Kia · Sportage · 2005
3
Recalls
68
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls and 68 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (7 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET. DAMAGED PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET TEETH MAY PREVENT THE PARKING BRAKE FROM ENGAGING OR MAY ALLOW THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AFTER IT HAS BEEN ENGAGED.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE O-RING INTO THE INTERNAL VAPOR CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AT FULL TANK CONDITIONS.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY. WHILE DRIVING THE ESP PROGRAM MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REDUCE POWER AND MAY CAUSE A BRAKE AT ONE OF THE WHEELS TO BE INAPPROPRIATELY.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESP HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off while driving and it feels harder to press the gas and I lost complete control on the freeway some how but I believe its due to my ESP button, idk much about cars so this is the best way I can describe it, not many cars around on the freeway but I would've died if there was.. the fuel system is always having issues as well amd ive changed it many times but I'm more worried about the fact that I lost control and the fact that when i use my parking break that the car won't hold completely so please please launch an investigation so I can get my car fixed, thank you.
Throttle body spring broke caused car to keep accelerating. Car would not stop.
My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.
MY KIA SPORTAGE.... STALLED IN MID TRAFFIC LIKE IT LOSSES POWER RIGHT AFTER I. PUT GASOLINE IN THE CAR, ALMOST MAKING ME LOOSE CONTROL AND GET IN A WRECK. IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL .AFTER I CONTINUED TO TRY AND REFUEL IT. I NOTICED A RECALL ONLINE ABOUT MY VEHICLE NUT DEALER IS ONLY SAYINH THE RECALL IS ON A FUEL STRAP TI HOLD THE FUEL TANK UP I NEED THIS SAFELY REPAIRED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED, THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V212000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,991.
ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, AFTER SHUTTING OFF CAR.
ROTTED REAR CROSS MEMBER.
TOOK CAR TO HAVE SOMETHING UNRELATED TO THIS CHECKED. WAS TOLD THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTED REALLY BAD AND IS UNSFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND REMAINS STATIONARY FOR FEAR OF IT COMPLETELY BREAKING OFF AND CAUSING A CATASTROPHE TO MYSELF, MY LITTLE GIRLS OR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.
WHILE DRIVING 80MPH ON FREEWAY, CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING, WOULDN'T RESTART FOR OVER 30 MINUTES
THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON OUR KIA SPORTAGE AND WHEN WE HAD IT AT THE AUTO MECHANIC, HE TOLD US, THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTY IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WE WERE ALARMED TO HEAR THIS CONSIDERING WE USED THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR GRANDCHILDREN SOMETIMES AND THOUGHT ABOUT WOULD COULD HAVE HAPPENED. CURRENTLY WE DO NOT EVEN WANT THE CLUTCH REPAIRED AS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO CONSIDER EVEN DRIVING IT UNLESS THE FRAME SUB RAILS/FLOOR ARE REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE READ OTHER REVIEWS AND HAVE FOUND SIMILAR ALARMING CONCERNS. KIA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. WE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR, CANNOT FIX THE CLUTCH, SO IT IS JUST SITTING AT THE MECHANICS. WHAT DO WE DO, JUST JUNK THE CAR? WHAT A COST INFRINGEMENT. WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER KIA, NOR WILL PEOPLE THAT WE INFORM OF THIS ISSUE. I SHUDDER WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. PLEASE ADVISE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIA OF MCCOMB IN MCCOMB, MS, 601-250-1005) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS, INC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.
REAR SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT. (,UNSAFE TO DRIVE). KIA SPORTAGE 2005 LOOK LIKE 30 YEARS OLD.
FRAME CORROSION/PERFORATION IN REAR END. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND CAN'T PASS SAFETY INSPECTION AS REAR AXLE COULD BREAK OFF AT ANY TIME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL FINANCIAL LOSS FOR ME NOW.
THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS REAR TIE RODS AND REAR CONNECTING ARMS TO WHEELS IS RUSTED SO BAD IT WILL FAIL. MY EMPLOYER HAS SAME YEAR SAME MODEL BUT IN HYUNDAI HERS IS THE SAME AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR JUST SNAPPED HIKE DRIVING IT'S THE EXACT SAME PART AND RUSTED SO BAD WHEEL COLLAPSED. THIS IS WHY I CHECKED MINE. BOTTOM LINE MAIN SUSPENSION COMPONENT ON KIA AND HYUNDAI SHORTAGE OR DANTE FE FAIL AT 10 YEARS. THERE ARE AS A RECALL TO UNDERCOAT OR REPLACE PARTS UNDER THE CAR DO TO EARLY RUST FAILURE. THIS WAS 6 YEARS AGO. THIS CROSS MEMBER IS BOLTED TO HE FRAME AND I CAN GUARANTEE MOST 2005 HAVE THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRING. IT S ALSO HARD TO LOCATE THE PART AND THEY CHARGE FROM $350- $1000 FOR IT. THE HYUNDAI EXACT SAME PART # FROM KIA IS TWICE AS MUCH AS THE KIA PART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V212000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) 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 THE FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
WIRING HARNESS PLUGS JOINING AT RESISTOR & BLOWER MOTOR ARE MELTED.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON JULY 16 2016. I TOOK THE CAR TO SUSSMAN KIA IN JENKINTOWN PA.TO CHECK LIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A FAULTY SEAT BELT .THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELY ASSEMBLY $715.25. THE WORK ORDER INVOICE #52875--20 JULY 2016.SHOULD THIS NOT BE A RECALL ITEM FOR SAFETY BY KIA MOTORS?
AIR BAG LIGHT ON CONTINUALLY. NO ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK LINE AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2005 Kia Sportage has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 68 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Kia Sportage.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Kia Sportage are electrical system (7 reports), air bags (7 reports), fuel system, gasoline (6 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2005 Kia Sportage. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.