1997 Kia Sportage Service and Repair Manual
This manual was written for the 1997 Kia Sportage and nothing else: matched to the exact year, engine and trim, so every specification and sequence it gives is the figure Kia published for this vehicle rather than an approximation carried over from a neighboring model year.
Engines covered
- 2.0L inline-four (122 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sport utility
Trims covered
- Base
- EX
Known issues on the 1997 Sportage. One recall is on federal record for this model year, and it covers the electrical system's wiring: movement of the engine can put the wires connected to the C123 and C124 connectors under tension, pulling on the wires and connectors, and that condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash. Owners have filed 299 complaints for the year and Kia has issued 9 technical service bulletins.
Whether you are tracing a stall back to a strained engine-harness connector or keeping a high-mileage Sportage on its service schedule, it keeps you on Kia's own procedure and the correct 1997 specification.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
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.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This b
PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some example
TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with sta
KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE
FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT UNDER REPAIR BENEFIT PROGRAM. ON CERTAIN 1997-2000 SPORTAGES. *NJ
FUEL PUMP RELAYS & EMISSIONS FAILURES. KIA TECHNICIAN TIMES. *TT
THIS BULLETIN PROVIDED INFORMATION RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 027 TO REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. *TT
Showing the 8 most recent of 10 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER VISITED THE HOSPITAL FOR MINOR INJURIES.*AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH, FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS HIT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THE BRAKES FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR. *TT
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY , AND THE RESTRAINTS FAILED TO LOCK UP UPON IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
COMING TO A STOP SIGN, APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CLUTCH, VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, LOST CONTROL, ENDED UP HITTING 3 TREES AND THEN A HOUSE HEAD-ON. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT HIT, AND THAT IS WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
AIR BAG: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE FIRST VEHICLE AND THE FRONT OF HER CAR HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE SIDE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
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 NOT GO UP AFTER BEING PUSHED DOWN. CONSUMER HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE THEREFORE TRADED IT IN FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING FRONTAL COLLISION.
THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN INTO PARK. IT DID NOT DO THIS ON 1.5 HOUR TRIP HOME. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT PARAMOUNT KIA THE NEXT DAY. HE ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD NOT HEARD OF ANY SUCH PROBLEMS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE TO THAT DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND, AND THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO DISENGAGE INTO NEUTRAL.
LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL ALL COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. SOON AFTER LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND SUFFERED SOME MAJOR INJURIES.*AKJG
WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. *AK THE TRANSMISSION JAMMED AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. *JG
WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION, DRIVER HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT, RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR LEG INJURIES.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG FAILED. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND TRANSMISSION STUCK. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH APPLIED ON BRAKES AND WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. CONSUMER THEN TRIED TO SHIFT VEHICLE MANUALLY; HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR LEG INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TT
CAR STRUCK ON REAR PASSENGER DOOR/CAR LOST CONTROL/SPUN OUT OF CONTROL/ROLLOVER. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH DRIVER REAR ENDED A FORD BRONCO, AND AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION., *AK
Showing the 15 most serious of 217 complaints filed with NHTSA.
