SEVEN YEAR UNLIMITED KILOMETRE WARRANTY against defects arising in materials or manufacture for private and general fleet and Government fleet vehicles sold from 1 October 2014

I think if it still qualifies for factory warranty and you just got it I'd be redirecting this to the dealer or Kia.

These later vehicles are somewhat complex with all the stability programs and sensors etc could be anything. Without a factory level scan tool it would be difficult to know where to start. I'd expect there's an error code stored amongst all those lamps lit up and the deactivation of those features.

I'll give you an example for my Hyundai. I have an ix35 which shares some of it's DNA with the sportage but it's a generation before this. I replaced the steering column, it also contains the steering angle sensor and that data is used by the stability program ESP. That feeds into all sots of other sensors like ABS, Traction control etc. The angles sensor needs to be zeroised at centre.
I drove it without doing this for a test, within seconds it brought up an ESP error, lost all power, barely could get 1200RPM from it, ABS came on, all 4 calipers were chattering away, basically it went nuts. Once zeroised it was normal again.

Just saying it may seem like a hand brake issue , may be brake related like sensors . What does the opertor manual say about all those amber indications ? What are the 2 in the top right corner that are blurred?

 

also meant to mention electronic throttle bodies these days also so control of that can be limited to a failsafe condition when these errors are triggered, that was why I had virtually no throttle

 

The top one on the right is BSD (Blind spot detection). I was keep getting alert and warning sound to check BSD system. Im not sure about the other one on the left.

 

Sounds like a bad sensor. Car needs hooked to a computer and diagnosed. The sluggishness is probably the car going into limp mode detecting a problem. If you just bought it from a dealer, take it back.

 

You need to take to a Kia Dealer......

 

Your warranty, assuming it's still valid, is with the dealer not some third party mechanic. If the dealer is a genuine Kia dealer then they will have their own Kia trained mechanics.

 

How many miles on your Sportage? The only Kia warranty left on yours is a 5 year, 60,000 basic warranty.

 

The car has 7 year warranty and done 56K.
Unlike US… in Australia there isn't any laws to protect buyers when purchasing a lemon car. I can't just walk in and tell the guy I don't want the car and get a refund.
Thats really unfortunate that on my first day of owning this car I have to deal with this issue.

 

The car has 7 year warranty and done 56K.
Unlike US… in Australia there isn't any laws to protect buyers when purchasing a lemon car. I can't just walk in and tell the guy I don't want the car and get a refund.
Thats really unfortunate that on my first day of owning this car I have to deal with this issue.

The Lemon law would not apply in this case anyway.

If you had bought from a Kia used car sales I'm confident that they would correct the issue at no cost to you.

Common law should have the seller liable to repair this, but as you've already found out, they will insist on their backyard mechanic doing it, and there's little to no chance of him getting this right.

 

I don't know what state you're in but there's generally statuatory warranties. My first preference in this case would be if it has full service history and has valid factory warranty that would be the best way to go for diagnosis and fitment of genuine new parts .

It's interesting to read up on it .

Do you know the vehicle history? PPSR search prior to the deal?

Here's some info copied for QLD, consumer guarantee is also worth noting.

Guarantees and warranties for second-hand vehicles

You must give a statutory warranty when you sell used vehicles. Find out what you need to do and which vehicles are exempt.

www.qld.gov.au

Statutory warranty period
A 'class A' statutory warranty applies when the vehicle:

• has an odometer reading of less than 160,000km on the day of its sale

and

• has a built date of no more than 10 years before the day of its sale.

The 'class A' warranty expires after 3 months or the first 5,000km, whichever occurs first

Defects
A statutory warranty will cover most defects. The vehicle has a defect if a part:

• does not do what it is supposed to do
• has worn out so much that it no longer works.

A statutory warranty does not cover defects in:

• tyres or tyre tubes, batteries, fitted airbags or radiator hoses
• lights (other than a warning light or a turn indicator light used as a hazard light)
• an installed radio, tape recorder or CD player
• an aerial, spark plug, wiper rubber, distributor point, oil or oil filter, heater hose, fuel or air filter
• paintwork or upholstery
• air conditioning ('class B' statutory warranties only).

Statutory warranty also doesn’t cover:

• accidental damage due to the buyer’s own misuse or negligence
• anything the buyer fitted to the vehicle after the time of sale.

Repairs under warranty
A buyer must notify you of a defect. You have 5 business days to decide if you will fix the defect under the warranty. You will need to contact them in writing before the end of the fifth day.
If you don’t reply in time, you cannot refuse to fix the defect (regardless of what caused it).
The buyer will have to deliver the vehicle to either:

• your premises
• an authorised repairer of your choice.

You must repair the defect within 14 days, unless you have an acceptable reason.
Excessive distance
The authorised repairer should be less than 20km from your place of business. You can only use a more distant repairer if the buyer agrees to use them.
If the vehicle is more than 200km from your place of business, you may choose to either:

• nominate the qualified repairer nearest to the vehicle's location
• pay delivery costs to use your preferred repairer.

Warranty extensions
You must extend the warranty by 1 day for each day the vehicle is with you for repair or being repaired.
You must record the extension details, including the date:

• the buyer brought the vehicle in
• you returned the vehicle.

New vehicle warranty
You must still give a statutory warranty to the buyer even if the vehicle also includes a new vehicle warranty. However, the buyer can decide to have the manufacturer do repairs if they're required.

Consumer guarantees
A consumer guarantee is a promise that you make to any consumer that buys goods or services. This includes vehicles and trailers.
Consumer guarantees apply in addition to any other warranty, including statutory warranty and manufacturer's warranty.
Find out more about consumer guarantees
The consumer guarantees on a vehicle will apply:

• for a reasonable amount of time after the vehicle is sold
• even if the vehicle didn’t come with a statutory warranty
• regardless of any other warranties from the business
• even if other types of warranty have run out.

The amount of time that is reasonable:

• varies from vehicle to vehicle
• will depend on the price and quality of the specific vehicle
• is not defined by when other warranties run out.

What the consumer guarantees promise
You must guarantee that a vehicle you sell:

• is of acceptable quality
• matches any description or demonstration model
• is fit for any purpose that the consumer made known to you before buying (either expressly or by implication) or the purpose for which you said it would be fit for
• is legally available for you to sell
• comes with the right for the buyer to own and use it
• has a clear title
• will have spare parts and repairs available for a reasonable time
• will live up to any other promise that you make about its quality, condition, performance or characteristics.

You cannot refuse to honour a consumer guarantee. Nor can the buyer sign them away.
Consumer guarantees will not cover:

• accidental damage due to the buyer’s misuse or negligence
• anything the buyer fitted to the vehicle after the sale.

How they work
A buyer can seek a remedy if a vehicle doesn’t meet a consumer guarantee.
Find out more about remedies and refunds.
Under consumer guarantees, a failure may be corrected by:

• returning the vehicle for a refund or a replacement
• getting repairs to the vehicle
• compensating the consumer, such as for a drop in value.

 

I live in NSW and we have pretty much the same ACL and dealer warranty rules. The issue came back again yesterday after driving for another 30 mins. Check BSD System alert, Hill assist, Parking Hold… EPB lights came on and car went straight into limp mode. Luckily I was in the car park so could immediately find a spot to park the car then switched it off… waited for a min then turned it back on. Called the dealer and explained the situation. They asked me to return the car to get it diagnosed. I'm thinking of returning the car and getting a refund. I think it would be a cumbersome experience as the car is under finance. I was planning to get few days off work and go for a short trip interstate but now I'm reluctant to drive the car.
Not sure if dealer can reject my refund request or would deal with it without any dramas. I lost interest in this car. I'm so upset

 

I had a similar experience with a 2011 Sportage EX and it was the Crankshaft Position Sensor wiring harness connector - just needed to be pushed together all the way. I didn't do it so don't ask me where the hell it is.

 

Tell the used car dealer that the only way you'll have confidence in the diagnostics and repair is if it was done by an authorized Kia dealership and if he balks at that, let him know you want to exercise your cooling-off rights.

 

Unfortunately in NSW cooling-off period is only one day! I know its ridiculous.
The dealer was operating on the weekened Sat 8:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm and I signed the contract on Friday afternoon… so one day period doesnt apply to me.

 

Just to give everyone an update about the car. Dealer took it to Kia service centre for repair. At this stage I'm more inclined towards cancelling the sale and request a refund and already spoke to dealer but they keep insisting that they can fix the issue in few days.

 

😢 Kia service centre believe the issue is from wheel sensor but they cant comment until they look at the car next week. Have to wait few days to hear from them.

 

Well at least its being dealt with by a Kia service center, and not the used car sales places "mechanic".

 

Good luck! Let us know what happens please!!

 

Does the parking brake switch illuminate when engaged! Mine doesnt. Water damaged maybe?

 

Yes… still there. I'm thinking maybe the dealer/car wash spilled liquid on the central console switch controller and it's confusing the computer.
I'm not sure if the brake switch supposed to illuminate when it's engaged but last time I applied it wasnt illuminating.

I'm thinking of contacting the service centre mechanic and telling him/her to check the switch. I remember the very first time I contacted the dealer about the limp mode issue he told me maybe the water is gone into electronics then I thought what is he talking about. Maybe they're hiding something from me. If kia service centre reports that they cant find any fault and later I discover that the damage is due to liquid spillage then I need to pay for console switch controller replacement.

 

Just to give everyone an update about the outcome.

Kia service centre said they couldn't find any fault code an currently test driving the car. Would you believe them?

I drove the car twice for less than 20km each time and car went into limp home mode. How come Kia can't find the fault?

Something fishy is goin on here.

 

Hard to comment but some codes possibly don't store. Some do and go into history when they clear from being active. I've had a car which had a persistant fault on the traction control that could never be solved until I literally drove it in running whilst the error light was on because every time it was cycled it cleared and they could find nothing, back in 2008. If it's as persistant as you report I'd be confident it should trigger and get decoded.

 

Kia service centre diagnosed the issue. They believe the issue is from faulty inhibitor switch. From googling I found the symptoms are different to the ones I had. Not sure if they've found the fault!

Service bulletin:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10128585-9999.pdf

 

Looks like based on the dash lights that this is a classic presentation of a failed HECU. They have recalled all of the Sportage model years between 2017-2021 (just had mine done yesterday on a 2021 LX). Looks like they maybe extending it back to 2016 too if they have the same internal leakage issue. My 2020 Stinger had the same light show when the HECU failed in it; did the recall and replaced HECU and knock on wood all is good now. Check the owner's manual to see what amperage fuses it uses and lower it down by 10amps and drive it. If one or both fuses blow then it is pointing to a HECU short issue. Since it had not been mentioned yet I figured I would put it on the table.

 

Just pick up the car from dealer. Drove the car to see if any warning lights come up on the dashboard. All good BUT there is a loud whining noise coming from engine bay when accelerating. It happens at low gears until maybe gear 4. It wasn't there before returning the car for repair. It doesnt occur when the car is in park so had to do something with the transmission. Since they relpaced the inhibitor switch they may have messed up with something. Any suggestions?

 

Just pick up the car from dealer. Drove the car to see if any warning lights come up on the dashboard. All good BUT there is a loud whining noise coming from engine bay when accelerating. It happens at low gears until maybe gear 4. It wasn't there before returning the car for repair.

When you use the term "dealer" do you mean the Kia Dealership or the used car dealer?

The best is to take it back and have the mechanic drive with you and open another service order clearly stating what you consider a defect.

 

What's an 'HECU'?

 

Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit

 

I just had this same issue happen to my 2018 Sportage SX with 5k miles on it. Brought it into the dealership for service. Was told it was a defective left rear wheel bearing sensor. They replaced it and I haven’t had a problem since. Hope this helps!

 

Replacing the inhibitor switch has fixed the issue. Now need to sort out the grinding noise coming from the engine. It goes away when the AC is on. Booked a service with Kia for end of the month.

 

Now there is a recall on my car, lol. HECU may cause fire.