1997 Kia Sportage Electrical Problems

After your Sportage was in an accident with a bent frame, the dealership's repair left your vehicle shutting off unexpectedly—a problem they couldn't fix even after two visits. Your electric windows also stopped working and won't roll back up, and you noticed a whistling noise coming from inside the vehicle. The repair may require inspection of the electrical system for accident-related damage, window motor replacement, and diagnostic work to identify the source of the whistling and engine stalling issues.

Your vehicle unexpectedly revs up to nearly 2000 RPM, then jerks and stalls while driving. This problem has been occurring for about 5 years and continues even after multiple service visits. A recall was issued for your vehicle, but the dealership's computer shows the recall repair was supposedly already completed. Diagnosing this issue will likely involve checking the ignition system components, fuel delivery system, and verifying whether the recall repair was actually performed correctly.

WHILE DRIVING 34 MPH SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE BEEN HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT 2WEEKS NOW, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BATTERY; BUT I CHECKED IT OUT AT AUTOZONE FOR FREE AND THE MACHINE THAT DETECTS HOW MUCH POWER IN THE BATTERY SUGGESTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THE STALLING PROBLEMS STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND I HAD TO PUSH-START THE CAR ABOUT FOUR TIMES AND THEN IT DECIDED TO NOT START AT ALL, I KNOW ITS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND IT STILL HAS POWER.

MY CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE KIA COPRORATION FIELD EXPERTS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY SAY IT'S A WIRING NIGHTMARE, THEY REFUSE TO TAKE IT TO IRVINE (KIA HEADQUARTERS) BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THEY WIRING HARNESS RECALL OF 1997 PROVES THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN PROPERLY FIXED, AND I CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE MISSION BAY KIA DEALERSHIP SINCE 12-1-02, AND I'M STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

TWICE IT HAS SHOT SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF ENGNE. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS/DIES WHEN IT COMES TO A STOP, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT RESTART. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES CAME FROM DASHBOARD AND FLOOR BOARD AREA OF VEHICLE, TOTALLY DESTROYING VEHICLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY. WHEN I CALL PHIL LONG FORD, THEY TELL ME THAT HAPPENS WITH KIAS AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNLESS THE LIGHT IS ON AT THE TIME I BRING IT IN. AFTER ONCCE TAKING IT DOWN ANYWAY AND BEING REFUSED REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF BY THE TIME I GOT DOWN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN PASS, I GAVE UP ON THAT ONE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL RECALLS LAST SPRING WHEN I TOOK THE KIA IN FOR A TAILGATE LATCH RECALL, PHIL LONG FORD TOLD ME THERE WERE NO OTHERS. NOW I FIND THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL (99V325), WHICH COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NOW MY BATTERY WENT DEAD SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFTER READING SO MANY COMPLAINTS. ALSO, MY HORN PERIODICALLY WON'T WORK WHICH PHIL LONG ALSO SAYS IS COMMON. (WHY THEN HAVEN'T THEY FIXED IT?) KIA AND THEIR PARTNER, FORD, NEEDS INVESTIGATING.

COST ME $450 TO STOP KIA FROM IDLEING HIGH AND SPUTTERING. TOOK MANY TRIPS TO DEALER BEFORE THEY COULD LOCATE PROBELM. WE ARE VERY UPSET AT THE SERVICE THAT IS PROVIDED AT ALL KIA DEALERS. THE "DONT CARE" ATTITUDE IS VERY APPARENT. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE SAFTEY PROBLEMS WITH THE KIA.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING FAILED PRIOR TO RCALL NOTICE CAUSING IT TO STALL. NLM

THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-325) CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

INTERMITTENTLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE, RESULTING IN CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. DEALER HAS INSPECETED THE VEHICLE. *AK

SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE MILEAGE WAS 1,200 OVER WARRANTY COVERAGE OF 36,000. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75/15 )

SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE MILEAGE WAS 1,200 OVER WARRANTY COVERAGE OF 36,000. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75/15 )

BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES PROBLEM PERSISTS. LOSS OF CONTROL NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS.

WIRING FAILURE CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON.

WHILE TRAVELING THE VEHICLE INDICATION LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK