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2008 Kia Sportage Electrical Problems

22 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

22
Complaints
1
Recalls
12
Fires
Jan 2017Dec 2016
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Electrical Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #16V815000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and the connector cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 28, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC138.

Owner Complaints (22)

mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: May 2019

SO I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT RIGHT TIRE I FEEL THAT IT WIGGLES AND WOBBLES A CLOG MY ALIGNMENT TO GET MY STUFF AND I ALWAYS NEED WORK DONE ON IT ABOUT EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS CONTINUOUSLY GETTING LOCKED OUT OF MY CAR. MY CAR ON OR OFF ALWAYS LOCKS ME OUT OF MY CAR. MY PASSENGER DOOR NEVER LOCKS UNLESS I LOCK IT MYSELF MANUALLY. MY TRUNK DOOR NEVER OPENS AS WELL WHEN I PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND THE KEY MAILED IT WON'T FIT IN IT TO UNLOCK IT THAT WAY I FEEL THAT THE CAR OVER OR HAS A WIRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM

NHTSA #: 11205130
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2019

CAR WAS SITTING IN DRIVE WAY FOR A DAY AND HALF AT 335 IN THE MORNING ELECTRICAL SHORT STARTED A FIRE WAS CAUGHT ON NEIGHBOR SECURITY CAMERA

NHTSA #: 11204208
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Mar 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN EMAIL WAS SENT TO THE KIA MANUFACTURER WITH DOCUMENTED PROOF, BUT A RESPONSE HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA #: 11183520
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Aug 2018

I BOUGHT A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE AT OSAGE BEACH MO ON JULY 12, 2016. I SENT IT TO GHANA IN AUGUST, 2016 AND CLEARED FROM THE PORT IN NOVEMBER, 2016. THE SAID CAR WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS AT HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 21, 2018 AND CAUGHT FIRE AT 10.00PM THE SAME DAY. THE FIRE SERVICE WAS CALLED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. AFTER EXAMINATION THE STATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSED BY THE WIRING HARNESS. I THEN LEARNT AFTER THE INCIDENT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ( # 16V815000 / SC 138) ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2016 OF WHICH I WASN'T NOTIFIED. ATTACHED, PLEASE FIND PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE KIA SPORTAGE AND ORIGINAL TITLE. I AM WAITING FOR A DETAILED REPORT FORM FIRE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT ESSAM, GHANA, WHICH I WILL SEND TO YOUR OFFICE UPON RECEIPT. BY THIS COMPLAINT, I AM THERE REQUESTING KIA MOTORS AMERICA TO REPAIR ALL DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FIRE OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

NHTSA #: 11121895
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
FireFiled: May 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR A DETERMINATION OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA #: 11098621
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
FireFiled: Dec 2017

12/03/17, 03:15 A.M. WHILE PARKED, NOT RUNNING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. RESIDENCE WAS BUILT WITH VINYL SIDING, AND FRONT OF HOUSE WAS DAMAGED (MELTED VINYL). PARKED AT PRIVATE RESIDENCE. FAMILY ASLEEP INSIDE RESIDENCE WHEN FIRE ERUPTED. FOR 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO FIRE, THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP ON THE DASH PANEL WAS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES HAD BEEN INSPECTED, AND WERE IN GOOD BRAKING ORDER. I HAVE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY ANY INTERESTED PARTY.

NHTSA #: 11054454
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 10947218
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT BANGED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT THEN FADED OUT AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA #: 10946182
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2017

WENT TO KIA OF CHEYENNE ON SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT DATE FOR RECALL NOTICE AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. I WAS TOLD TO CHECK BACK IN A WEEK. WHEN I CALLED TO CHECK ON REPAIR DATE BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM NEBRASKA I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND TO CHECK BACK ON THE 31ST OF JANUARY. MY VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD AND NO ABS BRAKES DUE TO THE SEAL OF HECU BEING BAD. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 2013, THEY REFUSED TO FIX BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 10945119
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2016

2008 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD

NHTSA #: 10938188
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 10936577
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START AFTER MORE THAN TWO ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE AND FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENTIAL PARKING AREA. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA #: 10934623
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA #: 10870618
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Dec 2015

CAR WAS PARKED FOR REPAIRS AND NOT DRIVEN FOR MANY MONTHS OTHER THAN MOVING AROUND OUR PARKING AREA DUE TO DASHBOARD LIGHTS OF ABS, ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE LIGHTS LIT. HAD DIAGNOSTICS DONE ON CAR DUE TO ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGHTING, ABS, BRAKE, ESC, TRACTION CONTROL. DIAGNOSTICS VIA SHORKEY KIA SHOWED ABS BAD ALONG WITH OIL PAN RUSTING DUE TO WISHING TO GET IT ROAD WORTHY AND INSPECTED. REPLACED OIL PAN AND MOVED CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND IN TO PARKING AREA IN FRONT OF SECOND GARAGE DOOR NEAR HOUSE. CAR WAS PARKED ABOUT ONE HOUR WHEN CAR IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE ORIGINATED ON RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AROUND ABS AREA AND SPREAD THROUGH ENGINE AND IN TO PASSENGER AREA OF CAR PRIMARILY ON PASSENGER SIDE. CAR A TOTAL LOSS, 112,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA #: 10809937
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Nov 2015

VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR HOURS IN DRIVEWAY. SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER HOOD AND DAMAGED UNDERHOOD ACCESSORIES SUCH AS HEADLAMP HOUSING,ABS MODULE, PAINT, WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DAMAGED, THE EXTERIOR PAINT WAS BLISTERED AND NOW THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE FIRE APPARENTLY BEGAN IN THE ABS MODULE AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL APRON. EVERYTHING PLASTIC IS DAMAGED AND SOOT COVERS MOST OF THE UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS 48K MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA #: 10794948
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: Jun 2014

I PARKED MY CAR AT 6AM WENT IN TO WORK AT ABOUT NOON MY COWORKERS WERE TELLING ME MY CAR WAS SMOKING WENT OUTSIDE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SO WE POPPED THE HOOD AND MY ELECTRICAL BOX WAS SMOKING PRETTY BAD A GUY USED A EXTINGUISHER ON IT TO FIND IT WAS STILL SMOKING SO HE DISCONNECTED.THE BATTERY ALL THE WIRES IN BOX ARE BURNED I ONLY HAD A LITTLE OVER 100000 MILES ON IT SO NATURALLY ITS EXPIRED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10606784
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Nov 2013

THIS IS PART 2 OF 3... WE GOT A NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AT ADVANCED AUTO. CAR RAN FINE. THE NEXT MORNING , SHE STARTED THE CAR AND THEN WENT INTO THE HOUSE. MY NIECE WAS THERE AND SAID SHE HEARD A POP AND LOOK OUTSIDE TO SEE THE CAR ON FIRE. THE WHOLE FRONT END INCLUDING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED WAS A FAULTY PART IN THE ABS (CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON) WAS SHORTING OR SOMETHING AND THAT KEPT DRAINING THE BATTERY. WITH THE BATTERY LOW, THE BATTERY WOULD DIE BEFORE ENOUGH HEAT COULD BUILD UP, HOWEVER, WITH THE NEW BATTERY, IT COULD CONTINUE TO PULL POWER AND HEAT UP WHATEVER FAULTY PART WAS SHORTING OUT AND THEN GOT HOT ENOUGH TO BLOW AND CAUSE FIRE. (CONTINUED IN NEXT POST) 3 OF 3... *TR

NHTSA #: 10552090
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Nov 2013

SHE IS 73 YEARS OLD AND ON A FIXED INCOME. SHE HAS ALREADY PAID THOUSANDS FOR THE CAR AND NOW DOES NOT HAVE A CAR DUE TO A FAULTY PART. NO CAR SHOULD CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO NORMAL USE. NOW SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO PAY FOR ANOTHER CAR. HOPEFULLY THAT CAR MANUFACTURER PRODUCES A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT JUST CATCH FIRE AT RANDOM AND IF IT DOES, THEY TAKE CREDIT FOR BUILDING AND SELLING YOU A VEHICLE WITH A FAULT THAT IS THERE OWN. SHE STRUGGLED TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A CAR THAT SHE TOOK GOOD CARE OF TO JUST BURN UP INFRONT OF HER. SHE LOOKED FORWARD TO FINISH PAYING THE CAR OFF. BLUE BOOK IS ROUGHLY $9,000.00 SHE PAID MORE THAT HALF OF IT OFF AND STILL OWES $7,000.00 BUT NOW, INSURANCE WILL GIVE HER THE $9,000.00 OF WHICH SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY $7,000.00 OUT TO PAY IT OFF, LEAVING HER WITH $2,000.00. WHAT CAN YOU BUY WITH $2,000.00 - NOTHING! SO NOW SHE MUST START OVER AND USE THE $2,000.00 TO GET BACK INTO A FULL CAR PAYMENT AND STRUGGLE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS OR MORE. W.T.F.!?!? I SEE ON THIS WEBSITE, PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEM. IF THERE IS MORE THAN 1 OR 2 CARS THAT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE THE SAME WAY, WHY ISN'T IT LOOKED INTO, AND WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. SURE IT MAYBE HARD FOR KIA TO REPLACE MANY VEHICLES, HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS HARDER FOR MY MOTHER OF 73 TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT $15,000.00 - $20,000.00 JUST BECAUSE THE ONE SHE TRUSTED TO BE A SOLID VEHICLE WAS BUILD CRAPPY. IT IS KIA'S DESIGN AND MECHANICS THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. AND IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO KEEP SELLING THE VEHICLES TO PEOPLE WITH A PROBLEM AS SUCH. *TR

NHTSA #: 10552091
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
FireFiled: Nov 2013

THIS WILL BE 1 OF 3 PART STATEMENT... ABOUT A WEEK AGO (GIVE OR TAKE A FEW DAYS), A COUPLE OF MY MOTHER'S 2008 KIA SPORTAGE'S DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ABS LIGHT, THE ESC LIGHT, AND I THINK ONE OTHER (POSSIBLY THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BUT MIND YOU THIS IS NOT MY CAR AND I AM NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH HER DASH). SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A PART THAT WAS CAUSING ONE OF THE LIGHTS TO COME ON (I BELIEVE THE ESC LIGHT). SHE TOOK THE CAR TO GET THE PART REPLACED, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTS DID NOT GO OFF. I HAVE WHEEL HUBS ON MY SUV CROSSOVER AND I TOLD HER THAT WHEN MY WHEEL BEARING/SENSOR STARTS GOING BAD THAT IS WHEN MY LIGHT COMES ON. WELL A COUPLE DAYS LATER, HER DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING STARTED TO ROAR, SO WE FIGURED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO THAT. SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE BEARING AND ALTHOUGH THE RIDE WAS QUIETER DUE TO THE NEW BEARING REPLACEMENT, THE ABS LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS DID NOT GO OFF. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT SHE DOES NOT HAVE A WHEEL HUB WITH SENSOR AND BEARING IN THE HUB BUT THAT ALL OF HER PARTS WERE SEPARATE. HE SAID THAT THE LIGHT MAY BE ON DUE THE SENSOR MAY HAVE DEBRIS FROM THE WHEEL BEARING GOING BAD OR POSSIBLY THE SENSOR IS GOING BAD ITSELF. I PLANNED ON PULLING AND CLEANING THE SENSOR FOR HER IN THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. WELL BEFORE THE WEEKEND, SHE WENT SHOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WHEN SHE CAME OUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. WE CALL A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO CAME AND GAVE IT A QUICK JUMP AND SAID SHE MUST HAVE LEFT HER LIGHTS ON. SHE DROVE HOME, PULLED IN DRIVEWAY AND I TOLD HER TO LEAVE IT RUN A BIT TO CHARGE THE BATTERY BACK UP. SHE DID SO AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, SHUT IT OFF AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED IT AGAIN TO ENSURE THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED. LATER THAT DAY, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN...BATTERY DEAD AGAIN. (CONTINUED IN NEXT POST) 2 OF 3... *TR

NHTSA #: 10552088
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jun 2013

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THE AREA, I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SCHEDULING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WITH THE SAME DEALERSHIP. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND? *TR

NHTSA #: 10522180
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2013

VEHICLE PARKED, NOT RUNNING, BUT WITH THE RADIO ON, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RELASED LOCK AND LOOKED INSIDE, SMALL BOX MOUNTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WALL, UNDER THE HOOD, OVER THE WHEEL WELL, A SMALL SQUARE BOX, I THINK IT WAS THE ABS BOX WAS ON FIRE. EVERYTHING THAT WAS BURNABLE UNDER THE HOOD BURNT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10511891
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES
FireFiled: May 2013

I WAS IN THE CAR, PARKED IN A WENDYS PARKING LOT, ENGINE OFF, RADIO ON. THERE WAS A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY SMOKE, A GENTLEMAN IN A TRUCK 3 SPACES AWAY HEARD IT AND SAW IT. WE GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING, I OPENED THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SEE FLAMES ABOUT 2 INCHES HIGH AROUND THE BOX MOUNTED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UP NEAR THE HEADLIGHTS AND OVER THE WHEEL WELL. WE SHUT IT AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYTHING INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT COULD MELT DID MELT, ALL THE PAINT ON THE HOOD ETC, PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR SHUT WITHOUT NOISE AND AN EXTRA PUSH OR PULL. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THE LITTLE BLACK BOX WAS THE ABS CONTROLLER. JUST LUCKY THAT I WASN'T DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10511940

Other 2008 Kia Sportage Issues