2008 Kia Sportage Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 5%of 98 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,811miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2008 Kia Sportage, 5% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,811 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I recently purchased a 2008 Kia Sportage at an auction. It has sustained an engine compartment fire that appears to have been caused by the wiring harness and / or ABS pump. This is the lx model with 2.7 v6 automatic 4wd. I just saw another Sportage 2010 model that had a fire in the same ABS pump area at an auction. Thought you might be interested as there seems to be a problem ..”
NHTSA complaint #10386375, filed 2011-03, 27,600 miles“Check engine light came on from day one. Almost always when tank of gas was at the 3/4 mark. Compressor makes loud noise after idling a while, and transmission slips and does not change properly.”
NHTSA complaint #10245342, filed 2008-10, 22 miles“The radiator fan component was smoking. The car is available at anytime for inspection. I definitely feared that the car was going to explode in front of my baby cousins and elderly Aunt. The car has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealship or independent service center. It also has not been inpected by manufacturer or police, insurance. The vehicle was not going faster than 30 mph, when parked, the radiator expelled the all the water on floor. It began to let out white smoke, and than black smoke. A lot of black smoke, and than a loud pop sound. The hood of the car melted shut. …”
NHTSA complaint #11528137, filed 2023-06“I purchased a Kia Sportage 2008 aug of 2010 about 1 month after purchasing I noticed the ESC light that came on, when this light comes on the engine forces itself to do more work, the car won't go more then 40mph, I took the car to the dealer they said it was fixed, 2 months later it happened again, here we are 1yr later and it's still happening. The dealer I take it to tells me this always happens this type of car and know the battery light is coming on at the same time the ecs light is coming on. I have an appt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10451747, filed 2012-03Related service bulletins
- 10133170Mar 2, 2018PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned…
- 10037694Jan 1, 2011Kia motors: for fuel adaption improvement there is a software update for the 2007-2008 sportage.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 7 | 13% |
| 2020 | 9 | 5% |
| 2019 | 2 | 3% |
| 2018 | 5 | 3% |
| 2017 | 8 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2014 | 2 | 2% |
| 2013 | 14 | 4% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 7 | 4% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 2 | 3% |
| 2006 | 8 | 7% |
| 2005 | 4 | 6% |
| 2002 | 69 | 29% |
| 2001 | 45 | 20% |
| 2000 | 45 | 15% |
| 1999 | 79 | 28% |
| 1998 | 79 | 26% |
| 1997 | 56 | 31% |
| 1996 | 10 | 18% |
| 1995 | 14 | 25% |
Other parts of the 2008 Kia Sportage
27 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsEngine
17 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsElectronic stability control
9 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology