RecallMyCar

2005 Kia Sportage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2005 Kia Sportage, and owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
68
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–22
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2005 Kia Sportage

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Parking brake

    NHTSA 05V318000 Reported 3,672 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain sport utility vehicles, the parking brake lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and my damage the teeth of the parking brake lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth may prevent the parking brake from engaging or may allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the parking brake lever assembly. The recall began on august 1, 2005. Owners may contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.

  2. Storage (fuel system)

    NHTSA 05V212000 Reported 10,360 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain sport utility vehicles, fuel may leak from the o-ring into the internal vapor chamber located in the fuel tank at full tank conditions.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank and replace the charcoal canister free of charge. The recall began on may 31, 2005. Owners may contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.

  3. Automatic (asc) (electronic stability control)

    NHTSA 05V120000 Reported 7,619 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability program (esp), the yaw rate sensor may become too sensitive and may recalibrate inaccurately. While driving the esp program may cause the engine to reduce power and may cause a brake at one of the wheels to be inappropriately.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the esp hydraulic electronic control unit free of charge. The recall began on april 13, 2005. Owners may contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.

68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Kia Sportage have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 77,003 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 7 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My ESP button stays on and including the air bag light and I've tried everything trying to turn it off as well as my engine light and my hard parking brake which keeps turning on and won't turn off wh”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 20, 2023 · Service brakes

“My 2005 Kia Sportage dropped on the rear drivers side. The rear drivers side rear constant velocity axle fell out when the rear sub-frame separated from the suspension and split apart. This caused the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 9, 2022 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2005 Kia Sportage (Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–22 mpg
City / Highway17–20 / 21–25
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/2.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Kia Sportage model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sportage model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Kia Sportage256
1996 Kia Sportage357
1997 Kia Sportage3181
1998 Kia Sportage3303
1999 Kia Sportage3284
2000 Kia Sportage2304
2001 Kia Sportage0228
2002 Kia Sportage1234
2003 Kia Sportage04
2005 Kia Sportage368
2006 Kia Sportage1111
2007 Kia Sportage277
2008 Kia Sportage398
2009 Kia Sportage380
2010 Kia Sportage220
2011 Kia Sportage6181
2012 Kia Sportage5392
2013 Kia Sportage3381
2014 Kia Sportage3123
2015 Kia Sportage2146
2016 Kia Sportage2132
2017 Kia Sportage4401
2018 Kia Sportage3164
2019 Kia Sportage270
2020 Kia Sportage2161
2021 Kia Sportage254
2022 Kia Sportage146
2023 Kia Sportage6191
2024 Kia Sportage373
2025 Kia Sportage152
2026 Kia Sportage127

Checking a specific 2005 Kia Sportage

How do I know if my 2005 Kia Sportage has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2005 Kia Sportage; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V120000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kia models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.