Representative model. Photo: SsmIntrigue, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2008 Kia Sportage recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2008 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 1
Complaints: 98
Latest campaign: Oct 24, 2022

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Park‑it	Latest	Campaign IDs
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	1	Oct 24, 2022	22V800000
Electrical system	1	–	Nov 10, 2016	16V815000
Exterior lighting	1	–	Apr 1, 2013	13V114000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

1Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Oct 24, 2022Latest campaign


Oct 24, 202222V800000	Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip control unit/module A fire increases the risk of injury. Park outside, away from structures DetailsHide details for campaign 22V800000 What's wrong Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving. Risk A fire increases the risk of injury. Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and other vehicles until the recall repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the HECU, its wiring harness, and its fuses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC253. Campaign NHTSA 22V800000 · Oct 24, 2022
Nov 10, 201616V815000	Electrical system: wiring If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V815000 What's wrong Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit. Risk If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire. Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and the connector cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 28, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC138. Campaign NHTSA 16V815000 · Nov 10, 2016
Apr 1, 201313V114000	Exterior lighting: brake lights switch Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 13V114000 What's wrong Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. Risk Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098. Campaign NHTSA 13V114000 · Apr 1, 2013

Oct 24, 202222V800000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip control unit/module

A fire increases the risk of injury.

Park outside, away from structures

DetailsHide details for campaign 22V800000

What's wrong: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and other vehicles until the recall repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the HECU, its wiring harness, and its fuses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC253.
Campaign: NHTSA 22V800000 · Oct 24, 2022

Nov 10, 201616V815000

Electrical system: wiring

If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

DetailsHide details for campaign 16V815000

What's wrong: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.
Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector pins for corrosion, if no corrosion is found, the connector cover will be replaced. If corrosion is present, the dealer will replace the HECU assembly and the connector cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 28, 2016. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC138.
Campaign: NHTSA 16V815000 · Nov 10, 2016

Apr 1, 201313V114000

Exterior lighting: brake lights switch

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 13V114000

What's wrong: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign: NHTSA 13V114000 · Apr 1, 2013

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2008 Kia Sportage? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component98

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

98Complaints filed

2Involving a crash

24Involving a fire

5Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Electrical system	27	28	0	14	0
Service brakes	23	23	0	4	0
Engine	17	17	0	7	0
Structure	13	13	0	7	2
Power train	12	12	0	1	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	9	9	0	0	0
Hydraulic	7	7	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	7	7	0	2	0
Engine and engine cooling	5	5	0	2	2
Air bags	5	5	1	0	0
Tires	4	4	0	0	0
Unknown or other	3	3	1	0	0
Suspension	2	2	0	0	0
Latches/locks/linkages	2	2	0	0	1
Visibility	2	2	0	0	0

9 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electronic stability control (ESC)
“The contact owns a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "ESC Off" was displayed and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed.”
Filed 08/27/2024 · ODI 11611194
Engine
“Was parked and after driving to pick up please came back out and it was in flames”
Filed 07/23/2024 · ODI 11603949
Service brakes
“The contact owned a 2008 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was shuddering.”
Filed 06/24/2024 · ODI 11596177

Other Kia Sportage model years

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2008 Kia Sportage recall questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Sportage have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2008 Kia Sportage. The most recent, 22V800000 (reported October 24, 2022), concerns service brakes, hydraulic. 1 campaign carries a park-it or park-outside warning. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2008 Kia Sportage?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 27 complaints out of 98 filed with NHTSA (28%). Across all complaints, owners reported 2 crashs and 24 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2008 Kia Sportage?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Kia recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Kia dealer.

Check a specific Kia by VIN

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