1998 Kia Sportage Suspension Problems

Your Sportage's rear frame has extensive rust and rot that has eaten completely through the metal, particularly in the rear cross member area. Since you purchased the vehicle in 2012, this deterioration has happened rapidly and has compromised the structural integrity of the frame, making the vehicle unsafe for driving, towing, or selling to someone else. The rusted frame could fail unexpectedly and create a safety hazard. Fixing this will require professional welding or complete frame replacement to restore structural integrity.

DRIVING UPHILL IN ONE INCH OF SNOW THE AXEL HUBS ON THE FRONT OF VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING, SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND BACKWARDS TO A STOP. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE AS FOLLOWS: AXEL HUB SEALS, AXEL BEARINGS, UPPER BALL JOINT, VACUUM LINE AND REALIGNMENT OF FRONT END.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SPRING FROM THE LEFT REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL.CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED WHEEL BEARING. *AK

CONSUMER HAD RECALL FOR THE REAR AXLE AND BEARINGS REMEDIED IN 08/99. ACCORDING TO DEALER'S DIAGNOSTIC, THE COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED AGAIN ,AND COULD CAUSE WHEELS TO BECOME DETACHED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND WHEN IN IDLE OR DRIVE.*AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING SEIZED TO THE HUB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED KIA WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR WHEEL BEARINGS AND/OR SPINDLE. *MR *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL KICK IN INTERMITTENTLY ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THE CATALYST HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN OIL LEAK AND FRONT END WAS SERVICED 3 TIMES. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. NLM

FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK WAS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND I HAD A OIL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE. CAR STARTED TO SHAKE EVEN AFTER IT WAS HOT AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE MOTOR RR WINDOW WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BRAKES WERE MAKING SOME WEIRD NOISE. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER TO FIX AND HE SENT IT TO KIA FOR REPAIR, THE KIA CREW FOUND THE FRONT CALIPER FROZEN, BUT THE CUSTOMER DENIED TO FIX IT. SO I BROUGHT IT TO A SPECIALIST TO CHECK DOUBLE CHECK THE CAR. THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS AND FOUND THE CAR UNSAFE (CALIPER RGT WORN, FROZEN, CALIPER HARDWARE WORN, WHEEL CYL RGT- NEW/KIT LEAKY, SHOE HARDWARE WORN, C.V. BOOT/JOINT RFO/RFI/LFO/LFI WORN, COIL SPRINGS FRONT BROKEN RR BROKEN, BALL JOINTS/LOWER L WORN). I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER BECAUSE I STILL HAD WARRANTY AND TOLD HIM I DIDN'T WANT THE CAR IT WAS GIVING ME HARD TIMES ALREADY AND ONLY HAVING IT AT THAT TIME FOR NOT EVEN A MONTH. AS I WOULD DRIVE I WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE THE GAS, BECAUSE IT WOULD START TO SHAKE AND FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF. *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760758

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO WHEEL BEARINGS HAD WORN.*JB

CONTINUATION PART 3...VERY SLOWLY, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE CRUNCHING OR GRINDING METAL ON METAL NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED DOWN (NOT THE BRAKES), THE WAS A HORRIBLE GROAN SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON THE FREEWAY, THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HUBS ON THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER AFTER BEING OUT OF SERVICE FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DUPLICATED EACH AND EVERY CONCERN AND ADDRESSED THEM ALL. EXACTLY 1 WEEK LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME AT THE MALL. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD TO GET THE BATTERY BOOSTED SINCE SOMETHING THAT THE DEALER DID ELECTRICALLY WAS IMPROPER. I MADE IT BACK HOME BUT WAS UNSURE WHETHER OR NOT I COULD MAKE IT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY WITH A WEAL BATTERY. SURE ENOUGH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START IN THE MORNING. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO MY HOUSE TO PICK UP THIS LEMON. AFTER ANOTHER 5 DAYS OUT OF SERVICE, I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A BAD ENGINE HARNESS IN THE VEHICLE. EXACTLY 2 DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING OIL, THE WINDOWS STARTED MOVING SLOW AGAIN, THE REAR END OF MY VEHICLE STARTED RATTLING, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD THE METAL ON METAL NOISE AGAIN, THE GROAN NOISE HAD COME BACK, THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER GOING UP THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE. FEELING LIKE THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE TO ME, I SENT KIA A LETTER ASKING FOR A BUYBACK AS WELL AS ALL OF MY REPAIR INVOICES AND ALL THEY DID WAS OFF TO PAY ONE OF MY CAR NOTES AND TOLD ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. I DECLINED THEIR OFFER TO PAY 1 CAR NOTE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT STAYED FOR 16 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. AGAIN, ALL CONCERNS WERE DUPLICATED AND ADDRESSED. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AS THEY USUALLY DID WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. *AK

HAD SUV INTO SHOP ABOUT 7 TIMES FOR WHEEL BEARING. ONCE ON A RECALL FOR BEARING ALSO HAD BRAKES FIXED BECAUSE OF BEARING. FAILED TWO STATE INSPECTIONS DUE TO BEARING.HAD A RECALL FOR EXAUST.*AK

MAIN CONCERN IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF INDICATOR LAMP IS ON AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGING. CAUSING A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY ON HAZARDOUS ROADWAYS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK

AFTER PICKING UP DAUGHTER FROM THE DAYCARE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, TRAVELLING ABOUT 45MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND LOST CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AND PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

WHEEL BEARINGS LOOSE RUSTED WHICH CAUSED BRAKE DUST TO GATHER. DEALER REPLACED BEARING ROTOR AND PADS IN FRONT, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, AND FRONT WHEEL BRAKE PADS. NLM

FRONT END VIBRATION CAUSED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR (ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS). MJS

FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY SEALS(LEAK)RUSTED OUT BEARINGS, UNSAFE TO DRIVE

MY INTIRE AXLE AND ROTORS AND SHOES WERE RUSTED OUT AND SEIZED UP

THE 4- WHEEL DRIVE FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. VEHICLE ALSO MAKES HIDEOUS NOISES & THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VERY BADLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOISES AND VIBRATIONS ARE GETTING WORSE. *AK

I PURCHASED A LEFTOVER NEW 1998 SPORTAGE 4X4 ON 4/12/99. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON 3/31/98. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR AUTOBODY REPAIRS ON THURSDAY 5/13/99 WITH 592 MILES ON IT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ON MODAY 5/17/99 WITH 594 MILES ON IT THE LIFTERS WERE MAKING A HORRIBLE TAPPING NOISE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING IN STORAGE FOR OVER A YEAR AND WHEN PURCHASED BY MYSELF THAT A NEW OIL FILTER AND OIL CHANGE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS I FINALLY GOT HIM TO PUT IT IN WRITING AND I NOW HAVE THE DOCUMENT AS PROOF. MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES A LIFTER GO BAD AT 594 MILES AND WHY DIDN'T A LARGE COMPANY SUCH AS KIA HAVE THE INSIGHT TO PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE UPON PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE. I HAVE ACESSED YOUR COMPLAINT FILES FOR THE 1998 SPORTAGE AND IT PRINTED 21 PAGES. CAN ALL THOSE CONSUMERS BE WRONG? I DO NOT THINK SO, I FEEL MY SUV IS ON ITS WAY TO BEING THE LEMON THAT ATTACKED NEW YORK. IF I WAS ADVISED OF YOUR WEBSITE PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY LOOKED TO OTHER AUTO MAKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE SITE, BUT I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS JUST THE BEGINNING!!!( DOT NUMBER: )

WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITION FRONT SUSPENSION HUB BROKE. *AK

VIBRATIONS OF THE STEERING WHEEL AT 45 TO 50 MPH.

VEHICLE SUSPENSION MAKES NOISE AND WANDERS.

ALSO, THE CAR SHAKES AND TREMBLES WHEN IT IS ACCELERATED

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK