New 2011 Sprotage TPMS Issues

[mcubed]

Anyone out there having intermittant issues with stock wheels/tires on the 2011 Sportage (LX)? First came on while driving home straight off the lot, dealer tried 3 times to fix - the TPMS warning light now comes on at totally random times and places. The dealer and Kia are now trying to blame the problem on EFI/RFI, the last stab was even to tell me that the interference (RFI) was coming from inside the vehicle. Tried to peg the GPS (Garmin 265W that Kia even sells as an accessory) and the EZPass, even tried to blame my Volt/Ohmmeter that was in my tool bag in the back - turned off...

Need to know if anyone else has these type of issues for my battle with Kia - love the car - hate this one - hate the way I've been teated by Kia, especially East Coast "Customer Service"

[p_mori7]

Try bumping up your air pressure a few PSI.

[njerald]

This bulletin provides information relating to possible interference from non-OEM electrical products with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Some non-OEM electrical products, including but not limited to some aftermarket in-dash navigation systems originally intended for non-US markets, may emit electrical noise in the 315MHz frequency band and may cause the TPMS low pressure/malfunction indicator light to illuminate. Example: The US market TPMS transmits data on 315MHz while the European TPMS transmit data on 434MHz. Electronic devices not intended for US markets may not be shielded properly for different frequencies thus interfering with US market devices

System Overview:
The US TPMS is a wireless system that utilizes the 315MHz frequency band to transmit the status from the sensors transmittals at the wheels to the receiver near the instrument panel. Some non-OEM electrical devices may emit electrical noise in the 315MHz frequency band. This electrical noise may be picked up by the TPMS receive and may provide an indication of a TPMS concern thus causing the TPMS indicator light to illuminate. If, after the customer has had an aftermarket electrical accessory installed, the TPMS indicator falsely illuminates and/or causes DTCs to be stored, it could be due to the type of electrical interference described above. This interference could also occur when other portable electronic devices are used in the vehicle.

[spongebob218]

I have seen intermittent issues with the TPMS caused by airports and radio towers. I have also seen an intermittent problem caused by a CB radio, which was mounted in the dash. The owner disconnected it and had no problems until he plugged it back in.

[mcubed]

Thanks for the info. The only issue with the explanation is that there have been no external devices actually used in the vehicle at the time of incidence since day 1. The only electronics that have ever been present in the vehicle are 1.) a volt/ohmmeter that was not even turned on, but also is compliant with FCC 15 (accept but not emit RFI), and 2.) a Garmin USA GPS model 265W that Kia actually sells - that I used on a 300 mile trip with no incidence. Other than that, my cell phone which operates on totally different frequencies.

In addition, we're talking about this happening constantly - on average every 350-400 miles travelled.

Another point is that I owned an '07 Sorento that never acted up at all in the locations where the Sportage has - in fact, never had a problem at all. We had an issue with my Wife's Hyundai Veracruz - failed sensor and that vehicle never had issues in the same places where the Sportage is - with the same electronics...

Is this really normal as the Dealer claims???

[mcubed]

It's a shame - no reply - unfortunately that's the same thing I got from Kia Corporate. They are insisting that the problem is RFI, even though the problem occurs, on average, every 280 miles and/or every 2.44 days...

Looks like it's going to Lemon Law lawsuit as of yesterday - Kia just lost a loyal owner, going to buy a Nissan Rogue when it's all done.

[cobra259]

Do you really think you have a case? If you do win it's going to cost you out of pocket for the lawer and we all know they are not cheap. As you have already seen this is NOT a common problem. You say a shame "no reply" the reason no reply is no one else has this problem. Don't get me wrong I would not be very happy either...but to lose a bunch of cash to go lemon law over a mil light...myself I would not be doing it your way.

[mcubed]

The attorney already accepted the case - at no cost to me win or lose, and - yes it's a valid case. In NJ if they work on it 3 times and don't fix the problem - it's a valid lemon law claim. They keep contending that it's Radio Frequency Interference - it actaully went on RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM the other day - seems to me that if it's "normal" or "acceptable interference" the dealer would have a pretty hard time selling cars. It's really a shame that Kia wouldn't settle this before it went to lawsuit - all I wanted was a vehicle that works...

Other than the recurring problem, I loved the damn thing.

[ak_kia1985]

I've had this problem too. It's extremely annoying, especially on a brand new car. The first time my TPMS warning light came on was around 2,300 miles. I kept an eye on the tire pressure for a full week and no air loss in any of them. I even tried putting a little more air in to see if that would reset it; no such luck.

Took it to the dealer and they told me that they had to reset the TPMS manually because it lost the connection with "Sensor 1." Now the light has come on again around 3,200 miles, and once again, no air loss. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet but I'm sure it'll be a similar story...

Kind of an ineffective system when it's constantly crying wolf. All car manufacturers need to start putting a reset button somewhere on the dash so that people who change their tires themselves or have this issue with the signal being lost can reset it themselves and not be inconvenienced by going to the dealership for such a simple fix.

[RktRch]

DONT BUY THE ROACH !!! You will be sorry... Cant stand that CVT in them....