01 kia sportage 4-wheel drive issues

I have the same problems but found the problem. Put a vacuum pump on the hub and see if there is any. I have one that has 30 inches of vacuum and one with zero. The only solution I found was to buy a used one from a salvage yard. The hand vacuum pump is only $40 but you will save over a $1000 doing this.

My mech found the vaccum lines to be bad that operate the auto locking hubs.. hope this helps

I have a 02 Sportage and found out the 4 wheel drive didn't work as I was sliding down a hill in the snow. The automatic hubs kia uses are cheap and very very unreliable. They blow out easily, and don't even need to be shifted into 4x4 to blow them out, my mechanic told me simply getting them wet can cause them to blow out. He replaced the front auto hubs with manual hubs, I still have to shift in 4x4 but then get out and simply turn a slider on both front wheels, takes about 30 seconds and that includes getting in and out of the car. Total cost with labor was $500 bucks and well worth it. It would have cost me the same or more to put new automatic hubs on and they would have blown out again. These manual hubs will last forever. I do think Kia should recall these those, I had no idea the 4wheel wasn't working until I started sliding down the hill and then when I regained traction and got stuck again my mom said my front wheels weren't even spinning. But the 4wheel light indicator came on and I could feel and hear it shift into 4 wheel drive. Get manual hubs, totally worth it.