1999 Kia Sportage Transmission Problems

Your 1999 Kia Sportage is emitting strong fuel odors inside and outside the vehicle, which suggests a fuel leak that hasn't been repaired despite dealer visits. You're also experiencing transmission problems where gears slip randomly and shift slowly, and you've had to replace the timing belt three times, the drivetrain once, and the crankshaft once. The dealer has been unable to fix the transmission issue even after multiple visits and seal replacements. Addressing this will likely require a thorough fuel system inspection to locate and repair the leak, and transmission repair or replacement to resolve the shifting problems.

Your transmission is slipping out of gear without warning, even at low speeds like 10 mph. This problem happens unpredictably and a mechanic has determined the transmission needs to be replaced. The issue started around 127,000 miles.

Your vehicle hesitates and delays when you try to accelerate from a complete stop. When acceleration finally engages, your transmission makes an abnormal noise. The issue hasn't been inspected yet to determine the root cause.

4WD FAILURE, WILL ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SLIP OUT . ON THIRD TRIP TO MY MECHANIC FOR THIS PROBLEM, HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE REGARDING THE 4WD HUBS. UPON TALKING TO THE KIA REP HE WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR WERE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE REP GAVE HIM NO SATISFACTION ON MY BEHALF. I WILL BE CALLING KIA AS WELL, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ACTIVATE THIS SERVICE BEFORE THE FACT AS I DO NOT EXPECT ANY SATISFACTION. *TR

99 KIA SPORTAGE TIMING BELT SNAPPED BECAUSE OF A FREEZING VALVE, CAUSE HEAD TO WARP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING WITH NO WARNING AND STALLED ON THE FREEWAY.*CN

4 WHEEL DRIVE HUBS WON'T ENGAGE ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE STRAINS AS IF IT IS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND THE DISPLAY SHOWS IT IS ENGAGED.*AK

VEHICLE HAD DRIVESHAFT REPLACED EVERY 20,000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON WET ROAD CONDITION, WATER IS GETTING INTO THE SEAL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA

THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS ON MY '99 KIA SPORTAGE HAVE FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE HAD A VACUUM LINE REPLACED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. LAST YEAR THEY WOULD NOT WORK DURING A SNOW STORM , CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET STUCK IN A SNOW DRIFT. HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A WEEK LATER---AND THEY WERE WORKING. TEMPERATURES WERE WARMER WHEN THE DEALER LOOKED AT THEM. DURING RECENT SNOW STORM (12/5/03) HUBS ONCE AGAIN WOULD NOT ENGAGE. INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON, BUT THE REAR WHEELS SPIN IN THE SNOW. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE WITH MANUAL LOCKING HUBS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *LA

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, BUT 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGE. PH

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. *TT

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. *TT

WHILE TRYING TO ENGAGE FOUR WHEEL IT DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS SLIDING IN SNOW. ALSO, ONLY BACK WHEELS WERE TURNING. *AK

WAS DRIVING IN SNOW WHEN 4WD LIGHT CAME TO INDICATE IT WAS ENGAGED, BUT 4WD WAS NOT WORKING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND HAD IT REPAIRED. MECHANIC IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT FOR A THIRD TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD DUE TO 4WD NOT WORKING. *SLC

TRANSMISSION WAS HARD TO SHIFT. *YH

WAS DRIVING UP A SMALL HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSS POWER...AND SPEED DROPPED.*AK

FRONT BEARINGS WERE DISENTERGRATED, CAUSING TIRES TO WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED BEARINGS AND HUB. *AK *JB

4 WHEEL DRIVE BECAME INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED KNUCKLE PACKAGE, BOTH HUB ASSEMBLIES, BOTH AXLE ASSEMBLIES, DAMAGES SEALS, VACUUM SEAL, AND VACUUM HOSED WAS REPAIRED. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH

EVER SINCE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP WHEN GOING FROM 2 WHEEL DRIVE TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END, AND WILL CONTINUE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES, NOISE WILL RANDOMLY DISAPPEAR. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSES DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH IN RAIN DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED. THEN, PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED AS WELL. DEALER FOUND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER HAD BROKEN. REPLACED BOTH WINDSHIELD WIPERS. ON JANUARY 10, 2001 WHILE SNOWING, VERY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING TO DEALER'S LOT DRIVER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM FLEW OFF. *AK THE COMPLETE 4 WHEEL DRIVE KIT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BUT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE RESULTING IN BUMPING, GRINDING NOISE AND NO TRACTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *YH 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS NEVER IN WORKING ORDER IN VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND GOT STUCK. THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. LIGHT INDICATING THIS OPTION WAS WORKING HAD BEEN ON. DEALER FOUND 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAD NOT BEEN WORKING IN VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE. DEALER REPLACED 4 WHEEL DRIVE. NOW SAME PROBLEM WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE, SAME GRINDING SOUND BACK.

THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL DID NOT WORK, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF SNOWY CONDITION. NLM

4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE. *AK

4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE THEN. ACCORDING TO DEALER,PART IS ON BACKORDER, NOT KNOWN WHEN WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK THE DEALER DENIED THE VEHCILE WAS ON RECALL BUT FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER LONG DELAY. *YH

AFTER REPAIR AND WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW THE 4WD WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLID DOWN A HILL, UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4WD WAS NOT WORKING. NLM

FRONT HUB WILL NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER CAN NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHICH IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. ALSO, DUE TO DEFECT VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE; ONCE IN REVERSE GEAR, AND IN DRIVE GEAR. DEALER HAD VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND CLAIMED THAT A SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE.*AK

4-WD NOT WORKING, HUBS NOT LOCKING. ENGINE IS STRAINING AS IF IN 4WD, INDICATOR LIGHT IS LIT, LEADING YOU TO BELIEVE YOU ARE SAFELY IN 4WD, BUT THE BACK TIRES ARE SPINNING AND THE FRONT TIRES ARE NOT TURNING. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THE TRUCK AND ORDERED PARTS...THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO, AND DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE IN. KIA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE DEALER'S INQUIRY. THE WIRE HARNESS THAT WAS REPLACED TOOK A WEEK BECAUSE KIA SENT A FAULTY HARNESS AS A REPLACEMENT AND THE PART HAD TO BE REORDERED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING TWICE IN LIGHT SNOW 4-WHEEL DRIVE UNIT KICK OUT OF GEAR SPONTAENOUSLY. *AK THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE KICK OUT FORCED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN 180 DEGREES. AFTER THE THIRD FAILURE, THE CONSUMER RENTED A VEHICLE, BUT HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE RENTAL VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *YH

4-WHEEL DRIVE GETS STUCK WHICH CAUSES CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE UNIT SEALS WENT BAD. CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE, AND VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPAIRED. BUT, CLAIMED THATSEALS WILL GO BAD AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER'S WHEEL BEARING BROKE OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO BENT INWARDS/ SPARKS FLYING, AND FIRE STARTED. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF FROM THE AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IN AUGUST 1999, IT HAS INTERMITTENTLY "POPPED" OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. THE SHIFTER, WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED, SUDDENLY POPS INTO NEUTRAL UPON ACCELERATION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TEST DRIVE AND RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO VERIFY. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A PRINTER. *AK

THROTTLE: CAR INTERMITTENTLY JERKS IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. SERVICE PERSON AT DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN PRESENT AND EXPERIENCED THIS AND SAID THROTTLE HAS PROBLEMS, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO BE UNRESOLVED. TECHNICIAN SAYS HE CAN'T DUPLICATE IT. THIS JERKING OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP. THIS IS DANGEROUS ON THE ROADS IN THE WINTER AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TAILGATE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT LEAST TWO TIMES - IT FAILS TO SHUT PROPERLY - WHICH ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE. THE TAILGATE HAS TO BE SHUT THREE OR MORE TIMES BEFORE FINALLY CLOSING. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. SAME PROBLEM - NOT SHUTTING PROPERLY - WITH PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOORS. DURING THE WINTER, INSIDE OF WINDOWS STAYED "FOGGED UP" PREVENTING A CLEAR VIEW OF TRAFFIC. DEFROST FAILED TO CLEAR MOISTURE INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1.) DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT; 2.) FRONT AXLE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK WHILE MAKING A FULL LEFT TURN/ REPLACED BY DEALER, AND 3.) FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BUBBLE ON TIRE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED GEARS TO MALFUNCTION. YH

TRANSMISSION WON'T KICK INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVING OF SPEEDS OF 70 IT STAYS IN FIRST GEAR . RPM'S GO UP TO 6 AND WON'T KICK INTO GEAR.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. NLM

REAR TOP GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL., AND GEAR WILL GO INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS SITTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND JERKED. IT TOOK BOTH FEET TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. *AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION HAS DOWNSHIFTED AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING OFF THEN COME BACK ON. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND HOLD LIGHT FOR TRANSMISSION COMING ON THEN GOING OFF.

THE SPEEDOMETER CONTROL CABLE IN THE CAR WAS LOOSE RESULTING IN ESSENTIAL SENSOR TO FALL OFF AND FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER. YH

DEFECTIVE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE "ON THE FLY". NLM

WHEN THE GEARS ARE CHANGED TO THIRD AND FOURTH, TRANSMISSION GRINDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE COMES ON AND OFF WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FLY OFF THE ROAD. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A SEAL FOR THE HUB. *AK