Electrical System owner reports: Kia Sportage years in the records

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“I am submitting this complaint regarding the positive battery terminal fuse block (battery terminal/fusible link assembly) on my 2022 Kia Sportage. The component is currently installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. I purchased this vehicle in 2024, when it was only about two years old. Because of the vehicle's age, I did not expect to experience major electrical problems. Approximately one year after purchasing it, in June, the battery failed and I had to purchase a brand-new replacement battery. Then, only about three months later, that replacement battery also failed and had to be replaced with another new battery. Having two batteries fail within such a short period on a relatively new vehicle made me believe there was an underlying electrical problem rather than simply defective batteries. As the problem continued to worsen, I discovered that the issue appeared to be related to the positive battery terminal fuse block connection. The connection became intermittent, and the vehicle would not reliably start because electrical power was not consistently passing through the battery terminal assembly. To temporarily restore the connection, a small metal key was carefully placed between the fuse block connection and the battery terminal. This was never intended to be a repair, but it was the only way to make the electrical connection so the vehicle would start. With the metal key in place, the vehicle would start and operate. Recently, the vehicle was exposed to snow and moisture. After that, the temporary connection stopped working and the vehicle would no longer start. I removed the metal key, allowed the connection to dry, and then inserted a small folded piece of aluminum foil into the same location to temporarily restore the electrical connection. The aluminum foil is still in place because it is currently the only way I can start the vehicle and drive it to a Kia dealership for inspection and replacement of the failed component. I”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“On Feb. 1, 2026 my 2022 Kia Sportage caught fire while parked and turned off. The vehicle had been stationary and was not running at the time the fire started. There were no warning lights, no prior overheating, and no collision or external cause. The fire appears to have originated from the engine/electrical area. This incident resulted in a total loss of the vehicle and posed a serious safety risk, as the fire occurred without warning. The vehicle was properly maintained and had no known modifications. This incident is concerning due to previous reports of Kia vehicles experiencing spontaneous fires related to electrical or engine components. I am requesting this incident be investigated for potential defects in electrical systems or engine components that may cause fires while the vehicle is parked and turned off.”

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“While driving my 2022 Kia Sportage, the brakes suddenly stopped responding. I pressed the brake pedal hard several times and the vehicle did not slow down or stop at all. There was no braking pressure and no warning lights. Because the brakes failed completely, I crashed directly into a guardrail. The airbags deployed on impact. This was not driver error, it was a sudden and total brake system failure. The vehicle is currently in a wreck yard and requires immediate manufacturer inspection.”