Service Brakes Problems of Kia Motor Sportage - part 1

The contact owns a 2017 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle drove 2 mph for approximately 2 minutes and was jerking abnormally. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving at various speeds. The check engine and the brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where it was purchased. The dealer replaced an unknown sensor; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,983.

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I am writing to formally raise a safety concern regarding my vehicle’s brake and rotor system, which has experienced premature failure on two separate occasions. First occurrence: the issue was first identified prior to reaching 11,000 miles and was addressed by the dealership after surpassing 11,000 miles. The repair involved replacement of the rotors and bolts, but notably, the brake components themselves were not replaced. Second occurrence: around 23,000 miles, I began to notice progressively worsening shaking and a disturbing sensation of the brakes skipping or slipping—particularly during highway downgrades. By 24,500 miles, the issue had become significantly more pronounced. I returned the vehicle to kia of stockton at 25,248 miles. During my visit, ricardo from the kia of stockton service department attributed the issue to “driver error,” citing hot spots on the rotors. However, he also acknowledged that during the initial repair, only the rotors and bolts were replaced—not the brakes. Ricardo further stated that kia could not offer any additional support beyond a 10% discount on repairs, per his manager’s directive. I explained that I live and work locally, and my driving habits do not involve long commutes or frequent stop-and-go traffic. Given this, I strongly believe the repeated brake system failure points to a potential manufacturing defect rather than user error. Ricardo agreed that if this were his own vehicle, he would be concerned as well. This issue poses a serious safety risk—not only to myself and my family, but to other drivers on the road. In addition my vehicle has also experienced powertrain issues, where it feels as if the vehicle is stuck in 1st gear. I am therefore requesting a full investigation into this matter. If necessary, I would like to initiate the process of reporting this vehicle as a potential lemon under applicable consumer protection laws. Thank you for your attention to this urgent safety concern.

See all problems of the 2024 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The car emergency brake component was faculty and kicked in at an inappropriate time. When the emergency brake occurs you are unable to move the car at all. Being unable to move put myself and my passenger seater at risk for bring hit to which we were. The vehicle was not inspected due to kia corporate office not answering the phone.

Purchased a cpo Sportage xpro April 2025. As I am unfamiliar with the mechanisms of kia, unbeknownst to me, my engine revved the first week of purchase. Since this incident, the engine has revved while braking on [xxx] while driving down a city street. The next incident occurred on [xxx] , while exiting the highway and coming to a stop. My passenger, who happens to be a mechanical engineer asked if bumped the gears for the engine to revv as it did, which I did not. The fourth occurrence was [xxx], while driving city streets and coming to a stop. I contacted kia after the [xxx] incident and they drove the car and could not duplicate my safety concern. When the engine revvs while braking, there are no malfunction warnings messages and goes back to normal within 30 seconds or when I shift back to park and drive. As the safety issue is intermittent, not sure if there is a scheduled duplication of the occurrence. Nonetheless, in review of several complaints via NHTSA, I see a similarities in NHTSA campaign 23-v-410 and wondering the applicability to my Sportage despite no recalls. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2023 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while coming to a gas station rest stop, making a left turn to the fuel pump, the vehicle lost power and coasted to the fuel pump. There were no warning lights illuminated. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic), which had a warranty extension for the engine to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer was unable to replace the engine and referred the contact to another mechanic to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that the timeframe for the engine coverage extension had been exceeded, and the hecu not been replaced under NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer opened a case regarding the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Not safety but I couldn't locate the complaint section you supposably have. The front rotors had to be turned with less than 18k miles. They have since been completely replaced twice at my expense and the car is less than 2 years old. Now the rear rotors have issues and it's going to cost me $360 to turn them or $700 to replace them. The dealer says it's either my driving or the weather. I've have literally been driving for 40 years and have never had to replace rotors. As for weather, unless columbia, mo has some special weather that eats rotors that is not the case either. A parts counter employee told us it was an issue with the axle and that until we find a service tech Smart enough to fix it, we'll just keep replacing rotors. He said he worked for Toyota, and they had the same issue. The kia tech said he had no idea what he was talking about so again, we're paying to replace parts on a less than 2-year-old car and they won't even warranty their repair work. There is obviously something very wrong with this car.

I have received a warning 3 times saying “rotary shifter stuck. I searched and information says bring to dealer for immediate repair the brakes can lock and can cause an accident . I brought it in the first time and was told they can’t determine the issue unless the warning is on when I come in. It never happens when they are open. I read other stories and this problem is not just me having the issue. One person was told the same thing and his car has stopped in traffic and would not restart for a long time they need to find out what is wrong with the rotary shifter.

I recently paid out of pocket for replacement of hydraulic electronic control unit and I see that it was a recall on my make model and year, but my VIN number was not included in the recall.

My kia has a feature called "downhill brake control". The manual states it will control the downhill speed of the car without using the brake or gas. I have used this on hills near my house and when I get down the hill to a flat-ish area, I manually turn the control off. Most times it works fine. Sometimes, the car bucks and then comes to a complete stop or close to it. I feel this is a safety issue as if someone is behind me, they may not realize it's the car stopping suddenly and ram in to me. I have asked the dealer about it, they've said it's working as designed. Kia USA doesn't care after 2 letters to them. This is my last attempt to get kia to look in to this issue. For now, I just don't use the stupid button.

My vehicle's brakes are making a strange, unusual noise that I don't notice around other vehicles when I have the opportunity to access them (service vehicle or renter car).

The contact owns a 2016 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v051000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

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My car is a 2023 kia Sportage with 38,000 miles on it. I was informed upon getting my brake pads changed that my master cylinder for my brakes were not working, which is extremely dangerous and should not have happened until the car had at least 100,000 miles if ever. Not only did I have to pay out-of-pocket because kia refused to get me in for a month so I had to go to a private repair shop to get this taken care of even though I was under warranty. This extremely concerning.

Very often, when I put my car into park, it doesn't seem to fully engage, and I either can't remove the key (until I put it back into drive, and then park again), and in some instances I experience a "rollaway" as soon as I remove my foot from the brake pedal. I believe there is already a recall for the kia telluride model for this issue.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

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The issue appears to involve the cvt (continuously variable transmission) system or the transmission fluid/lubricant pump. The vehicle jerks or hesitates when accelerating from a stop, as if struggling to shift properly. The check engine light comes on repeatedly. This issue is ongoing, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The jerking and hesitation when trying to drive, especially from a stop or when merging into traffic, poses a safety risk to myself and others. The delayed or unpredictable response could easily lead to an accident in high-traffic areas, intersections, or when making turns. Yes. The issue has been observed multiple times. The check engine light has returned even after replacing the O2 sensors, and a trusted mechanic believes the problem may be transmission-related. However, the kia dealership claims there are no active recalls tied to my VIN, even though publicly available information lists powertrain- and fluid pump-related recalls for my vehicle's year and model. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by kia corporate. I reached out to the local dealer, who denied any applicable recall. I am submitting this complaint in hopes of an official review and inspection by the manufacturer or NHTSA to determine if the issue qualifies for safety recall intervention. Yes. The check engine light first appeared months ago, which led to replacement of the O2 sensors. Shortly after the replacement, the light returned, and the car began jerking while trying to drive or accelerate from a stop. These symptoms have persisted and appear to be worsening.

Traveling at 70 mph on [xxx] in traffic, the vehicle suddenly lost power and I was forced to unsafely maneuver to the shoulder of the road as the vehicle decelerated through the traffic. As soon as I stopped, the vehicle lost all power. I had difficulty engaging the parking brake as I was on a hill and the vehicle started to roll back. The brake pedal did work so I could stop the car but I could not exit the vehicle in fear of it rolling back into traffic. I called 911 to explain the situation. After 20 more minutes I engaged/disengaged the parking brake several times and it finally held. I still would not leave the vehicle because I could not trust it at that point. Another 20 minutes passed and a road ranger arrived and placed a wooden block behind the wheel and at that point I felt comfortable to get out of the car. I was told by kia service the issue was related to recall sa553a but I was never notified. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2013 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while at a stop light, smoke was present from the vents inside the cabin. Later, while attempting to park more smoke was coming from under the hood and the neighbor also witnessed flames coming from the front of the vehicle. No further information was available. The contact indicated that the fire self extinguished and no fire department was contacted. The cause of the fire was not determined and the vehicle was not yet towed away. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 218,000.

The contact owns a 2012 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

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The contact owns a 2024 kia Sportage hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. There were no warning lights illuminated. The seat belt failed to secure her grandson, who was occupying the front passenger seat, and he flew out of the seat. The driver's seat belt failed to secure her, and she was thrust forward over the steering wheel. The contact called the local dealer, but there was no response. While driving at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. There were no vehicles around. While driving at 30 mph, the vehicle suddenly stopped, and an unknown pickup truck crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to her neck, back, and left shoulder, which was torn, and medical attention was provided. There was no reported fire or airbag deployment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to another local dealer, raceway kia 4044 us-9, freehold, NJ 07728, who determined the vehicle was working as designed. There were no codes displayed during diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 3,200.

Car brakes automatically applied, for no reason. I was driving in a city street, around 20 or 30 mph. The car randomly applied the brakes (hard) then released the brakes. I was able to continue driving after. But the braking made me jerk forward to the point that it locked my seatbelt. It was raining. But the road was completely open, no obstacle.

Car rolled down the hill despite being on park with parking breaks engaged.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

Since leasing this SUV and experiencing the safety features for the first time, the method this manufacturer used for zero crashes methodology seems thought out and looks refined in its final product; however, there is a strong safety issue at hand. That safety issue revolves around the driver not having full response and other drivers reacting to that. For example, when I back out of my own driveway or a parking spot, water on my rear camera will immediately jam on my brakes. Since I didn't do that as a driver and there isn't an apparent danger, it is not only a human performance issue for the driver but also for other drivers on the road. Next, when I install a bike rack on the rear of the SUV, I have to reverse while overriding the rear parking brake at the same time which is added complications. This also isn't perfected so often it also jams on the brakes. While all of this is happening, the safety sounds and camera views on my screen are changing automatically.

I was driving my vehicle on the freeway when all of a sudden I got a warning light that came on that said check hybrid system it looked up my brakes and steering the car completely shutdown in the middle of the freeway it happened so fast I couldn't get to the shoulder my car completely just stopped. I spoke to kia and took it to the dealership and they ended up saying because it needed a update which I then called kia and let them know the situation that I almost got in a accident and that I didn't feel safe in that car and they didn't want to help.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 22v051000 (service brake, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer stated that an appointment would be scheduled; however, the contact had not yet heard back from the dealer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the low battery warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to decelerate. The contact coasted over to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the recall repair could not be completed because the mileage on the vehicle had been exceeded. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that an engine replacement recommended by the dealer was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 134,644. Parts distribution disconnect.

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Abs system failing on my 2017 kia Sportage VIN # [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I was driving east from austin, TX on [xxx], and as I approached a major intersection in elgin, TX. , a warning light appeared on my dashboard that said "hybrid system failure: pull over safely". I was able to pull over into the left turn lane and then was barely able to make it over a curb and onto a highway median strip, before my car engine stopped and all dashboard lights went out. This happened in about 30 seconds. My two year old car with fewer than 30,000 miles on it went completely dead. It would not start even after several attempts. I called kia roadside assistance, and was told I needed to have the car towed to a dealership. The tow truck driver backed the car into the space they indicated at the dealership, and it started to roll forward as it was apparently in neutral. He had to borrow a board to put under the back wheels. Days later I was told to come get the car, as it had been repaired. When I got there, it was in the same space with the board still under the wheels. I was told it just had needed a software update. (sa553a). I was never notified that my vehicle needed this update, and would just stop wherever: I. E. On a hwy with no shoulders, at night, etc. And that I would be unable to brake the car, or drive it, or put on emergency warning lights after 30 seconds. This was unbelievably unsafe. I am [xxx]. What if I were a family with children on board and it happened on a highway at night??? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Brakes, yes when the issue is happening, we loose the ability to stop promptly and with ease. The entire vehicle shakes, and it metal on metal. Yes, we've taken our car to a kia, as well as 2 other companies. Kia did an inspection and told us that it was rust. There are no warning sounds or alarms. We average needing to take the car in every 6 months but having said that we just took the car in, in October and it is already making sounds.

The contact owns a 2012 kia Sportage. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 17v224000 (engine and engine cooling) and 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact merged to the side of the road and the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the dealer and the manufacturer informed the contact, that the vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the service maintenance was not performed at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Parking/emergency brake stopped functioning. Safety issue. Dealer ran diagnostics and agreed with brake failure. Ordered replacement part.

See all problems of the 2022 Kia Motor Sportage 🔎.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Sportage. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 19v101000 (engine) and 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer, a second dealer, team kia of el cajon (619-444-7200), and a third dealer, kearny mesa kia (858 223-3131) were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2007 kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was determined that the electronic brake control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 214,967.

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Dear NHTSA defects and recall team, my name is [xxx] , and I am writing this email along with my wife, [xxx] , to report a serious safety issue with our 2023 kia Sportage. I am writing to bring a serious, ongoing vehicle safety issue involving a kia Sportage to your attention. My family and I are facing repeated, hazardous malfunctions with our vehicle that have led us to fear for our lives, as well as the safety of others on the road. Since mid-September, our 2023 kia Sportage has experienced sudden, unanticipated shut-offs both while parked and, most dangerously, while driving. During these incidents, the brake pedal becomes completely unresponsive, hazard lights fail to activate, and the vehicle is left stranded and inoperable. Most recently, while driving in traffic, the car shut off without warning, leaving us in an extremely vulnerable position. These repeated failures could lead to a catastrophic accident, especially considering we often travel with our [xxx] child in the vehicle. Despite notifying kia and seeking assistance from their customer service team, the issue remains unresolved, and their response has been unacceptably slow. Given the severity of these malfunctions and their direct impact on public safety, we respectfully request your support in addressing this matter. We believe kia has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its vehicles and to take immediate action when serious safety risks arise. We request that the NHTSA investigate the issue and consider any necessary recalls or further action to ensure public safety. We would appreciate any guidance or assistance your office could provide in helping us resolve this life-threatening issue. Sincerely, [xxx] and [xxx] [xxx] | [xxx] kia Sportage x line awd [xxx] purchased date: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2013 kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v652000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the infotainment system was intermittently inoperable. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Front brake rotors are warped on new 2024 kia Sportage with only 4000 miles on the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection anytime when braking the steering wheel will pulsate left to right the problem has been confirmed by the dealer as an ongoing problem with this vehicle brand and model. The vehicle is scheduled for repair on October 15, 2024 I have been advised that the front brake rotors will be re-surfaced and not replaced. I have also been advised that kia will not perform a second repair.

I received a letter last year about brake booster . Kia had a recall on this I didn't realize that it was a recall. I'm wondering will kia still value the recall. I will be getting my car servie and inspected on 8-13.