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Kia Sportage Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door panels in a 3rd generation 2011-2016 Kia Sportage to upgrade the speakers.

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2014 Sportage Door Panel
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Pry Out Trim Piece
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Door Handle Screw
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Kia Sportage SUV in removing the plastic interior door panels in order to upgrade the OEM speakers, add soundproofing material, fix a faulty electrical switch or replace a broken power window motor.

Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Forte, Cadenza, K900, Rio, Sorento, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a small flathead screwdriver, a standard Phillips head screwdriver, and either a large flathead screwdriver or a plastic automotive panel pry bar tool.

To remove the OEM door speaker, you'll need an electric drill and a drill bit set in order to drill out the metal rivets.



 
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Pry Open Screw Cover
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Arm Rest Phillips Screw
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Pry Off Sail Panel
The first two steps are to lower the window all the way down and open the door.

Gently pry out the plastic trim panel behind the door opener handle with a small flathead screwdriver.

Set the panel aside in a safe place.

Pry open the square screw cover at the bottom of the door pull well in the center of the armrest with a small flathead screwdriver.

Then move to the top inner corner of the door panel and gently pry off the triangular shaped sail panel with a flathead screwdriver.

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Sail Panel Removed
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Disconnect Tweeter Speaker
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Remove Screw Behind Handle
Press the release tab on the tweeter speaker's white plastic power plug before sliding it straight out of its socket.

Set the sail panel aside in a safe place.

Remove the screw located behind the door opener handle by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

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Remove Door Pull Well Screw
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2 Screws, Trim Piece & Sail Panel
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Pry Out Screw Cap
Then remove the screw at the bottom of the door pull well in the armrest by turning it counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Move to the outer edge of the door panel and locate the two small round plastic screw caps.

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Plastic Cap Removed
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Remove Lower Screw Cap
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Remove Outer Edge Screw
Pry out the plastic screw caps with a small flathead screwdriver and set them aside in a safe place.

Remove the two screws on the outer edge of the door panel by turning them counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver.

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Screw & Plastic Grommet
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Remove Lower Edge Screw
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4 Screws & 2 Plastic Pieces
Set the two screws aside in a safe place with the other screws and plastic panels.

At this point, you should have removed a total of four Phillips head screws, one trim piece and the sail panel.

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Notch In Bottom Edge
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Pry Out Bottom Edge of Panel
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Pop Rivet Friction Fasteners
Insert a large flathead screwdriver or an automotive panel removal tool in to the notch cut out on the bottom edge of the door panel.

Firmly pull out the pop rivet friction fasteners along the bottom edge of the door panel.

Continue pulling out the pop rivets on the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel.

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Lift Panel Off Door Frame
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Tilt Top Edge Towards You
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Lock & Handle Cables Assembly
Lift the plastic door panel off the top of the metal door panel.

Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself while supporting the bottom with your legs.

The door lock switch and door opener handle cables are routed in to a plastic mounting bracket.



 

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Black Plastic Release Tab
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Press In Release Tab
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Pull Off Cables Bracket
Press in the black plastic release tab and pull the bracket off the door panel.
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Press Release Button
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Pull Out Switch Panel Power Plug
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Plastic Door Panel Removed
Press the release tab on the switch panel's white plastic power connector before sliding the plug straight out of its socket.

Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place.

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Metal Door Frame
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Drill Out Speaker Rivets
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Hold Door Panel Near Frame
In order to remove the OEM door speakers, you'll need to carefully drill out the metal rivets with an electric drill.

Use a small drill bit that is just slightly larger than the hole in the middle of the rivet.

The OEM speakers can be replaced with aftermarket speakers in the following sizes: 5 1/4" (5.25") and 6 1/2" (6.5").

I'd recommend purchasing new speakers from Amazon since you can verify which speakers will fit your SUV and whether you will need a mounting bracket.

If you'd like to reduce road noise and allow your new speakers to sound their best, apply some Dynamat Sound Deadener to the metal door frame. It will help stop vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume.

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Push In Electrical Connector
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Line Up Plastic Bracket
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Snap Bracket In To Place
To re-install the door panel, hold it near the metal door frame.

Tilt the top edge towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your legs.

Line up the bracket that contains the door lock and door opener handle cables with the mount on the back side of the panel.

Pop the bracket back in to place. Double check that it is secure before moving on to the next steps.

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Lower Top On To Frame
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Line Up Pop Rivet Fasteners
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Firmly Tap In Pop Rivets
Lower the top edge of the door panel on to the upper lip of the door frame.

Line up the pop rivet friction fasteners on the back side of the door panel with their corresponding holes in the metal door frame.

Firmly tap in the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel.

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Re-Insert Tweeter Speaker Plug
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Line Up Friction Fasteners
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Push On Sail Panel
Move to the top inner corner of the door panel.

Push the white plastic power plug in to the socket on the tweeter speaker.

Line up the friction fasteners on the back of the sail panel and gently push it back in to place.

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Re-Insert Outer Edge Screws
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Tighten Clockwise Direction
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Push In Screw Cap
Move to the outer edge of the door panel and re-insert the two Phillips head screws.

Tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Pop in the two small plastic screw caps.

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Pop In 2nd Screw Cap
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Re-Insert Door Pull Well Screw
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Pop In Screw Cover
Re-insert the screw at the bottom of the door pull well at the center of the arm rest and tighten it in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Close the plastic screw cover.

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Re-Insert Door Handle Screw
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Pop In Plastic Trim Piece
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Door Panel Replaced
Re-insert the Phillips head screw behind the door opener handle and tighten it in the clockwise direction.

Push in the plastic trim piece behind the door opener handle.

Sit inside the vehicle, close the passenger door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock switch and power window switch all still work properly.

Check out my other 2011-2015 Kia Sportage DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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