Axle Hubs Problems of Kia Motor Sportage

2001 kia Sportage 4wd does not engage. It worked good in winter of 2005, but this year finally having snow in January, I tried the 4wd without success. The front driveshaft spins, so the transfer case works, however the drive isn't being initiated to the front wheels. After doing a little research, I noticed the same problems occurred to same make and model, but in a different year. It is also stated that the double sealed hubs was apparently supposed to remedy this problem with the hubs becoming frozen due to rust. Could it be possible that this remedy didn't alleviate the problem.

See all problems of the 2001 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The 4-wheel drive on my kia Sportage 2000 has stopped working. My mechanic identified the problem with the knuckle/hub assy w/o abs (part # qk081-33-020-dq). It's a system that works by air pressure to engage the 4x4. The defect with this part is that air leaks out of it and causes the 4x4 to stop working. Kia has made a new version of this part (part # qk082-33-020-eq) that corrects the issue by double sealing the air pressure leak. They are not however willing to make the repairs free of charge, which I think they should. The reason why this is a safety issue is because this car has rear wheel drive and we live in utah where it snows every winter. Rear wheel drive vehicles in snow-covered roads are useless and cannot be controlled. We purchased this vehicle for the 4x4 factor that made a huge difference in snowy weather. We are very disappointed with the fact that the company is not taking responsibility to correct the issue free of charge, especially since this is a manufacturers defect and a major safety issue in this kind of weather. I would also like to note that this defect was also in the 98, 99, 00 and 01 models of this car. Unfortunately for me I didn't find out about this until after the part broke. Currently we are not driving this vehicle when the roads are covered with snow. We cannot afford to buy the $800. 00 part + labor fees. I was told by kia customer service that recalls are only made when your company determines that the vehicle is unsafe because of the defect. I don't know if my single report will make a difference but I would just like to make you aware of the situation with this vehicle.

See all problems of the 2000 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Tires became bald three months after I bought the car, brake pads and rotor needed replacing. The gas lever has been and is broke again. Hubs were replaced the first time, seals were replaced second time. The heat shield needs to be replaced right now. Passenger side window moves very slow. Timing belt replaced early. Brake light comes on whenever I applied the brakes. I went to an auto dealer and had them check out the brakes. They told me that the master brake cylinder was leaking badly.

I own a 2002 kia Sportage. #1) the auto started to have a gas order for several weeks, then gas started to leak from the car onto the ground. The car is just 3 years old with a reasonable 72,000 miles. I do not believe this is normal wear and tear on the car. I was told if this continued, the car would catch fire. I was told the internal seals were leaking and they needed to be replaced and this was a serious problem and the car should not be driven. #2) the hubs on this car also need to be replaced. The way the car was desigend - I was told. Water over the past 3 years have gotten in the car wheels and have damaged the hubs and the 4wd will not work properly. This would be a design flaw and not wear and tear on the car.

See all problems of the 2002 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

4 wheel drive hubs won't engage although the engine strains as if it is in 4 wheel drive, and the display shows it is engaged.

See all problems of the 1999 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Driving uphill in one inch of snow the axel hubs on the front of vehicle did not engage causing the loss of control of the steering, sliding sideways and backwards to a stop. The parts replaced were as follows: axel hub seals, axel bearings, upper ball joint, vacuum line and realignment of front end.

See all problems of the 1998 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The automatic locking hubs on my '99 kia Sportage have failed again. This is 4 times in 4 years. I have had a vacuum line replaced and the entire front assembly replaced. Last year they would not work during a snow storm , causing me to almost get stuck in a snow drift. Had the vehicle to the dealer a week later---and they were working. Temperatures were warmer when the dealer looked at them. During recent snow storm (12/5/03) hubs once again would not engage. Indicator light is on, but the rear wheels spin in the snow. Don't know what to do. Would like kia to replace with manual locking hubs. Any help would be appreciated.

After getting stuck in snow found that 4 wheel drive wasn't engaging - mechanic said due to someone over packing components with grease and a part put in backwards there was no way the 4 wheel drive was engaging. So essentially we haven't had 4 wheel drive since we purchased our vehicle in 2000. After the part was installed properly 4wd was engaging. May 16th brought in vehicle due to grinding noise in front wheel hub. Mechanic found 4wd hub rust filled and bad, bearings all rusted out, vacuum hoses to the back of the spindle broken both sides. Both front wheels had same problem. In checking your complaints on file there are many for the same problem, same year and vehicle.

Kia Sportage was making a metal on metal banging sound intermittently while normal opertion in 2 wheeel drive. Kia dealer found one front wheel hub and vacumm line were locked to engage 4 wheel drive. Hubs and line were replaced however there is a national stock outage on update kit for a recall by kia. Already have waited 3 weeks for parts. Can not get information from kia on when parts will be available. Many other kia owners also on waiting list for parts with the same problem at brenner dealership in harrisburg, PA. Can not use 4 wheel drive until parts are installed.

Had to have rotors and pads replaced for 2nd time in 23000 miles. While brake job was being performed they found out that both bearing seals were completlely gone. Removed tires and hubs to find hubs completely contaminated with corrosion. Right front wheel was about to fall off. 4-wheel drive was also inoperative. Replaced both hus to include both rubber vacuum lines, four wheel solenoid and vacuum canister because of contamination. Car drove fine for 3 days , now it has a loud squeel and front end vibration when applying brakes at a normal breaking speed of around 45 mph. Service dept. Could not duplicate problem. . . . I will be returning vehicle back for further service immediately. There is now a groove in left front rotor after only about 400 miles of wear.

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.

Front hub will not lock up, causing four wheel drive to become inoperable. Dealer can not correct the problem.

4-wd not working, hubs not locking. Engine is straining as if in 4wd, indicator light is lit, leading you to believe you are safely in 4wd, but the back tires are spinning and the front tires are not turning. The dealer has checked the truck and ordered parts. . . That was 2 weeks ago, and dealer has no idea when the parts will be in. Kia has not responded to the dealer's inquiry. The wire harness that was replaced took a week because kia sent a faulty harness as a replacement and the part had to be reordered.

Front hubs were seized. Purchased vehicle 1 week before incident.

We bought a 1999 kia in November of 1999. Since then we have had nothing but trouble with it. Every six months there is something gone wrong with it.

Wheel bearings had completely rusted out. Was informed by mechanic water got into seals & were not sealing. This also affected 4-whel drive locking hubs.

The dealer knew the bearings was bad at 19500 miles and they told my wife if they started grinding to bring back the vehicle but there was no warning all at once it pulled to the left and started grinding now they are telling me that kiais working on new bearings and hubs they can`t get parts they have to get the parts the kia rep. Now I have to wait for him and they would not give us a loaner they said it was not the dealers responsiblity so I had to rent a car I could say more but that is enough for now.

Front bearings replaced, causing excessive tire wear, after replacement bearings had to be replaced shortly after due to faulty parts that fell apart, hub and bearing assembly/four wheel drive defective and not locking in properly and causing loss of control on minimal snow coverage prior to recall repair, after repair vehicle still experienced failures.

Defective front hub assembly will not allow driver to shift into 4 wheel drive "on the fly". Nlm.

The car indicates the four wheel drive system is engaged even though the four wheel drive hubs failed, unable to have repair due lack of parts.

While driving on icy road experienced wheel hub failure, when in 4-wheel drive wheel hub unlocked, causing 4- wheel drive to disengage, resulting in vehicle spinning out 360 degrees into circle, loss control due to one of the tires disengaging from 4 wheel driveline, occurred 5 times, dealers replaced several times, has now replaced with manual wheel hubs.

See all problems of the 1996 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Whenever the brakes are applied they would make squealing & squeaking noise. Took to dealership. Mechanic informed owner hubs were loosened & needed to be tightened. Also, brake rotors were bad. The tires were rotated. Contacted the manufacturer.

Consumer complained about a transfer case problem. Also, rear driveline was bent, and hubs were contaminated.

When driving the 4-wheel drive comes on and off which could cause the vehicle to fly off the road. Dealer says it needs a seal for the hub.

I am a kia tech in CT . The 1998 and 1999 Sportage was recalled to have the steering knucles replaced. The four wheeldrive vacum hubs would suck water and dirt into the wheelbearings causing them to fail. In some cases I have seen the bearings were so loose the vehicles would lose there brakes. The recall kits we have installed are now failing in great numbers and are not just 98 and 99 vehicls but 2000 and 2001 vehicles. All of these model year vehicles should be recalled before people get hurt.