2002 Kia Sportage

I PURCHASED A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE IN FEBRUARY OF 2017, AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IT ALL THE SUDDEN STARTED ROCKING SIDE TO SIDE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. WHEN LOOKING AT THE CAR WE NOTICED THE WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTED AND FALLING APART. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS BEING USED TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN.

WE HAVE RELIGIOUSLY CLEANED OUR 2002 SPORTAGE WITH UNDER WASHING TO KEEP UNDER CARRIAGE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE...YET WE ARE TOLD THE FRAME IS TOO RUSTED, WITH HOLES AND CANNOT BE INSPECTED OR DRIVEN SAFELY...WE HAVE LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS FRAME ISSUE...THE DEALER JUST SAID "NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE!" THEIR WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS OR 100K MILES IS NOT HELPFUL FOR THOSE OF US THAT PUT ON FEW MILE PER YEAR! NEVER BUY A KIA...EVER...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED CARBON MONOXIDE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO FALL SLEEP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A CANAL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BOTH TIMES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS AND PELVIC INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS ARE FRAYED WHICH MAKES THEM UNABLE TO STAY SECURE. IT WON'T STOP UPPER BODY MOVEMENT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED QUICKLY. DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN AND MOTOR IN DOOR STILL MAKES THE NOISE LIKE ITS WANTS TO WORK BUT DOES NOT. UNABLE TO PUMP MORE THAN A COUPLE DOLLARS OF GAS BEFORE IT SPITS GAS BACK OUT. WHILE DRIVING I SMELL ELECTRICAL BURNING AND WIRES UNDER HOOD ARE BURNT BY THE FAN. MAKING THE CAR HOT DUE TO FAN NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER ON 6-6-2016 IT HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF KIA'S RECALL # CS-048 THE CAR IS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE VIN [XXX] WITH 87K MILES AND ON JULY 4TH SHE STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND THE CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND THAN STOP RUNNING, SHE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE ROAD WAS COVERED WITH ROUGH GAS FROM HER CAR THANKFULLY THERE WAS A PATROL CAR IN BACK OF HER AND COULD REDIRECT THE TRAFFIC AND CALL FOR BACK UP TO HAND PUSH THE KIA OFF THE ROAD I CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE GAS ( FIRE SAFETY CONCERN ) SC-O48 I ASKED WHAT PARTS NEEDED AND COULD NOT AN ANSWER SO IF THEY ARE DOT GOING TO FIX I COULD GET THE PARTS AND HAVE MY MECHANIC MAKE THE REPAIRS I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE KIA EXPAND THIS RECALL SO THAT SOME ONE ELSE'S GRAND DAUGHTER WILL NOT BE PUT IN HARMS WAY UNDER THIS RECALL I THANK YOU FOR ANY CONSIDERATION YOU CAN MAKE REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REAR SECTION OF VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED BEYOND A SAFE CONDITION TO CONTINUE USE. REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT POINTS ARE CRUMBLING AND FALLING OFF. VEHICLE HAS 38,000 MILES. VEHICLE ALWAYS PARKED ON PAVEMENT OR CONCRETE AND USED AS A PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR AN OLDER FEMALE. VEHICLE USED VERY LITTLE DURING WINTER SNOW CONDITIONS.

"TAKATA RECALL" NOTHING NEW, SAME AS THIS AND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ... COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE FUMES,AIR BAGS LIGHT STAYS ON, HOLD LIGHT STAYS ON, RUST UNDERNEATH THE CAR,WINDOWS DONT WORK, ONLY BACK LEFT DOOR OPENS, AC DONT WORK, WILL RUN HOT IF ON. CONSUMER LOCATION: CALIFORNIA ALL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLAINT EXPAND DETAILS CLOSE HELP MANUFACTURER: KIA MOTORS AMERICA SUMMARY: THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMELL THAT PERMEATES THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE UPON STARTING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS TO INCLUDE THE LOCAL KIA DEALER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM - NEW FUEL FILTER, EXHAUST, ETC. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET TURNED UP A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 99-02 SPORTAGE GAS TANKS LEAKING DUE CORROSION CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN/MATERIAL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE NHTSA WILL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THIS MAKE/MODEL/YR VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER A YR.

I BOUGHT A CAR LAST WEEK FROM A PRIVATE SELLER, AND IT HAS A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN YET TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE SELLER HAD REPLACED THE FILLER HOSE, AND HAD SAID THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPLACED THE GAS TANK, SO HE SAID THERE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY ISSUES. I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO RIDE SAFELY IN THIS CAR, AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT WITH THIS LEAK ON THERE. FROM THE OTHER REPORTS THAT I AM READING, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, ALONG WITH THE RUSTED FRAME ON THE CAR. KIA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO SELL CARS WITHOUT FIXING THESE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES.

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HIT WHILE PARKED THE BUMPER WAS DESTROYED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TUNE SIGNALS DO NOT WORK, THE FUSES BLOW EVEYTIME THEY ARE REPLACED, THE HAZZARD SIGNAL BLOWS ALL THE FUSES, THERE IS A RECALL ON BEFORE THIS YEAR AND SOME AFTER, BUT NOT THIS ONE. GAS FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, NO DEALER IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. SHIFTER IS STUCK IN PARK, THE BY PASS KEY WORKS BUT IT WILL NOT SHIFT WITHOUT IT.

MY CAR HAS RUSTED SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.. TO THE POINT WHERE IT APPEARS THAT IT RUSTED THE FRAME AND SHOCK ABSORBERS. MY CAR WAS MADE IN KOREA... WONDER IF THESE IMPORTS HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS AMERICAN MADE CARS WITH UNDERBODY TREATMENT? ALSO THE FUEL BACKS-UP OUT OF THE GAS TANK... WHEN IN TRY TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PART... I HAVE BEEN GIVE NUMEROUS PARTS WHICH DO NOT FIT FROM THE DEALER. ALSO BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROOTERS GROUND DOWN BUT THEY KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STARTED BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT,MY BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE,LUCKILY I WAS FAR ENOUGH FROM LIGHT & NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF ME LIGHT TURNED GREEN,I WENT SLOW 20 MPH TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE & COASTED IN.I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKES,THE MECHANICS PUT IT ON LIFT & SHOWED ME THE FRAME! IT WAS SO SEVERELY RUSTED THAT THE BRAKELINE HAD SNAPPED AWAY FROM FRAME.THEY CALLED 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS & NOBODY WILL TOUCH IT DUE TO LIABILITY ISSUES.I'M BESIDES MYSELF,I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE.I'M ORIGINAL OWNER & CAR HAS BEEN IN GARAGE EVERYDAY FOR 12 YRS,HOW CAN THE FRAME BE BEYOND REPAIR AT 120,000 MILES.ALSO I'VE READ THE OTHER COMPLAINT'S ABOUT THE STRONG GAS ODORS & I HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM FOR YEARS,ALWAY'S IN THE WINTER.I LOVE MY CAR & NEED IT REPAIRED,KIA SHOULD FIX THE FRAME & RECALL THE MODEL,SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF IT HAPPENS TO THEM.NOW I HAVE TO RENT A CAR TO GO TO WORK & TRY TO GET IT FIXED,BUT FIRESTONE SAID WHOLE FRAME IS RUSTED,CHEAP METAL USED!SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!ASAP

NOTICING STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS DURING TIMES OF COLD WEATHER. IT HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUE SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR MORE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 MECHANICS WHO TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NOT SMELLED THE ODOR, EVEN AFTER GIVING ONE OF THEM THE CAR OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND HAS NOTICED IT SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. IT IS BEGINNING TO CAUSE ME TO HAVE NAUSEA AS I DRIVE UP TO 100 MILES PER DAY 3 DAYS PER WEEK. AS THE CAR HEATS UP AND AS THE WEATHER WARMS THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE FUEL SMELL DOES GO AWAY. HOWEVER, I HAVE 2 CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT AND AM CONCERNED FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY AS WELL. AS I RESEARCH, I HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THE ISSUE CAN BE EASILY FIXED. MY HUSBAND AND I WILL BE TAKING STEPS TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM OURSELVES, BUT I CANNOT SEE HOW WHEN THIS IS SUCH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION, AND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE, THAT THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT HAVE RECALLED THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE ON BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER AND REFLECTS POOR BUSINESS PRACTICES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE PRESENT IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,180.

JUST GETTING IN VEHICLE READY TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT IT WOULD NOT TIGHTEN NOR RETRACT BACK IN SO I COULD TRY AGAIN NOW THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT TIGHTEN AT ALL IT IS VERY UNSAFE I WILL GET TICKTED. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AS IS. *TR

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

FUEL TANK LEAKING. SEAM AREAS AND FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT AREA DO TO CORROSION AND VEHICLE WILL NOT MEET EMISSIONS STANDARDS DO TO LEAK. UNSAFE DO TO FUMES ENTERING CABIN . KIS HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SC059 FOR SPORTAGE 1996 - 2002 FUEL TANK INSPECTION FOR CORROSION BUT DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED ALSO CALLED KIA USA WAS TOLD NOT COVERED DO TO PRODUCTION DATE 10/15/2001 BUT KIA SC059 BULLETIN HAS MODEL YEAR 10/01/2000 THROUGH 9/30/2002 AS BEING COVERED. *TR

THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMELL THAT FILLS THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE UPON STARTING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND RUNNING. FUEL TANK LEAKING. SEAM AREAS AND FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT AREA DUE TO CORROSION AND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND I HAD A HARD TIME STARTING IT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE IT, ALL I COULD DO IS SMELL RAW GAS.------------------------ I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, ANY AND ALL PARTS ATTACHED TO FUEL TANK. (VERY EXPENSIVE). ON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 2011, I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS SINCE BUYING THIS VEHICLE. IN FACT, UPON LEARNING OF MECHANICAL ISSUES I TRY TO HAVE THEM FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (HOWEVER, I WAS GIVEN AN ORANGE TITLE. WHICH AT THE TIME, I DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANT.) YET, THE VEHICLE DROVE WITH JUST MINOR PROBLEMS, SUCH AS: BRAKES, TIMING BELT, FUEL FILTER, OIL CHANGES, ETC). THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND MOST DAMAGING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE UNDERBODY FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER LEANING FORWARD, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR SERVICE. WE WERE TOLD THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN DEC 2002. WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED THROUGH THE YEARS AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY TELL US THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT FIXING THE CAR. WE HAVE HAD MANY NEW CARS FROM 1962 TO 2011 AND NEVER HAD A CAR OR TRUCK RUST OUT IN 11 YEARS OF USE. I NOTICE THEIR ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND IT APPEARS NOTHING IS BEING DONE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHY THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT BEING LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL OF THESE KIA HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FIRST.