2000 Kia Sportage Electrical Problems
23 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM WERE FOLLOWED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE RESULTING IMPROPER CONNECTIONS COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUPTURE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURES.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
Owner Complaints (23)
TL*THE CONTACT HAD A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V325000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS WERE IDENTICAL, HOWEVER, KIA STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,150.
(1) HEADLIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING (2) WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED & MELTED (3) REPLACEMENT OF WIRING HARNESS & LAMPS. *NM
DT: THE C OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORADIC. ON 10-14-05 THEIR CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE CONTACT SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS, AND THEN SHE SAW BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. ONCE SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF THE CAR FINISHED SMOKING FOR A WHILE, AND WHEN IT QUIT SMOKING THE CONTACT TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. SHE WAS NOT YET SURE OF THE DAMAGE DONE BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT LOOKED AT IT. . SHE REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. HER HUSBAND THOUGHT IT WAS OF ELECTRICAL NATURE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED ,A KIA DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. THEY REFERRED HER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR SEVERAL PROBLEMS, SOME OF WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. BUT I THINK THAT A CAR THAT I GOT IN 2000 SHOULD NOT GIVE ME SUCH MAJOR PROBLEMS. NOW, I WAS DRIVING IT AND THE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH, HORN STARTED TO BLOW, WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES IN A FRENZY AND THEN THE WHOLE CAR SHUT OFF. WHEN I LIFTED UP THE HOOD, SOMETHING SMELLED TO BE BURNING, I BELIEVE THE WIRING IS BAD AND IT SHORTED OUT THE WHOLE CAR. THE MECHANIC SAID NO OFFENSE BUT KIA IS NOT A VERY GOOD BUILD CAR AT ALL. IT HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS. *KK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT THE VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE WHOLE TIME PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIR DEPARTMENT DEEMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND HAD BECOME A TOTAL LOSS. (RECALL #00V205000) *SCC
SMOKE HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED FRICTION. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN TO THE GROUND. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A CORRODED CABLE WHICH LEAD TO THE ENGINE. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAG(S) WOULD DEPLOY. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PRBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUGS.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT SPARK PLUGS WERE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
ALL POWER DOORS, WINDOWS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IN MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER INSPECTING ALL FUSES AND LIGHT BULBS, I BELIEVE BAD WIRING OR BAD CONNECTORS TO BE THE CULPRIT. *JB
SINCE OCT. 2002 UNTIL APRIL 2003, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD OPERATE ERRATICALLY, MAKING THE LOCK AND UNLOCKING SOUND, AND A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, FIRST THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIMER CONTROL UNIT, AUDIO CIRCUIT, THEY DID FIND FOUR CHAFFERED WIRES IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, AND SOME CORROSION FROM THE MAIN DOOR PIN. TWO DAYS LATER FROM PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALARM IS WORKING FUNNY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOCKS ARE FREAKING OUT. SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SAID TO ME UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE," I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, OR PERSONALLY, BUT I HOPE I DON'T SEE YOU AGAIN, YOU KNOW THINGS ARE EITHER BLACK, WHITE, OR GRAY AND THIS SITUATION IS VERY GRAY." IMAGINE THAT, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR, TO FIX YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE GIVEN THIS PLACE 8 YEARS OF SERVICE BETWEEN THIS VEHICLE AND MY PREVIOUS CAR. WAIT UNTIL I HAVE TO CALL AND SAY IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FOUND THE ANSWER, PLEASE HELP BETWEEN MARCH 26,2003 AND APRIL 4,2003 VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND ONCE LAST OCT,2002 I GUESS DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE SAFEGUARD KEEP FAILING ON KEY REMOTE, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REPLACE THE SAFEGUARD AND IT KEEP ON FAILING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATED THE STARTER FAILED. *YH
CONSUMER STATED THE HORN FAILED. *YH
FUSE FOR POWER WINDOWS AND A/C BLOWER KEPT BLOWING OUT. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS CAUSING POWER WINDOW FAILURE, SHORT IN SWITCH, BLOWING THE POWER WINDOW FUSE AND SHOCKING PASSENGERS. ALSO, DOME LIGHT BLOWS BULB AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, POWER DOOR LOCKS OPERATE WHEN STEERING COLUMN IS ADJUSTED,(WIRING RELATED). *YD
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS CAUSING POWER WINDOW FAILURE, SHORT IN SWITCH, BLOWING THE POWER WINDOW FUSE AND SHOCKING PASSENGERS. ALSO, DOME LIGHT BLOWS BULB AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, POWER DOOR LOCKS OPERATE WHEN STEERING COLUMN IS ADJUSTED,(WIRING RELATED). *YD
CAR LOSES POWER WHILE IN MOTION, TAKEN TO DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS IN A TIME SPAN OF THREE MONTHS, EVERYTIME THEY SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS WRONG WITH IT, YET IT HAS BEEN THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE EVERYTIME. I HAVE BEEN IN ONE NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER GOING 70MPS, I HAD TO DRIVE OFF OF THE HWY SO THAT I WOULDN'T BE HIT FROM BEHIND, THEN MY HUSBAND HAS ALMOST BEEN IN ATLEAST 4 ACCIDENTS, WHEN THE CAR LOSES POWER WHILE TURNING ONTO A BUSY INTERSECTION (CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD). DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, YET I KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER THIS PAST FRIDAY, AND IT IS STILL STALLING OUT ON ME. IS IT GOING TO TAKE ME, OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, DYING IN THIS CAR TO SEE WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS? PLEASE HELP ME. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO.*AK
THIS VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE DEFECTS IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO CORRECT. CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, FAILING BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SHOCKS, MULTIPLE BLOWN FUSES FOR WINDOWS, FUSES BLOWN PRIOR TO PURCHASE BUT DISCOVERED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE, PULLS TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY, SKIDS OFTEN WITH 'FACTORY EQUIPPED' TIRES, HAS ELECTRICAL SURGES,FUMES COME FROM THE HEATING SYSTEM, CANARY SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE AFTER 'SERVICING BY AUTHORIZED DEALER', ADDITIONALLY, DEALER'S SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE 'UNABLE TO DUPLICATE' OR RECOGNIZE ANY PROBLEMS
HORN ASSEMBLY WILL NOT SOUND WHEN PRESSED IN CERTAIN SPOTS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS; EACH TIME DEALER WOULD INFORM CONSUMER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND EACH TIME AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. CURRENTLY, WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, BUT AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON UPON STARTING VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER LEFT THE AIR BAG UNHOOKED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. IT WAS HOOKED BACK UP BUT THE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN ONE WEEK LATER. *YH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES FUSE PROBLEMS WITH STEREO, POWERED LOCKS, ALARM, WINDOWS, AND NOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS INOPERABLE, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FUSE PROBLEM. *SLC
CONSUMER HAS REPORTED ELETRICAL PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER WHO HAS BEEN UNCORPORATIVE. THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANCE DRIPPING ON DRIVER'S FOOT & A BURNING SMELL FROM THE INSIDE. CONSUMER PULLED/LIFTED UP HOOD AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP HAS NO CONCERN OF THE PROBLEM OR CAUSE.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED WITH NO WARNING. DEALER FIXED IT, AND SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK THE VEHICLE STALL FOUR TIMES. THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE TRANSMISSION GOING INTO SAFETY MODE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DEFROST MODE. *YH