VehicleVerdict

1997 Kia Sportage electrical system problems

The 1997 Kia Sportage has 25 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

25

Electrical System complaints

8%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Sportage electrical system complaints by model year65 complaints1995: 8 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 25 complaints1998: 63 complaints1999: 48 complaints2000: 39 complaints2001: 32 complaints2002: 21 complaints2005: 12 complaints2006: 31 complaints2007: 24 complaints2008: 37 complaints2009: 27 complaints2010: 3 complaints2011: 43 complaints2012: 32 complaints2013: 23 complaints2014: 9 complaints2015: 18 complaints2016: 17 complaints2017: 65 complaints2018: 29 complaints2019: 10 complaints2020: 19 complaints2021: 5 complaints2022: 5 complaints2023: 43 complaints2024: 12 complaints2025: 15 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Sportage electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

99V325000Electrical SystemNovember 19, 1999 · 76,986 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.

What owners report

“DT: KIA SPORTAGE 1997, VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, AFTER THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF. VEHICLE HAD A BENT FRAME. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND THEY FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WILL…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 3, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1997 Kia Sportage have?

NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 1997 Kia Sportage electrical system — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Kia Sportage electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 99V325000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.