1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,089 miles

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problem #1

Mar 112005

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,089 miles
2002 Kia Sportage 4WD has a vacuum-hub system, this has a history of failure, as I have been researching on the internet. However there is no way of knowing that the 4WD is not engaged, the indicator on the dashboard lights whether on not the 4WD is working. This could cause a very serious problem for someone, thinking they are in 4WD 7 driving along at 55mph, only to have the car start spinning allover the road. We live in rural upstate NY and while returning home last night, this happened, we would up facing the wrong way on a steep dark hill, my husband is unable to walk long distances due to back & knee problems & we had to wait over 2 hours for a towtruck. This occured 2 years ago & they repaired it howevr I just learned that this is a common ongoing problem in these vehicles, the solution would be to install manual hubs, however Kia does not offer this to its consumers.

- Unadilla, NY, USA

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