Dt: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated. A diagnostic test indicated it was the maximum airflow unit. The vehicle hesitated while driving at any speed. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealer to determine the exact problem with the vehicle. *ak updated 12/7/2005.
1998 Kia Sportage: check engine light
18 of the 302 complaints about the 1998 Kia Sportage describe check engine light.
- owner complaints
- 18
- of this car's complaints
- 6%
- recalls
- 0
Check engine light by model year
What owners say
Engine connectors c144 (throttle position sensor), c129 (mass air flow sensor) and c146 (idle speed actuator) lose circuit continuity with movement of the engine causing engine hesitation, loss of power and false "check engine light " indication on the instrument panel. Wiggling the appropriate connector restores continuity temporarily but it will recur again shortly within a day or two of operating the vehicle.
Vehicle had four recalls and airbag light kept flashing. Recalls were on brake hoses, front buckle assembly, electrical wiring and missing label. *la while driving the vehicle air bag light began to flash. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician indicated that the air bag module had failed. While driving the vehicle's check engine light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer who indicated that the coils were cracked. Transmission line was leaking.
Recall 99v325000 concerning stalling. Vehicle was experiencing an electrical problem that interfered with performance. Vehicle was recalled and repairs done, but symptoms returned. Manufacturer claimed no responsibility because consumer was not the original owner. *ak check engine light was on. The vehicle vibrated, smoked and was overheating. The left front tire blew out. Ignition coils cracked and were replaced. Vehicle had a blown head gasket. Front left turn signal clips broke. Oxygen sensor failed. Right front door lock fell off. Vehicle had several parts on recall before the consumer purchased it and the consumer believed those recalled parts were the source of the problem.
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
I am registering a complaint against kia motors, inc. Because of the tremendous amount of problems I have been having with my vehicle. I purchased a 1998 kia sportage on january 17, 2000 and it had about 2600 miles on it. About 2 months later at 6683 miles, the engine light came on and since I was ready for an oil change anyway, I took the vehicle to the dealer to get it checked out. The dealer informed me that since the vehicle is still new and in its "breaking-in" stage, the light will go off in a few days. A few days later, the light did go off but the vehicle just didn't feel right. A few weeks later, the engine light came on again and I was again advised the dealer that it will go off by itself, this time I didn't take their word and insisted that the vehicle be checked out. The dealer then found that a sensor was out. The replaced the sensor and the light went out. A few weeks later, the engine light came on again and I also received a recall notice for a catalytic converter concern. So I took the vehicle to the dealer for both problems and was told that the engine light was related to the recall and both will be taken care of. Needless to say, they weren't. The same day I picked up my vehicle from the dealer, while driving out of the parking lot, the engine light came back on. I immediately made a u-turn went back into the service drive. I was advised that the sensor was out again and the part as not in. I waited for about 4 weeks until the part came in all while driving with the engine light on. The dealer replaced the sensor again and of course, the engine light came back on. At this time, I was about to go insane about this nagging problem that either the dealer could not fix or the vehicle could not be fixed. I did not take the vehicle back to the dealer for because I had just started a new job and could not afford to take time off of work to take the vehicle to the dealer or incur anymore rental costs. I then checked the federal safety agency website for recalls or ser*
Continuation of complaint.... I then checked the federal safety agency website for recalls or service campaigns and found 3 recalls that fit in my VIN range. I immediately called kia's 800 number and asked if my vehicle was included and was promptly told no. I believed this response since it was coming directly from the manufacturer and not the dealer. About 2 months later, I received a disturbing call from a representative from kia consumer affairs telling me to immediately stop driving the vehicle because the same 3 recalls I saw on the federal safety agency website and called to inquire about included my vehicle. The recalls were: brake line recall-the steering intermediate shaft coupling can contact a hydraulic brake pipe causing fluid leakage. This condition can cause a loss of rear brake increasing the risk of a crash. Electrical wiring- the wires connected to the c123 and c124 connectors can be put under tension by movement of the engine, thus pulling the wires and connectors, loosening them and resulting in a loss of circuit continuity. This condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash. The third recall was an obd label. I could not believe that kia put my family and me in so much danger by telling me that my vehicle was not involved. The kia representative told me that kia would provide me with a loaner vehicle. Since I knew that I could possible die by continuing to drive this vehicle, I took a day off of work and took the vehicle back to the dlr. By this time, I had kept a timetable and log of everything that had gone wrong with the vehicle and presented it to the dealer. The list included, of course, the check engine light on, hesitation on acceleration, vehicle shakes severely when the wheel is turned, the idle surges when the vehicle is stopped, the rear window defogger had come off of the vehicle, the radio had started to static and turn on loud even when it was turned off, the volume knobs on the radio worked intermittently, the windows rolled up and down
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.
Continuation part 4...on as they usually did when I started the vehicle. I took the vehicle back to the dealer 2 days later and found that the technician or "someone" disconnected my instrument panel in an attempt to stop the engine light from coming on and me coming back to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for another 2 days and so-called fixed the problem. As you know by now, the engine light came back on. By this time, I had filed with bbb and begged kia to take this problem back. At an arbitration hearing, the kia representative downplayed all of my return trips to the dealer by stating that the dealer did not report all of these problems to them and they were not aware of what was going on. All of that was a lie since kia was notified by certified letter of the problems and return trips. Well, the arbitrator sided with kia and stated that even though the vehicle presumably met the criteria for lemon law, she felt that the dealer should get one more chance to repair the vehicle. Since I did not like the arbitrators decision, I utilized one of the other options she offered and acted as if the hearing never happened. I drove with the engine light coming on and off for about 2 months until things got worse. The rear end started jingling louder than ever, the front end was grinding like never before, the vehicle would just take off on it's own, the transmission would become stuck in one gear or another without shifting, the windows were slow again, and the vehicle was shaking like a leaf. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they kept it for another 7 consecutive days and when I picked my vehicle up, there was a hideous dent and scratch on my right front fender as if a cinder block had fell on it. The dealer tried to release the vehicle to me that way but I refused. The kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the fender. They kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the.
The vehicle check engine light is constantly on, vehicle has been to dealer several occasions, to have various parts repaired and replaced, vehicle began smoking from the engine compartment, dealer has tried all types of remedies but problem still exists.
Engine light is on and dealership states that it is something else that causes it to come back on. And they insist that I pay for the repairs, and the problem still persists. I took it to do all the recalls and they claim to have done them. I can only take their word. I have taken it 2xs and problem still exsists. I had asked to see if it had a short but was told no. No safety defect.
Vehicle has been in dealership for surging, check engine light also on.
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 1998 Kia Sportage check engine light
Is check engine light a common problem on the 1998 Kia Sportage?
18 of 302 owner complaints about the 1998 Kia Sportage (6%) mention check engine light. The model year with the most reports is 2012.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1998 Kia Sportage?
There are 0 recalls and 2 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1998 Kia Sportage
Stalling 41Grinding brakes 15Loss of power 8Door locks 7Fire or smoke 7Won't start 7Engine failure 6Hesitation 6No deployment 5
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