3 transmissions in 17,000 miles ' just doesn't add up.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. While driving approximately 35 mph, the instrument panel lighting failed. The contact banged on the dashboard and the lights came back on, but then faded out again. The vehicle was driven home. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Went to Kia of cheyenne on scheduled appointment date for recall notice and they didn't have the part. I was told to check back in a week. When I called to check on repair date because I have to travel from Nebraska I was informed that the part is on back order and to check back on the 31st of January. My vehicle is not safe to drive due to electrical fire hazard and no ABS brakes due to the seal of hecu being bad. I complained about this issue in 2013, they refused to fix because the car was out of warranty.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. Upon starting the vehicle, it made an abnormal noise. The contact was able to get the vehicle to start after more than two attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. Upon starting the vehicle, smoke emitted from the hood of the vehicle. A fire erupted and extinguished itself. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure and fire. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residential parking area. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled and numerous warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Car was parked for repairs and not driven for many months other than moving around our parking area due to dashboard lights of ABS, ESC, traction control, brake lights lit. Had diagnostics done on car due to all lights on dash lighting, ABS, brake, ESC, traction control. Diagnostics via shorkey Kia showed ABS bad along with oil pan rusting due to wishing to get it road worthy and inspected. Replaced oil pan and moved car out of garage and in to parking area in front of second garage door near house. Car was parked about one hour when car ignited and caught fire. Fire originated on right front passenger side around ABS area and spread through engine and in to passenger area of car primarily on passenger side. Car a total loss, 112,000 miles on it.
Vehicle was sitting for hours in driveway. Smoke began pouring from under hood and damaged underhood accessories such as headlamp housing, ABS module, paint, windshield washer reservoir. The wiring harness was damaged, the exterior paint was blistered and now the vehicle cannot be driven. The fire apparently began in the ABS module at the right front wheel apron. Everything plastic is damaged and soot covers most of the underhood components. The vehicle has 48K miles on it and has never been in a collision.
I parked my car at 6am went in to work at about noon my coworkers were telling me my car was smoking went outside and smoke was coming from under the hood so we popped the hood and my electrical box was smoking pretty bad a guy used a extinguisher on it to find it was still smoking so he disconnected.the battery all the wires in box are burned I only had a little over 100000 miles on it so naturally its expired.
This will be 1 of 3 part statement... about a week ago (give or take a few days), a couple of my mother's 2008 Kia Sportage's dash lights came on. The ABS light, the ESC light, and I think one other (possibly the traction control light but mind you this is not my car and I am not that familiar with her dash). She was told that there was a recall for a part that was causing one of the lights to come on (I believe the ESC light). She took the car to get the part replaced, however, the lights did not go off. I have wheel hubs on my SUV crossover and I told her that when my wheel bearing/sensor starts going bad that is when my light comes on. Well a couple days later, her driver side wheel bearing started to roar, so we figured that the ABS light was on due to that. She took it back to the Kia dealership shop and they replaced the bearing and although the ride was quieter due to the new bearing replacement, the ABS light and other lights did not go off. The mechanic told her that she does not have a wheel hub with sensor and bearing in the hub but that all of her parts were separate. He said that the light may be on due the sensor may have debris from the wheel bearing going bad or possibly the sensor is going bad itself. I planned on pulling and cleaning the sensor for her in the upcoming weekend. Well before the weekend, she went shopping at the grocery store and when she came out, the vehicle would not start. The battery was dead. We call a tow truck driver who came and gave it a quick jump and said she must have left her lights on. She drove home, pulled in driveway and I told her to leave it run a bit to charge the battery back up. She did so and then after about 10 minutes, shut it off and immediately started it again to ensure the battery was charged. Later that day, it would not start again...battery dead again. (continued in next post) 2 of 3...
She is 73 years old and on a fixed income. She has already paid thousands for the car and now does not have a car due to a faulty part. No car should catch on fire due to normal use. Now she is going to have to find a way to pay for another car. Hopefully that car manufacturer produces a vehicle that does not just catch fire at random and if it does, they take credit for building and selling you a vehicle with a fault that is there own. She struggled to pay thousands of dollars for a car that she took good care of to just burn up infront of her. She looked forward to finish paying the car off. Blue book is roughly $9,000 she paid more that half of it off and still owes $7,000 but now, insurance will give her the $9,000 of which she will have to pay $7,000 out to pay it off, leaving her with $2,000. What can you buy with $2,000 - nothing! so now she must start over and use the $2,000 to get back into a full car payment and struggle again for another 5 years or more. W.T.F.!"!" I see on this website, people talking about the same thing happening to them. If there is more than 1 or 2 cars that have caught on fire the same way, why isn't it looked into, and why isn't there a recall. Sure it maybe hard for Kia to replace many vehicles, however, I think it is harder for my mother of 73 to go out and buy another vehicle at $15,000 - $20,000 just because the one she trusted to be a solid vehicle was build crappy. It is Kia's design and mechanics that caused the problem, they should be held responsible. And it should be illegal for them to keep selling the vehicles to people with a problem as such.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Argyle, NY, USA