1997 Kia Sportage fuel system, gasoline problems
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the fuel system, gasoline on the 1997 Kia Sportage — 9% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“While driving down highway when approximately at 55mph engine will stall. Slow down and stop without warning. Most of the time I can turn engine off restart run it thru all of the gears and it will be fine for awhile unless on bumpy road or stop warning bumps in the road. I can not fill gas tank up…”
filed May 2, 2014
“The design of the protective shield for the fuel tank allowed sand and pebbles to accumulate to the extent that I started noticing fuel vapors. The vehicle is housed in a garage, so I raised a window to help dissipate the vapors. In a few days, fuel was dripping from the leaks in the tank. I…”
filed Jul 31, 2008
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Fuel tank replacement under repair benefit program. On certain 1997-2000 sportages. *nj
014 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 1, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline problems in other Sportage years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Sportage | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 Sportage | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 Sportage | 3 | 1% |
| 2014 Sportage | 2 | 2% |
| 2013 Sportage | 2 | 1% |
| 2012 Sportage | 1 | 0% |
| 2011 Sportage | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 Sportage | 2 | 3% |
| 2008 Sportage | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 Sportage | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 Sportage | 2 | 2% |
| 2005 Sportage | 7 | 10% |
Other reported problem areas on the 1997 Kia Sportage
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.