2002 Kia Sportage Fuel System

THERE IS A VERY STRONG RAW GAS SMELL THAT PERMEATES THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE UPON STARTING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS TO INCLUDE THE LOCAL KIA DEALER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM - NEW FUEL FILTER, EXHAUST, ETC. WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET TURNED UP A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 99-02 SPORTAGE GAS TANKS LEAKING DUE CORROSION CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN/MATERIAL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE NHTSA WILL CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THIS MAKE/MODEL/YR VEHICLE TO CORRECT THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A GIFT FOR TEENAGE DRIVER. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DRIVE IT DUE MY CONCERNS FOR THEIR SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE 4X4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS EMITTED FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE O-RINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE O-RINGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ UPDATED 03/29/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK MODULE WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,473.

FUEL SPILL AT WAWA GAS STATION. RECENTLY MY SON FUELED MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE AS I WENT IN WAWA; HE DIDN'T KNOW FUEL PROBLEM TRIED TO FILL THE TANK WITH THAT AUTO FILL CLIP (WHERE DON'T HAVE HOLD) GAS PUMP. GALLONS OF FUEL SPIT, SPILLED IN WIDE AREA PUMP OTHER PATRONS AVOIDED THE AREA. NEIGHBORING GAS PUMPS HAD PEOPLE ON CELL AND SMOKERS CAR WERE START UP MOVING OUT WITH EXHAUST PIPE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SPILL. MY SON AND HIS CLOTHING WAS SATURATED WITH GAS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GAS SPILLING AND SPITTING SEVERAL FEET OUT OF THE GAS TANK IS GETTING WORST. THE CONSTANT FUEL VAPORS ARE CAUSING ME HEALTH PROBLEMS. ANYWHERE I PUMP GAS GASOLINE SPILLS, EVERYONE LOOKS AT ME; I TRY TO CAREFULLY TO PUT THE MINIMAL TAKING 10-15MINUTES BUT CANNOT AVOID SPILLS. I'M RETIRED CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AND PAID OVER $3800.00 IN ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL REPAIRS RECENTLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. THIS PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MIENEKE AND LOCAL KIA DEALER WHO KEEP WRONG PARTS REPLACING PARTS AT MY EXPENSE. THE LOCAL KIA DEALER TOLD ME IT RECALL IS ONLY THE 2005 KIA I CHECKED INTERNET AND IN FACT IT IS THE KIA 2005 SPORTAGE:05V212000, HTTP://AUTO RECALLS.JUSTIA.COM/KIA/SPORTAGE/2005/05V212000/INDEX.HTML MY 2002 KIA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND KIA MUST DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS HAZARD FREE UNDER RECALL IMMEDIATELY. *TR

MY DAUGHTER JUST PURCHASED 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 105164 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PURCHASED DURING THE DAY AND TEST DROVE DURING THE DAY WHEN WEATHER WAS WARMER APPROX 50 DEGREES OR HIGHER. IT HAS TURNED COLD THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING AND NOW HIGH TEMP IS 24 DEGREES. HAVE NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE OF CAR. SHE STARTED IT TO WARM IT UP THIS MORNING BEFORE LEAVING AND NOTICED THE STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN SHE STARTED TO LEAVE. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS. HAD MECHANIC CHECK CAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. NOW SHE IS ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE DUE TO GAS SMELL. *TR

LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I AM SEEING, I HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 68000 MILES AND IT IS HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH FUEL VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND A SOURCE FOR THE FUEL SMELL. THE VAPORS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG AND I GET VERY NAUSEOUS; I HAVE TO OPEN A BACK WINDOW SO I DO NOT GET A MIGRAINE HEADACHE. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN SO IT IS VERY COLD IN THE WINTER TIME TO DO THIS WITH THE OPEN WINDOWS BUT I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR ANY OTHER WAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE NHTSA WOULD LOOK FURTHER INTO INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE KIA ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR... I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND BESIDES THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BREAKING ONCE, AND THIS HORRIBLE GAS SMELL I HAVE NOT HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR

GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LEAKING FROM A RUBBER HOSE THE IS OVER THE METAL GAS LINE THAT IS HELD RIGHT WITH A HOSE CLAMP. *TR

MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER LEAKS GAS VAPORS THRU THE VENTS, ENOUGH TO GIVE MY WIFE MIGRAINES AND NAUSEA, IT MIGHT EVEN BE A HAZARDS IF YOU SMOKE IN THE CAR. THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE SHOWS UP WITH A CANCER OR A CAR EXPLODES. WE ARE ABOUT TO BUY ANOTHER CAR CAUSE WE ARE CONCERN ABOUT OUR NEWBORN AND FUEL VAPORS NOT A GOOD MIX. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE BRAND NEW. THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAD NOTICED A GAS SMELL AND TRIED TO IGNORE IT. AND EVER SO OFTEN WHEN I PUMP GAS IT SHOOTS BACK OUT EVERYWHERE. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE BEGAN LEAKING GASOLINE FROM ABOVE THE GAS TANK BY THE FUEL PUMP THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ABOUT 106,000. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE GAS WASN'T EVEN GETTING UP INTO THE FUEL PUMP IT WAS SPRAYING OUT AT THE TOP OF ONE OF T HE PARTS HE NAMED, THIS WAS KEEPING MY VEHICLE FROM EVEN STARTING, AND I NOW KNOW THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN KIA SPORTAGES STARTING WITH THE 2001 MODEL. *TR

LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I AM SEEING, WE HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 69000 MILES AND ARE HAVING SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH RAW FUEL VAPORS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPON START UP AND SITTING STILL. I AM A MECHANIC AND HAVE SEARCHED FOR AN ACTIVE FUEL LEAK, BUT CAN NOT FIND ONE.. THE VAPORS ARE EXTREMELY STRONG AND I AM SURE PRESENT A FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD (ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING).. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE KIA ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR... *TR

THIS 2002 KIA SPORTAGE IN THE WINTER TIME HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL. TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS . LOOKING ONLINE CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SMELLING RAW GAS CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR YOU. SEEMS THAT IS COMMON TO THE CLAMPS USED ON THE FUEL LINES. ALL KIA MECHANICS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL BE HAPPY TO FIX IT FOR THERE REGULAR FEES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED AT MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE BECAUSE OF SUB STANDARD PARTS. *TR

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK 1 WEEK BEFORE, STARTED NOTICING STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF IT. HAD FRIEND LOOK AT IT, THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE LEAKS, JUST EXTREMELY STRONG GAS SMELL. SMELL IS SO STRONG IT MAKES PEOPLE NAUSEOUS, LIGHT HEADED, HAS GIVEN ME MIGRAINE HEADACHE. CANNOT RIDE IN CAR WITHOUT WINDOWS DOWN. THIS IS PREDOMINATELY NOTICED WITH THE COLD WEATHER SETS IN, BELOW 40 DEGREES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY/HEALTH HAZARD. FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY KIA AS IT IS MOST DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. CANNOT SEEM TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING THIS, IT IS PROBABLY THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 2005 SPORTAGE RECALL STATES. I AM TERRIFIED THAT IT IS GOING TO CAUSE A FIRE AND I AM GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. I AM DISABLED ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP JUST CHANGING THING UNTIL WE FINALLY, IF EVER, LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. I DID NOTICE THAT IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HALF-HEARTEDLY LOOKED INTO PREVIOUSLY, PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE ON THE ROAD AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE THAT RECENTLY BROKE DOWN DUE TO A FUEL LEAK ON TOP OF THE GASTANK. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST REPAIR FACILITY. TURNS OUT A PLASTIC NOZZLE HAD CRACKED OFF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE COMING OUT OF THE GASTANK ITSELF RESULTING IN PUMPING FUEL EVERYWHERE! LUCKILY,VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE! PART WAS FINALLY REPLACED 4TH TIME BACK TO REPAIR FACILITY, BUT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME PLASTIC NOZZLE INSTEAD OF A METAL NOZZLE?THIS IS MY SAFETY CONCERN WITH THIS VEHICLE, AFRAID THE SAMETHING WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN AGAIN. HAD THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, MY 17YR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL UNDERNEATH IT? NOT SURE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT I FEEL THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

I RECENTLY FILED A COMPLAINT ON A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE, FOR A FUEL LEAK CONDITION FROM GASTANK AREA,(PLASTIC FITTING), MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY ADVISED ME SHE HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE FILLING THE GASTANK AND SMELLING AN ODOR OF FUEL ON OCCASIONS AND BAD FUEL MILEAGE. APPARENTLY, WHEN PUMPING FUEL, THE FUEL WILL BLOW BACK OUT ON HER, IF NOT PUMPED SLOWLY! SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS CERTAIN VEHICLE?????? VEHICLE ALSO HAS AN INTERMITTENT CHK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON?? CODE # PO13A?? ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN! ???????? *TR

PURCHASED A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE FROM A USED CAR DEALER ON MARCH3,2010 AFTER A WEEK OR SO NOTICED A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR NO DRIPS OR PUDDLING UNDER CAR CALLED TO WAGNER KIA A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 TO TAKE CARE OF THE O RING AND FUEL LINE. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHY IS IT NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY KIA. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE IN 2003 & IT WAS ALMOST 2 YEARS BEFORE I STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM PUTTING GAS IN MY GAS TANK, I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS VERY SLOW & EVEN THEN THE GAS SPURTS BACK OUT & GETS ON MY CAR, CLOTHS, ETC., IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO FILL MY GAS TANK, IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MORE OFTEN IN THE WINTER, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER AS WELL, I HAVE JUST NOW IN THE LAST WEEK BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SMELLING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN MY KIA JUST AFTER I START GOING, I AM GOING TO GO TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY INTENTIONS OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT APPEARS THERE ARE ALOT OF 2002 KIA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO FIGURE OUT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR

WE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE GAS PROBLEM. FIRST WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TANK LEAKING (WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT 2002 SPORTAGE MODEL WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL/CHECK, WHICH IT WAS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THE $500 PROBLEM). SECOND, THE GAS SHOOTS OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO FILL, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THIS (WE WERE TOLD) IS A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR, ANOTHER $350 AND STILL NOT COVERED. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL MARKER. WHEN I PUMP GAS IT WILL GUSH OUT EVEN WITH JUST $2.00 IN THE TANK I WOULD HAVE TO PUMP IT VERY SLOW IN ORDER TO FILL MY TANK UP. I HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE AND FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS GOING ON WITH OTHER KIA'S. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ERROR OR IS IT TIME. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THE GAS COMES OUT AND GETS ALL OVER MY CLOTHES I THINK IT'S HAZARDOUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FAINT SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HE ONLY NOTICED THE SMELL WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE LASTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE SMELL GREW STRONGER. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO HIS VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

MY SISTER-IN-LAW HAS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HAS BEGUN LEAKING FUEL OUT OF A CRACKED FUEL TANK. APPARENTLY THIS IS SO COMMON THAT A KIA RECALL (RECALL SC059) WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, A DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA TOLD US THAT HER VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. YET, THE VERY REASON FOR BRINGING IT IN WAS FOR THE EXACT FOCUS OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT EXCLUDE/INCLUDE SPECIFIC VINS. HOW CAN WE GET KIA TO HONOR THEIR RECALL? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. SECONDLY, A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AVAILABLE FOR THAT COMPONENT; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF UPDATED 03/31/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE, HE SMELLS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IS NOTICEABLE WHEN WALKING UP TO THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WHEN IT IS BEING DRIVEN. THE SCENT IS SO STRONG THAT PASSENGERS BEGIN TO COUGH INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, MECHANIC, OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE. THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURS IN THE WINTER DUE TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN IT RAINED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

2002 KIA SPORTAGE HAS SEVERE AND DANGEROUS GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER COLD WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SAME FAILURE WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,900. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB