There are 5 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2005 Kia Sportagein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE, AND STEERED RIGHT WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, HITTING THE CURB AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE STEERING/FUEL/BRAKES/ELECTRONICSTABILITYCONTROL, AND OTHER MINOR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
WHEN DRIVING, USUALLY ON FREEWAY, AS YOU BEGIN TO BRAKE AND EXIT THE FREEWAY, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPS FUNCTIONING, AND STEERING BECOMS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE PROBLEM LASTS MAYBE 2 TO 4 SECONDS, AND THEN EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS (THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, FIVE REPAIR TRIPS) AND THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE "THERE IS NO PROBLEM". PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR OVER 1 1/2 YEAR PERIOD. DATE OF INCIDENT USED HERE IS ONLY MOST RECENT. *TT
WHEN ACCELERATING WITH LOAD ON ENGINE GOING UP HILL, JUST BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO GEAR THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK-UP. THE MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING WHILE ON MOUNTAINOUS ROADS MAKES FOR A VERY DANGEROUS JOURNEY HOME. *TR
CONTINOUS FAILURES IN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (EPS) THAT CAUSES PERIODIC BRAKING DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. FAILURE CAUSES CAR TO PULL IN THE DIRECTION OF BRAKING WHEEL, OFTEN CAUSING THE CAR TO ENTER OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. AT THIS POINT, ONLY THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED, WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026