1997 KIA Sportage Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1997 KIA Sportage, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 104,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine check” (9% of reports).
- 56engine and engine cooling complaints
- 104,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine check: mentioned in 5 of 56 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 3 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 56 complaints, 1 a fire.
KIA Sportage engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sportage | 1 | 2% | 262,000 |
| 2023 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 120,100 |
| 2022 Sportage | 1 | 2% | 97,000 |
| 2021 Sportage | 7 | 13% | 85,000 |
| 2020 Sportage | 9 | 6% | 73,000 |
| 2019 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 92,500 |
| 2018 Sportage | 5 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 2017 Sportage | 8 | 2% | 80,000 |
| 2016 Sportage | 3 | 2% | 120,000 |
| 2015 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Sportage | 2 | 2% | 134,500 |
| 2013 Sportage | 14 | 4% | 112,000 |
| 2012 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 195,500 |
| 2011 Sportage | 7 | 4% | 22,416 |
| 2008 Sportage | 5 | 5% | 13,811 |
| 2007 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 54,675 |
| 2006 Sportage | 8 | 7% | 33,000 |
| 2005 Sportage | 4 | 6% | 38,500 |
| 2003 Sportage | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2002 Sportage | 69 | 29% | 61,450 |
| 2001 Sportage | 45 | 20% | 40,056 |
| 2000 Sportage | 45 | 15% | 59,250 |
| 1999 Sportage | 79 | 28% | 50,280 |
| 1998 Sportage | 79 | 26% | 58,000 |
| 1997 Sportage | 56 | 31% | 104,000 |
| 1996 Sportage | 10 | 18% | — |
| 1995 Sportage | 14 | 25% | 111,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 1997 KIA Sportage. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1997 kia sportage. The vehicle was overheating. The contact said that the used car dealer replaced the radiator and the main hose. The vehicle continued to overheat, and when diagnosed ,the contact was told the overheating was due to the clutch overheating and the fan…
Kia refuses to include my 1997 sportage ex 4wd in recall for 1997 kia sportages ex 4wd. Recall 1cmp005 to replace the engine control module (ecm) has never been performed. Also not sure that recall 2cmp014 on wiring has been performed. My main concern and the refusal from kia is on the ecm. *jb
Nhtsa campaign 99v325000; kia issued an engine stalling recall. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. However, the engine stalled, and check engine light remained on. *ak
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 KIA Sportages have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 56 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 1997 KIA Sportage (31% of the 181 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 KIA Sportage engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 104,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1997 KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “engine check”, in 5 of 56 complaints.
See all 1997 KIA Sportage problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Sportage years.