RecallRepo

1997 Kia Sportage Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 290,185 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 299 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 02V216000 2002-08-16 189,706 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 99V325000 1999-11-19 76,986 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 97V234000 1997-12-17 23,493 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.

Consequence

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
39
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
21
17crashes16injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
20
7crashes7injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
16
2crashes
AIR BAGS
14
2crashes3injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
2crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
8
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
8
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
6
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints299

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Fuel tank is leaking”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2018-12-12

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 kia sportage. When the vehicle was stationary, the air bags deployed unexpectedly while the driver and passenger seats were occupied. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to kia of wilmington (1603 pennsylvania ave, wilmington, de 19806, [REDACTED]) where the…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-09-03

“While sitting in the vehicle, stationary in a parking lot talking with my wife, the airbags deployed.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-09-03

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 kia sportage. While the vehicle was stopped, the driver's side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they would open a case for…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-08-10

“While driving down highway when approximately at 55mph engine will stall. Slow down and stop without warning. Most of the time I can turn engine off restart run it thru all of the gears and it will be fine for awhile unless on bumpy road or stop warning bumps in the road. I can not fill gas tank…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2014-03-26

“While driving down highway when approximately at 55mph engine will stall. Slow down and stop without warning. Most of the time I can turn engine off restart run it thru all of the gears and it will be fine for awhile unless on bumpy road or stop warning bumps in the road. I can not fill gas tank…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2014-03-26

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 kia sportage. The contact stated that while driving in reverse, the driver's side air bags erroneously deployed from the steering wheel and from under the steering wheel area. The lower air bag struck the contact in the hip area and the steering wheel air bag struck the…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2013-07-21

“1997 kia sportage have a defective fuel tank. Consumer states that she received a notice after the repair to the fuel tank was done and would like to be reimbursed for the repair work. *nj the consumer stated prior to the repair, she smelled gas and there was gas on the garage floor. It was…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · reported 2008-07-01

Defect investigations

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation PE02051 Opened 2002-06-17 · closed 2002-09-20

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.

Investigation RQ02013 Opened 2002-10-18 · closed 2003-09-02

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED WITHIN ONE DAY OF…

Investigation RQ02013 Opened 2002-10-18 · closed 2003-09-02

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED WITHIN ONE DAY OF…

Investigation RQ02013 Opened 2002-10-18 · closed 2003-09-02

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

RQ02-013 WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND ADEQUACY OF RECALL 99V-325, WHICH INVOLVED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESS (HARNESS).VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL POPULATION HAVE SHOWN NO SIGNS OF A DEFECT TREND.THE MAJORITY OF RECALL REMEDY FAILURES IDENTIFIED WERE REPAIRED WITHIN ONE DAY OF…

Investigation SQ99021 Opened 1999-06-30 · closed 2000-02-02

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON

A monthly Technical Times published by Kia and distributed to dealer technicians identifying a wiring harness problem that could cause connectors C123 and C124 to pull apart slightly during engine load changes.This could lead to erratic or tempory loss

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Kia Sportage as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.