Most common 1997 Kia Sportage problems
Share of the 181 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Sportage complaints by model year
Best Sportage years: 2019, 2014. Years to avoid: 2023, 2025, 2017, 2024, 2012. Compare all years →
1997 Kia Sportage recalls (3)
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle May "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.
Remedy: Owner notification began December 20, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Kia at…
Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. 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.
Remedy: Dealers will install spring clips to lock the connectors together. In addition, the dealers will be instructed to solder a splice in the wire harness.
Latches/locks/linkages › Hatchback/liftgate › Lock
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A microswitch on the rear hatch lock cylinder can malfunction causing the power door locks to unlock inadvertently.
Remedy: Dealers will modify the rear hatch door unlock circuit.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 1997 Kia Sportage:
Check engine light stays on
A monthly Technical Times published by Kia and distributed to dealer technicians identifying a wiring harness problem that could cause connectors C123 and C124 to pull apart slightly during engine load changes.This could lead to erratic or tempory loss
Engine stalling post-recall
Rq02-013 was opened to assess the scope and adequacy of recall 99v-325, which involved modifications to the engine fuel injection wire harness (harness).vehicles produced after the recall population have shown no signs of a defect trend.the majority of recall remedy failures identified were repaired within one day of the initial work.subsequent failure experience is minimal (249/55,548 vehicles remedied).field data…
Safety belt buckle malfunction
By letter dated August 25, 2002, Kia advised NHTSA that the subject vehicles will be recalled.specific corrective action to be taken by Kia has not been reported to NHTSA at this time.the safety recall program has been assigned campaign no. 02v-216.
Fuel tank leakage
A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from June 1999 to October 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component…
What 1997 Kia Sportage owners say
Engine & cooling all 56 →
Tl* - the contact owns a 1997 Kia Sportage. The vehicle was overheating. The contact said that the used car dealer replaced the radiator and the main hose. The vehicle continued to overheat, and when diagnosed ,the contact was told the overheating was due to the clutch overheating and the fan sticking. The contact didn't think that transmission oil was circulating throughout the vehicle properly. There were no warning indicator lights. The vehicle currently will not start. The dealer was no longer in business.
Kia refuses to include my 1997 Sportage ex 4wd in recall for 1997 Kia sportages ex 4wd. Recall 1cmp005 to replace the engine control module (ECM) has never been performed. Also not sure that recall 2cmp014 on wiring has been performed. My main concern and the refusal from Kia is on the ECM.
Air bags all 39 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Kia Sportage. When the vehicle was stationary, the air bags deployed unexpectedly while the driver and passenger seats were occupied. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to Kia of wilmington (1603 pennsylvania ave, wilmington, de 19806, [phone]) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was too old to diagnosed why the air bags deployed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 176,620.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Kia Sportage. While the vehicle was stopped, the driver's side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they would open a case for the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 25 →
In May 5, 2003 I took to inspect the car for a noise at the back. Its like being on a plane for departure. I was told by the dealer that the back differentials was damaged. It only had 25,317 mileage in 2003. I could not believe that. This year 2005 a inspect the car at wester auto I was told the differential is damage. At the store I was told they have seen others Kia Sportage with the same problems. I also when to ped boys. Also, they said verb there were problems Kia differential. At wester auto I change the back bearing thinking that will fix the noise. Kia dealer estimate the repair for $865 on 2003.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1997 Kia Sportage. The vehicle was overheating. The contact said that the used car dealer replaced the radiator and the main hose. The vehicle continued to overheat, and when diagnosed ,the contact was told the overheating was due to the clutch overheating and the fan sticking. The contact didn't think that transmission oil was circulating throughout the vehicle properly. There were no warning indicator lights. The vehicle currently will not start. The dealer was no longer in business.
1997 Kia Sportage engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 21 / 19 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 20 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Kia Sportage a good car?
Based on 181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Sportage rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Sportage at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Kia Sportage?
The engine & cooling — 56 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the air bags (39) and transmission & drivetrain (25).
How many recalls does the 1997 Kia Sportage have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1997 Kia Sportage, the most recent from August 16, 2002 (buckle assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Sportage?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2025, 2017, 2024 and 2012. See the full Kia Sportage years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Kia Sportage problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 8% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.