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.
1998 Kia Sportage transmission complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 63, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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
Transmission jumps out of gear. The shifter jumps from drive to neutral when vehicle accelerates. Dealer has been notified.
Oxygen sensor has been replaced three times after routine service was performed.*ak consumer also stated the wipers were not clearing windshield, windows go up slowly, 4-wheel drive was inoperative,vehicle was loosing power steering, dealer replaced the fan belt,air condition was inoperative,wheel bearing were loose,weatherstrip was replaced,the engine boggs down while driving, front brakes were noisy.
4-wheel drive failed twice within a 1 year time span during snowstorms! It was "repaired"the first time but failed again less than 1 year later.both failures occurred during deep snow conditions,thusly making driving impossible and creating a potential for hazardous and possible fatal conditions.I am bringing the vehicle in today(01/15/2002) to kia of westchester to be diagnosed and repairs.please,contact said dealership to insure that the vehicle gets repaired properly and in a expeditious manner.also,I lost 2 days of salary because I was unable to make it home(I was in pa visiting my ill father) because of 1-foot of snow and unable to engage 4-wheel drive!
I can send you a email I sent to channel 7 out here in denver colo. No safety defect stated in summary.
While driving at 75 MPH brakes completely failed, consumer was informed it was due to wheel bearings had worn.
Transmission failures and replacements from 11/26/99 at 19,790 miles/ 12/28/99 at 21,156 miles, to present. All repairs and replacements were done by a dealer. But, problem still appears to be reoccurring. Feel free to provide any further information.
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.
Consumer states while traveling between 20 and 30 MPH, another vehicle was cut off by a another driver . Consumer states this caused consumer to hit the back of a bus. Consumer states when pressing on the brakes vehicle would not stop. Consumer hit the back of a bus before vehicle would stop. Please provide any further information.
All four windows get stuck, doors lock and unlock by themselves, vehicle is trying to shift into 4x4 while vehicle is in motion, air conditioner works 1 out of 4 times, latch opens on back of vehicle while in motion. Black tarry dust on front tires.
Over all 4 wheel drive dosen't seem to work when indicator light shows that it is on.
4 wheel drive not working for sometime during winter storm- replaced both front knuckle assembly.
Vehicle will not accelerate under normal operating conditions. Dealership has worked on vehicle several times since 1998, and has not been able to repair vehicle. *ak the consumer states that the fuel injector, head gasket, wiring harness and transmission had been replaced. However, the problem still exists and the vehicle was a lemon or defective.
Fuel tank sensor went out in vehicle 7 different times. Door handle on passenger's side had came off twice. 4-wheel drive did not work when using it. Taken vehicle to dealership for repairs. Was informed that fuel tank should not be filled completely. Will be looking at the other problems for repairs.
I am a kia tech in ct . The 1998 and 1999 sportage was recalled to have the steering knucles replaced.the four wheeldrive vacum hubs would suck water and dirt into the wheelbearings causing them to fail.in some cases I have seen the bearings were so loose the vehicles would lose there brakes. The recall kits we have installed are now failing in great numbers and are not just 98 and 99 vehicls but 2000 and 2001 vehicles.all of these model year vehicles should be recalled before people get hurt.
4- whell drive unit pops out or won't go into 4- wheel drive. Dealer has had vehicle 4 times.
Four wheel drive mode will not engage when it is activated. Consumer has not spoken with kia about this.
4-wheel drive system has gone out due to front axle seals leaking. Dealer said parts were on national backorder. Unknown when parts would be available. *ak
At 20-25 MPH in snow consumer had vehicle in 4-wheel drive, light indicated that it was. Consumer hit guardrail, only 2-wheels were turning, 4 wheel drive not working.
Vehicle never had 4-wheel drive even though 4- wheel green light indicator came on . Failure was due to front seal that shrank. Consumer has taken vehicle back to dealer several times to fix defect, but defect still occurs, placing consumer in dangerous situation. Consumer is now on waiting list for a new part that manufacturer claims will fix defect.
4-wheel drive not engaging. Dealer has made three attempts to repair. Recalled september 1999. Replaced vaccum seal december 27, 2000 still not working.
We were lucky in a 25 mile speed zone-highway speed would have killed us. No safety defect mentioned in summary
Brake failure.
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.
When putting vehicle in any gear can hear a loud squealing noise. When pushing down on clutch, it reduces the squealing noise, consumer stated it was a very annoying sound.
Connector corrosion caused vehicle not to start. Also, there was a camshaft oil leak. While driving vehicle at 65mph, engine started to race. Was as if someone put vehicle in neutral and stepped on gas.
Front hubs were seized. Purchased vehicle 1 week before incident.
Front bearings replaced, causing excessive tire wear, after replacement bearings had to be replaced shortly after due to faulty parts that fell apart, hub and bearing assembly/four wheel drive defective and not locking in properly and causing loss of control on minimal snow coverage prior to recall repair, after repair vehicle still experienced failures.
The trnamission fail twice once after the car was checked before we left on vacation, the deeler will not help my and we have ended up having a restraining order draw up because of the threats from his staff. Kia it's self has been notified and hav offered a rediculus traid in of $7000. The car was over $18000. The hubs have nearly cost me my life I went off the interstate hitting ice I was not in 4 wheel drive at the time but I went in to a ditch,when I tried to put it in to 4 wheel I would not go I had to travel in a ditch on a busy interstate for 5 mile till I could reach the exit. The washer motor failed on the interstate in smowing conditions, I had to empty water on the window as I was driving to see. This the worst car ever and the dealer and kia will not help with any of these matters. The dates of these incidents might not be the correct date my attorney has all the paper work from the dealer.
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