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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Kia Sportage Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 68 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Kia Sportage, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2005 Kia Sportage owner complaints

Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Kia Sportage, describing incidents dated April 22, 2005 to October 11, 2023.

Most-cited components

  • Fuel/Propulsion System 14 complaints
  • Air Bags 12 complaints
  • Electrical System 8 complaints
  • Structure 8 complaints
  • Suspension 7 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 7 complaints

Of the 68 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 68 complaints, owners report 5 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11555961 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11463977 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11455124 · Filed

    Throttle body spring broke caused car to keep accelerating. Car would not stop.

Read all 68 complaints

PARKING BRAKE RATCHET PAWLS

NHTSA #05V318000 · Parking Brake · NHTSA notice

Reported July 8, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 3,672 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-050 · Owners notified August 1, 2005 · Vehicles built March 29, 2005 – May 18, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE INABILITY TO ENGAGE, OR THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER MAY ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO ROLL WHILE IT IS PARKED AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-050.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FUEL LEAK O-RING/FUEL TANK

NHTSA #05V212000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 10,360 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-048 · Owners notified May 31, 2005 · Vehicles built October 28, 2004 – March 26, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE ENGINE MAY STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT WILL BE HARD TO FILL THE GAS TANK AND EXTERNAL FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE AIR FILTER INLET. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-048.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MODULE

NHTSA #05V120000 · Electronic Stability Control — Automatic (ASC) · NHTSA notice

Reported March 29, 2005 · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 7,619 vehicles

Kia campaign SC-044 · Owners notified April 13, 2005 · Vehicles built June 24, 2004 – February 27, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESP ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC-044.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Kia Sportage model years

Check your 2005 Kia Sportage VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Sportage at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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