While driving to work this morning, I experienced an unintended engine acceleration while at a stop sign. It was about 7:30am at the time of event, I had been driving for about 10 minutes up to that point. Prior to that, the vehicle had been in the garage all evening. The temperature outside was cool, but I had no heat or air turned on at the time of event. I was at a complete stop at a stop sign on the corner of Bertrand Rd and S Third St in Niles, Michigan. I was waiting for the cross traffic to go across, and while I sat there with my foot on the brake, the engine accelerated and the car started to lunge forward. I pressed harder against the brake pedal and felt some resistance, but was able to keep the car from going into the intersection. The acceleration ceased, and then I continued on to work with no further incidents. The vehicle mileage at time of this writing is 35,344 miles, and the incident location is about 15 miles from my workplace. There were also no warning lights visible on the car during the incident, and there were no floor mat obstructions that would have interfered with any pedals.
Kia Sportage sudden acceleration problems
29 of the 4,730 owner complaints about the Kia Sportage describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 29
- worst model year
- 1997
- typical mileage
- 37,000
By model year
- 20252
- 20241
- 20232
- 20203
- 20173
- 20151
- 20111
- 20091
- 20072
- 20051
- 20021
- 20001
- 19992
- 19981
- 19975
- 19961
- 19951
Often reported together
No deployment 2Won't start 1Stalling 1Jerking 1Engine failure 1Check engine light 1
What owners say
Sudden Unintended Acceleration – 2024 Kia Sportage – Safety Hazard. Incident Date: April 18, 2026. Location: Parking lot. While pulling into a parking space at low speed, I brought the vehicle to a complete stop with my foot on the brake. Immediately after stopping, the vehicle suddenly and forcefully accelerated forward on its own without my foot on the accelerator. I was actively pressing the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not respond as expected and continued to accelerate. The acceleration was strong enough that the vehicle jumped over the parking bumper with both front tires and struck a fixed post. Even after impact with the post, the vehicle continued to push forward as if still accelerating, until it hit another barrier and finally came to a stop. At no time did I press the accelerator pedal. The vehicle’s behavior felt completely uncontrolled and unsafe. This incident could have resulted in serious injury or death if it had occurred in traffic or with pedestrians in front of the vehicle. The vehicle has been towed to KIA dealership and is pending inspection. I am reporting this as a serious safety defect. No injuries. Front-end damage after collision with post. This event was sudden, unexpected, and not driver-induced.
On Monday, Dec 15 at approximately 3:30 pm I was pulling into my parking spot in front of my house. The vehicle suddenly revved loudly and shot forward striking a tree in my front yard. If not for the tree would have ended up in the kitchen. When parking I do not have to apply gas once I enter the lot as I can drift into the spot. I barely have to brake to stop the vehicle. The steering wheel airbag deployed, fortunately no serious injuries. The passenger front end was pretty much gone and two big branches were sheared off at ground level. Police responded, report #XXX [XXX] Sheriff office. Vehicle is due to get to the body shop today or tomorrow. Fortunately this happened where it did as if it had been in traffic or around people it could have been very serious. This was also reported to Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle was jerking while shifting between gear. The contact also stated that the vehicle lunged forward while accelerating and was vibrating while decelerating. The contact stated that there was a loud clicking sound coming from the dashboard. The contact stated there was a burning odor coming from the vents. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the engine was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that several miles away after picking up the vehicle from the local dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated and the failures recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,598.
When pulling out of a parking area the vehicle accelerated without me pressing the gas pedal. Attempts to stop the vehicle by pressing the brake were unsuccessful. The vehicle stopped when we struck a building.
Car wouldn’t accelerate, could be problem if turning left into traffic. Trip to Florida, 1000 miles, the Engine accelerated by itself, one time the mph was into the 90’s before I got it under control. This happened 3 times on my drive Florida from Indiana
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space at a very slow speed and while pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove over the stop bump and a curve before crashing into a building wall. During the crash, the contact sustained a head injury which later required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was driven away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 37,000.
Sudden acceleration accident
On Sunday I was getting on the expressway and my car accelerated on its own. I hit the brake and the car was ok. That was May 22, 2020, On Wednesday, May.25,2020 I was pulling into a parking spot at Kroger Store and my car accelerated on its own and I hit a pole. Over $4000.00 damaged to my car but I was not hurt. I took my car to the dealer and they checked it and said nothing was wrong. I am afraid to drive it. I don't want to hurt anyone or myself. There were no warning lights.
As I was pulling into a parking spot the car suddenly accelerated with great speed and lunged the car forward into a cement wall. I was in a parking garage and going very slow when it darted forward. It damaged the front number and the electronic sensors
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- The accelerator pedal assembly could bind or stick during operation.
- Risk
- This condition can cause the accelerator to hold the throttle partially open, resulting in loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly.
Recall number 96V131000 · Recall details
Questions about the Kia Sportage sudden acceleration
Which Kia Sportage years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (5 complaints), 2017 (3 complaints) and 2020 (3 complaints).
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