Five problems related to front suspension have been reported for the 1998 Kia Motor Sportage. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
While driving, 4 wheel drive will kick in intermittently on its own. Vehicle has been taken to dealer numerous times, cannot find cause. Consumer adds the catalyst had to be replaced. There is an oil leak and front end was serviced 3 times.
Continuation part 3. . . Very slowly, there was a terrible crunching or grinding metal on metal noise when the vehicle was slowed down (not the brakes), the was a horrible groan sound when the vehicle accelerates on the freeway, there was something wrong with the hubs on the vehicle, and the vehicle would stall at any given time. When I picked the vehicle up from the dealer after being out of service for 8 consecutive days, the dealer stated that they duplicated each and every concern and addressed them all. Exactly 1 week later, the check engine light came back on and the vehicle died on me at the mall. I called a tow truck and had to get the battery boosted since something that the dealer did electrically was improper. I made it back home but was unsure whether or not I could make it to work the next day with a weal battery. Sure enough, the vehicle did not start in the morning. I immediately called the dealer, and they sent a tow truck to my house to pick up this lemon. After another 5 days out of service, I picked the vehicle up and was advised that there was a bad engine harness in the vehicle. Exactly 2 days later, the engine light came back on, the vehicle started leaking oil, the windows started moving slow again, the rear end of my vehicle started rattling, the front end of the vehicle had the metal on metal noise again, the groan noise had come back, the vehicle had lost power going up the slightest incline. Feeling like there was no other option available to me, I sent kia a letter asking for a buyback as well as all of my repair invoices and all they did was off to pay one of my car notes and told me to take the vehicle back to the dealer. I declined their offer to pay 1 car note and took the vehicle to the dealer where it stayed for 16 consecutive days. Again, all concerns were duplicated and addressed. After picking up the vehicle, I noticed that none of the instrument panel lights were coming on as they usually did when I started the vehicle.
Main concern is 4 wheel drive, could cause an accident if indicator lamp is on and 4 wheel drive is not engaging. Causing a false sense of security on hazardous roadways, causing loss of vehicle control.
Front end vibration caused excessive tire wear (alignment problems). Mjs.
Vehicle pulls to the left when driving. Dealer contacted two times, and cannot duplicate the problem.