2009 KIA SPORTAGE Electrical System Problems

18 complaints about Electrical System

18
Complaints
0
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (18)

Sep 23, 2025 Fire

In 2018 my I was driving home when it just shut off and wouldn’t start. Smelled like burning and had it towed to my house and had several mechanics look at it and couldn’t find the problem then as it was parked on day it started to smoke and the engine was burning I put out the fire and then a couple months later I got the recall information the car was a total loss and could t be repaired and no compemsation was sent to me. Ive contacted the class action suit and they were very vague with the information. I waited and the car eventually disappeared in which I thought the Kia company picked it up. I still have t hear word from anyone and my car is no where to be found and I would like to be reimbursed for the car since it was paid off

Oct 2, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sportage. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V800000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was determined that parts were not yet available. 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 informed the contact to contact the dealer for assistance. The contact had heard an abnormal sound and noticed that the wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

May 4, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle in the dealer's parking lot after the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V815000 (Electrical System) and 22V800000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) had been completed, the HECU, the ABS, the TPMS warning lights and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle back to the residence. The contact notified the dealer of the failure. The dealer advised the contact to take the vehicle in for the repair however, there would be a fee for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,157.

Mileage: 93,157

Oct 24, 2022

I was parked at the grocery store with the car idling in park. The engine suddenly died and smoke was coming out from under the hood. I honestly thought the car was about to burst into flames. A good Samaritan looked under the hood and it was still smoking but eventually stopped. The electrical system is fried and even the emergency lights won't work. There was a very strong electrical fire smell that hung around for hours. I looked up this model and it shows there was a recall with the electrical system & that there was a risk of fire. But this vehicle's VIN is not listed as needing a repair. We have purchased this car used and contacted the original owner. They don't remember ever getting a recall notice or having to do a recall repair with this. I don't know how the car didn't go up in flames because there was so much smoke coming from under the hood.

Feb 16, 2021

BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT DOESNT WORK

Mileage: 90,000

Aug 23, 2020 Fire

WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE MOTOR. THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF THE CAR WAS TOTALED.

Mileage: 100,000

Jun 29, 2020

LEFT SIDE FRONT CORNER UNDER THE HOOD STARTED SMOKING. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO MAKE IT STOP. CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF

Mileage: 100,000

May 2, 2020

I GOT THIS VEHICLE BACK IN AUGUST 2019. FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE PASSANGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD ONLY ROLL UP FROM DRIVERS SIDE SWITCH, WOULDN'T ROLL ITS DOWN BUT WILL ROLL UP AND DOWN FROM ITS DOOR SWITCH AND THE BACK DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL UP OR DOWN AT ALL FROM EITHER SWITCH. ALSO MY BACK HATCH HAS BEEN STUCK IN UNLOCK, CAN HEAR IT WORKING LIKE ITS LOCKING IT BUT IT DOESNT ACTUALLY LOCK FROM THE DOOR OR THE GLASS. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE POWER LOCKS, IT WILL WORK FINE FOR A WEEK OR SO AND THEN STOP WORKING AND I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK FOR A FEW WEEKS, CAN HEAR IT LIKE IT'S WORKING ONLY IT DOESNT, JUST LIKE THE HATCH ONLY THE HATCH HAS NEVER WORKED. ALSO MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND FRONT 12V OUTLET DID NOT WORK. CHECKED ALL FUSES, EVEN CHANGED GOOD FUSES WITH BRAND NEW FUSES. DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO I HAVE JUST DEALT WITH IT. WELL THINGS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH SQUEALING SOUNDS COMING FROM UPFRONT AND MY POWER STEERING JUST GOING OUT WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, WHEN GOING SLOW TO SWITCH LANES, AND GOING INTO TURNS OR MAKING TURNS. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IT'S LIKE THE POWER TO THE ENGINE ALSO CUTS OUT AND WHEN THE SQUEALING STOP I FEEL THE POWER COME BACK. ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL ONLY WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING MY LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR GO OFF. I SOMEHOW FEE LIKE AS THOUGH THIS IS ALL RELATED? I HAVE READ MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY VEHICLE. SHOULD'VE SEARCHED ALITTLE BETTER BEFORE PURCHASING. I SOMEWHAT FEEL LIKE I AM DRIVING A DEATH TRAP NOW. WOULD LOVE SOME GUIDANCE AND HELP WITH THIS SITUATION. ALL THESE CAR FIRES, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING OFF FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IS VERY SCARY. I HAVE HAD A FEW PEOPLE LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND HAVE PRETTY MUCH ALL LEANED TOWARDS TENSIONER PULLEY AND SERPENTINE BELT NOW I WONDER

Mileage: 133,000

Jul 30, 2019

THE CLOCK SPRING IS NOT WORKING WHICH DEACTIVATES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND HORN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL IMMEDIATELY.

Mileage: 44,000

Mar 29, 2019 Fire

A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT THING. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED FROM THE LACK OF NOTICE.

Mileage: 95,242

Sep 12, 2018 Fire

ON TUESDAY AUGUST 28TH 2018 MY CAR WAS PARKED IN AN APARTMENT PARKING LOT, AND HAD BEEN OFF FOR 4 HOURS. I WOKE UP TO MY CAR ALARM GOING OFF AT 12AM. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND THE LIGHTS WERE NOT FLASHING ON MY CAR SO I DIDN'T THINK IT MINE. NOT MORE THAN 1 MINUTE LATER MY CAR STARTED ON FIRE. THANK GOODNESS MY BOYFRIEND WAS A FIREFIGHTER. HE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH 15 MINUTES. HOWEVER MY CAR WAS DETERMINE A TOTAL LOSS. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME WAS THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT HAD I BEEN AT HOME THAT NIGHT IN MY DUPLEX WHO I SHARE WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND THEIR INFANT, AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE MY HOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED AND I WOULD BE DEAD. IT WAS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE AND I HAD NEVER HAD A SINGLE ISSUE WITH THE CAR IN THE 9 YEARS THAT I OWED IT. I WAS THE ONLY OWNER SO I KNEW MY CAR WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. WITH KIA IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY WITH CAR FIRES I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION.

Mar 30, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V815000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Sep 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FUEL CAP AND STOP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/03/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 60MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. UPDATED 09/19/2017*JS

Mileage: 75,000

Sep 4, 2015 Fire

OWNER DROVE VEHICLE ONE HOUR PRIOR TO FIRE. PARKED VEHICLE WITNESS CAME BY OWNERS HOME REPORTED FIRE. FIRE IN FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT LOCATION OF ABS MODULE. OTHER COMPLAINTS NOTED FOR ABS MODULE AND FIRES.

Mileage: 107,914

Mar 25, 2015 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH WAS LOCATED ON A CORNER CONNECTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,498.

Mileage: 55,498

Mar 24, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS, ALL THE ELECTRONIC DEVICES BLINKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE MULTI FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

Mileage: 91,000

Jul 26, 2013 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER, WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE REAR DASHBOARD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Mileage: 64,000

Mar 16, 2010

I OWN A 2009 KIA SPORTSTER SUV AND ONLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS CAN ONE READ THE INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE CLOCK. WHILE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE SPEED TO BE WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT, IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET INTO A POSITION TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER THAT ONE CAN EASILY CROSSOVER INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OR OFF THE ROAD. AT NIGHT THE PANELS ARE VERY VISIBLE AND I MIGHT SAY ATTRACTIVE BUT DURING DAYLIGHT HOUSE THEY ARE USELESS. I REMOVED THE BLACK HOUSING SURROUNDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND PAINTED IT SILVER. THIS HAS HELPED SOME BUT THE PANEL CAN ONLY BE READ AT TIMES WHEN THE EXTERNAL LIGHTING IS JUST RIGHT. I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA DEALERSHIP AND HOME OFFICE WITH ZERO RESPONSE.*TR

Mileage: 400