The Lemon Index2005 Kia Sportage.
The 2005 Kia Sportage is about average by owner complaints: 20 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 99, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 19 to 22 mpg combined. The best Kia Sportage year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 68 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Kia Sportage year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 32K to 119K miles on the car (51 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 3
- parking brake 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET PAWL WAS NOT PROPERLY MANUFACTURED AND MY DAMAGE THE TEETH OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RATCHET.
- fuel system, gasoline 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE O-RING INTO THE INTERNAL VAPOR CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AT FULL TANK CONDITIONS.
- electronic stability control 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP), THE YAW RATE SENSOR MAY BECOME TOO SENSITIVE AND MAY RECALIBRATE INACCURATELY.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 40 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…
- Ecm upgrade-dtc p0130 and p0150 on 2.7l engine equipped
- The engine hesitates at times and/or maf sensor codes are stored
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When gas tank is filled, gas leaks out of pipe leading to gas tank. Which in my opinion could cause a fire and/or explosion. Car is currently at the dealer to correct the problem.
2005 Kia Sportage owner · NHTSA complaint 10118253
Quick answers
Is the 2005 Kia Sportage reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 99; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Sportage year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2005 Kia Sportage problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (30%), fuel system, gasoline (15%) and visibility (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Kia Sportage have?
3 safety recalls (latest: parking brake). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Kia Sportage get?
19 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2005 Kia Sportage problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 32,000 and 119,000 miles. The middle report was at 78,600 miles, from 51 complaints.
Does the 2005 Kia Sportage have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2005 Kia Sportage cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Kia Sportage have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
What Kia Sportage year is better than the 2005?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2022 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works