There are 6 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2005 Kia Sportagein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the tire and wheel to angle to 45 degrees out from bottom to top. The rust and corrosion caused a complete failure of the sub-frame's ability to hold the rear wheels on. This was at low speed. This is a well maintained vehicle with no other problems, the engine had been replaced 5-6 years ago. The Kia Sportage of this year range is a commonly used car still utilized today. If this had happened at highway speed it would have been a disaster.
ROTTED REAR CROSS MEMBER.
REAR SUBFRAME ROTTED OUT. (,UNSAFE TO DRIVE). KIA SPORTAGE 2005 LOOK LIKE 30 YEARS OLD.
PURCHASED 2005 (NEW) RIGHT FROM THE SHOWROOM. EIGHT YEARS LATER FIND OUT THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. AND THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY. BROUGHT IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. SAID THEY NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, THAT IF THE FRAME BROKE IN HALF THE BACK TIRES WOULD FALL OFF. ONLY THING HOLDING IT ON IS THE TRAILING ARMS. CLAIM WAS FILED BUT KIA WONT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT IT WAS FROM THE SALT ON THE ROAD IN THE WINTER. ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT'S THE ONLY PART UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT'S ROTTED AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS SOLID WITHOUT RUST. HMMMM!!!! I HOPE THAT AN INVESTIGATION IS OPENED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND KIA DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. IVE TAKEN PICTURES AND EVERYONE THAT I'VE SHOWN CANT BELIEVE THERE EYES, SAYING THERE'S NO WAY A VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR SHOULD THE SUBFRAME LOOK LIKE THAT. KIA SAID THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUST BUT THIS CAN'T EVEN BE CONSIDERED RUST THE HOLES ARE SO...OOOO BIG I COULD PUT MY FIST THROUGH IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER!!!!! *TR
I TOOK MY 2005 KIA SPORTAGE EX INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY TO BE CHECKED DUE TO A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE PARTS CLERK ORDERED A REAR PASSENGER SPINDLE. ITS BEEN FOUR MONTHS AND THE PART IS SUPPOSEDLY ON BACK ORDER, THEY HAVE DENIED IT BEING A RECALL AND ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE A SUSPICION THAT IT IS A RECALL DUE TO IT TAKING SO LONG TO GET THE PART AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO GIVE ME A DATE AS TO WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORISTS. *NM
FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM; A LOT OF NOISE, KIA DEALER HAS REPLACED A LOT OF PART OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, IS PRACTICALLY NEW. BUT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM YET, SINCE I BOUGHT IT ON MAY, 2005. THIS CAUSING A LOT OF BIG VIBRATIONS WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MAKE IT UNSAFE BECAUSE INSTABILITY. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026