Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2008 Kia Sportage: common problems and reliability
An average Sportage year.
98 owner complaints, most about electrical system. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 2008 Sportage?The 2008 Kia Sportage has 98 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and service brakes.
Safety record for the 2008 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Kia Sportage vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Sportage years only. How we score it
Is 2008 a good year for the Sportage?
Across the 29 Sportage model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2003) to 399 (2017). With 98 complaints, the 2008 Sportage sits below the model's median of 131.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2008 Sportage
electrical system:wiring
Campaign 16V815000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.
exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Campaign 13V114000Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Campaign 22V800000Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is sharply divided, creating a polarized ownership experience.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Sportage. See the full Sportage owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Sportage listings typically run $17,749–$24,718.
Other Sportage model years
Compare every Sportage year side by side to see how 2008 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Sportage against its rivals
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