There are 4 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2008 Kia Sportagein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
LEFT HEADLIGHT PLUG IS DEFECTIVE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED LEFT RUNNING IDLE WITH LIGHTS ON FOR 20 MINUTES , THE FOG LIGHT BULB MELTED IT WAY THROUGH THE HOUSING AND INT THE FRONT BUMPER WERE OPEN FLAMES WERE VISIBLE AND HAD TO BE PUT OUT
APPROXIMATELY, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE IN 01/2013, "ESC OFF," LIGHT CAME ON MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING VEHICLE START UP. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO PLACE OF PURCHASE REGARDING INTERMITTENT, "ESC OFF," LIGHT. PRESSING " ESC OFF," DASH BUTTON HAS NO EFFECT AND THE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER OF PURCHASE TOOK VEHICLE TO KIA SERVICE AND THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS TPMS LIGHT IS ON, ADVISE. AT NO TIME DID THE TPMS LIGHT EVER COME ON, NOR WAS IT REPORTED AS SUCH. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED WITH NO WORK DONE, AND PLACE OF PURCHASE WAS INFORMED THAT TIRE(S) WERE LOW. CURRENTLY, THE "ESC OFF," LIGHT IS STILL ILLUMINATING AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. TIRE PRESSURE CHECK BY RECENT SERVICE (OIL CHANGE) WAS REPORTED AS NORMAL. ACCORDING TO KIA CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP OF SERVICE, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ISSUED 01 APRIL, 2013. PURCHASE MILEAGE 27,476, MILEAGE AT KIA SERVICE 30,328 ON 21 FEB, 2013. SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS INCLUDING KIA-FORUMS.COM REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS FAR BACK AS 2007 MODELS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE NOTICED SPARKS SHOOTING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE CONTACT THEN BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO MORE SPARKS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE BUT THE BURNING ODOR WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STILL WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND TRADED IT FOR ANOTHER MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 59,917.
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 26, 2026