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 2008 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Smoke was pouring out from the passenger front side of the motor compartment. The fuses for the ABS (I think) were taken out so it would stop. I was a told a control module could have something to do with it.
I bought a 2008 Kia Sportage at osage beach mo on July 12, 2016. I sent it to ghana in August, 2016 and cleared from the port in November, 2016. The said car was parked for several hours at hospital on August 21, 2018 and caught fire at 10.00 pm the same day. The fire service was called and put out the fire. After examination the stated it was electrical fire caused by the wiring harness. I then learnt after the incident that there had been a recall ( # 16V815000 / sc 138) issued on November 10, 2016 of which I wasn't notified. Attached, please find pictures of the damage Kia Sportage and original title. I am waiting for a detailed report form fire service department at essam, ghana, which I will send to your office upon receipt. By this complaint, I am there requesting Kia motors America to repair all damages caused by the fire or replace the vehicle. Thank you for your attention.
Car was parked for repairs and not driven for many months other than moving around our parking area due to dashboard lights of ABS, ESC, traction control, brake lights lit. Had diagnostics done on car due to all lights on dash lighting, ABS, brake, ESC, traction control. Diagnostics via shorkey Kia showed ABS bad along with oil pan rusting due to wishing to get it road worthy and inspected. Replaced oil pan and moved car out of garage and in to parking area in front of second garage door near house. Car was parked about one hour when car ignited and caught fire. Fire originated on right front passenger side around ABS area and spread through engine and in to passenger area of car primarily on passenger side. Car a total loss, 112,000 miles on it.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Kia Sportage. While the vehicle was parked in the contact's driveway, the vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report and a fire report were filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and deemed destroyed. The dealer was not contacted for a determination of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system) after the vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 125,000.
12/03/17, 03:15 a.m. While parked, not running, vehicle caught fire under the hood and became fully engulfed. Vehicle had been parked for several hours prior to this incident. Car was completely destroyed. Residence was built with vinyl siding, and front of house was damaged (melted vinyl). Parked at private residence. Family asleep inside residence when fire erupted. For 2 weeks prior to fire, the ABS indicator lamp on the dash panel was illuminated. Brakes had been inspected, and were in good braking order. I have the vehicle available for inspection by any interested party.
Vehicle was sitting for hours in driveway. Smoke began pouring from under hood and damaged underhood accessories such as headlamp housing,ABS module, paint, windshield washer reservoir. The wiring harness was damaged, the exterior paint was blistered and now the vehicle cannot be driven. The fire apparently began in the ABS module at the right front wheel apron. Everything plastic is damaged and soot covers most of the underhood components. The vehicle has 48K miles on it and has never been in a collision.
My faulty 2008 Kia Sportage strikes again. The last 2 major incidences with my Kia are documented in my NHTSA complaint (10621705) occurred on aug 2013 -w/11K miles( transmission & electrical) and w/12K miles -August 2014 ( alternator &ABS pump). It's now January 2017 - car has 17.5K total miles and I needed to tow my Kia Sportage 2008 to a service center after the car stalled on a major road with 2 of my kids in the car. The car is behaving similarly to how it behaved in 2013 ' engine knocks as it shifts into gears eventually stalling. In 2013 ' Kia replaced the transmission and entire electrical system. As I stated in my previous complaint, there must be a design flaw associated with the car since it now appears I have the same transmission/electrical problem again 6K miles later since the last incident . Just learned today that my Kia needs a new transmission ! …
I was in the car, parked in a wendys parking lot, engine off, radio on. There was a loud pop followed by smoke, a gentleman in a truck 3 spaces away heard it and saw it. We got out to look at it and the smoke was increasing, I opened the hood and you could see flames about 2 inches high around the box mounted inside the engine compartment, on the passenger side up near the headlights and over the wheel well. We shut it and waited for the fire department, everything inside the engine compartment that could melt did melt, all the paint on the hood etc, passenger door will not open or shut without noise and an extra push or pull. I am not a mechanic but I am pretty sure that the little black box was the ABS controller. Just lucky that I wasn't driving on the highway. I have seen that there are several other complaints about the same thing.
This is part 2 of 3... We got a new battery installed at advanced auto. Car ran fine. The next morning , she started the car and then went into the house. My niece was there and said she heard a pop and look outside to see the car on fire. The whole front end including the passenger compartment was burnt to a crisp. I believe what happened was a faulty part in the ABS (causing the light to come on) was shorting or something and that kept draining the battery. With the battery low, the battery would die before enough heat could build up, however, with the new battery, it could continue to pull power and heat up whatever faulty part was shorting out and then got hot enough to blow and cause fire. (continued in next post) 3 of 3...
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. Upon starting the vehicle, it made an abnormal noise. The contact was able to get the vehicle to start after more than two attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to replicate and diagnose the failure. Upon starting the vehicle, smoke emitted from the hood of the vehicle. A fire erupted and extinguished itself. The vehicle was unable to be driven due to the failure and fire. The vehicle was parked at the contact's residential parking area. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V815000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced.
Electrical complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Kia Sportage, 28% of the model year's 98 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Kia Sportage electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-815 (wiring, Nov 10, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Kia Sportage electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 14 fires and 0 injuries 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.