Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: Kia Sportage 1997, vehicle was in an accident, the accident was reported to the police, after the dealership was suppose to repair the vehicle it kept shutting off. Vehicle had a bent frame. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership twice, and they failed to fix the problem. Electric windows will not go up after being pushed down. Consumer heard a whistling noise in the vehicle. The consumer believed the vehicle was unsafe therefore traded it in for another vehicle.
My car will not get out of first gear. The Kia coproration field experts cannot figure out what is wrong with it, they say it's a wiring nightmare, they refuse to take it to irvine (Kia headquarters) because it is out of warranty. I believe they wiring harness recall of 1997 proves that the car has never been properly fixed, and I can't get any answers. My car has been at the mission bay Kia dealership since 12-1-02, and I'm still waiting to find out what's wrong with it.
I am concerned because the service engine soon light comes on periodically. When I call phil long Ford, they tell me that happens with kias and they can't fix it unless the light is on at the time I bring it in. After oncce taking it down anyway and being refused repair because the engine light went off by the time I got down down the mountain pass, I gave up on that one. When I asked about any additional recalls last spring when I took the Kia in for a tailgate latch recall, phil long Ford told me there were no others. Now I find that there was indeed a recall (99V325), which could have affected the electrical system. Now my battery went dead suddenly for no apparent reason. I'm concerned about electrical problems after reading so many complaints. Also, my horn periodically won't work which phil long also says is common. …
Consumer received a recall notice 99V325000, and had service department taken care off on jun 13, 2000. Since then, problem has come back on and off for the past 6 months. Engine check light came on. And as soon as vehicle started to slow down it stalled. Dealer stated vehicle needed new wiring harness. Problem has been a ongoing since vehicle was purchased in sept. Of 1997. Servicle manager told consumer they corrected wiring harness problem. But, consumer felt work could have been incorrectly done.
I have been having stalling problems for about 2weeks now, at first I thought it might be the battery; but I checked it out at autozone for free and the machine that detects how much power in the battery suggested that the battery was fine. The stalling problems started two weeks ago and I had to push-start the car about four times and then it decided to not start at all, I know its not the battery because it has been checked and it still has power.
Dt the vehicle revs up to almost 2000 RPM's, the vehicle jerked then stalled. This has been going on for about 5 years. The vehicle has been serviced, but it keeps happening. There has been a recall on the vehicle, but the dealership stated that the service computer indicated that the recall repair was already done.
Brakes- excessive braking distance when brakes applied; engine coolant system- vehicle over headed caused vents on dashboard to pop; electrical system under hood- continuous "check engine light" expensive repair bills; engine- shakes like an earthquake, stalls while driving, scared will cause accident/death
Driver's side door opens and closes intermittently. Also, horn doesn't work, and there is a rattling noise underneath the hood. Door will be repaired, dealer could not find problem with horn or under the hood.
While driving 34 MPH smoke came from under the hood. Consumer pulled over and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
While driving smoke followed by flames came from dashboard and floor board area of vehicle, totally destroying vehicle, cause unknown. Please give any further details.
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Electrical complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Kia Sportage, 12% of the model year's 181 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Kia Sportage electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-325 (wiring, Nov 19, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Kia Sportage electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 1 injury to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.