Kia Sportage Interior Door
Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door
panels in a 4th generation 2017 to 2022 Kia Sportage to upgrade the speaker.
2018 Sportage Door Panel |
Door Pull Handle |
Screwdriver In Notch |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the fourth
generation (2017, 2018, 2019 and possibly also the refreshed 2020, 2021 and
2022) Kia Sportage SUV in taking off the plastic interior door panel in
order to upgrade the OEM speaker, add soundproofing material, fix a faulty
electrical switch or replace a broken power window motor. Owners of other Kia, Hyundai and Genesis vehicles such as the Niro, Optima, Soul, Forte, Rio, Stinger, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, Telluride, Sedona, Kona, Santa Fe, Tucson, Elantra, Sonata, Accent, Veloster, Ioniq, Nexo, Palisade, G70, G80 and G90 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The tools needed to remove the door panel include a flathead screwdriver and a plastic pry bar tool. To replace the OEM door speaker, you'll need an 8mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a Phillips head screwdriver. To change the power window motor, you'll need a 7mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a Torx T-20 star bit screwdriver. The first two steps are to lower the power window all the way down and then fully open the door. Insert the blade of your flathead screwdriver into the small notch at the top front corner of the trim cover on the door pull handle. |
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Pry Off Trim Cover |
Well In Armrest |
Pry Open Screw Cover |
Gently pry off the
trim cover and set it aside in a safe place. Try to avoid using excessive force. The trim cover on the door pull handle should pop off relatively easily. You may need to pry at several locations with the plastic pry bar tool. Then move to the middle of the armrest. Locate the rectangular plastic screw cover in the bottom of the well in the armrest. Insert a small flathead screwdriver into the notch at the rear edge and pry open the screw cover. |
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Armrest Screw Exposed |
Pry Off Sail Panel |
Sail Panel Removed |
Then move to the
top inner corner of the door panel. Gently pry off the small triangular shaped sail panel located near the side view mirror. On some models, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that will need to be disconnected. Set the sail panel aside in a safe place. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Top Screw Removed |
Remove Lower Screw |
Remove the top
screw in the door pull handle by turning it in the counterclockwise
direction with a Phillips head screwdriver. Then remove the bottom screw from the door pull handle by also turning it in the counterclockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver. Set the two screws aside in a safe place. |
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Remove Armrest Screw |
2 Trim Pieces, 3 Screws |
Pull Out Bottom Edge |
Move to the well in
the center of the armrest. Remove the screw located at the bottom of the well by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a Phillips head screwdriver. Set the screw aside in a safe place, such as on the floor mat. Insert the plastic pry bar tool or a large flathead screwdriver in between the bottom edge of the door panel and the metal door frame. Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to release the plastic pop rivet friction fasteners. |
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Release Pop Rivets |
Lift Panel Off Top Edge |
Tilt Away Top Edge |
Continue pulling
out the pop rivets all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door
panel. Carefully lift the plastic door panel up and off the upper lip on the metal door frame. Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself and support the bottom edge with your legs. |
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Two Black Cables |
Push In Release Tab |
Remove Switch Panel Plug |
Push in the release
tab on the small white plastic electrical connector for the power door lock
switch and pull the power plug straight out of its socket. Then move to the underside of the switch panel. Push in the release tab on the large white plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight out of its socket. |
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Power Plug Removed |
Plastic Cables Bracket |
Push In Release Tab |
Next, move to the
black plastic bracket that holds the two cables for the door lock rocker
switch and the door opener handle. Gently push in the small black plastic tab on the rear edge of the bracket to release it from its mount. |
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Lift Out Rear of Bracket |
Pull Out Tab - Front Edge |
Door Panel Removed |
Lift the rear edge
of the bracket out of the mount. Pull the two tabs on the front edge out of their slots in the back side of the door panel. Set the plastic interior door panel aside in a safe place. |
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Metal Door Frame |
OEM Door Speaker |
Remove Power Plug |
The OEM door
speaker is located at the bottom inner corner of the door frame. Push in the release tab on the white plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight out of its socket. To remove the old speaker, turn the four silver bolts in the counterclockwise direction with an 8mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet or a Phillips head screwdriver. The OEM front door speaker can be replaced with aftermarket car speakers in the following compatible sizes: 6 1/2" (6.5") or 6 3/4" (6.75"). I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadener to the metal door frame and the rear of the plastic door panel to help stop vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume. |
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Power Window Motor |
7mm or T20 Bolts |
DYAUTO 82460-D9000 |
If you need to replace a broken power window motor, you'll need a 7mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a Torx T20 screwdriver. | ||
Hold Panel Near Frame |
Push In Switch Panel Plug |
Door Lock Switch Plug |
To replace the door
panel, hold it near the door frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself. Push in the larger white plastic power plug into the socket on the underside of the switch panel. You should hear or feel the electrical connector "click" securely into place. Then push the small white plastic electrical connector for the power door lock switch into its socket. |
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Line Up Cables Bracket |
Push Down To Secure Clip |
Lower Panel On Frame |
Line up the black
plastic bracket for the two cables that operate the door opener handle and
the door lock rocker switch with the mount on the back side of the door
panel. Re-insert the two tabs on the front edge of the bracket into their slots. Lower the rear edge of the bracket into the mount and push on it to secure the retaining clip. Make sure the bracket is securely in place. Lower the top edge of the plastic door panel on to the metal lip on the top edge of the door frame. |
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Line Up Pop Rivets |
Firmly Tap In Fasteners |
Line Up Sail Panel |
Line up the blue
plastic pop rivets on the back side of the door panel with their
corresponding holes in the metal door frame. Firmly tap in the pop rivet friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel. Line up the sail panel with the top front corner of the door frame. If your sail panel contains a tweeter speaker, re-attach the electrical connector. |
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Push On Sail Panel |
Lower Door Handle Screw |
Tighten Clockwise |
Push the sail panel
back into place. Replace the two screws in the door pull handle by turning them in the clockwise direction until they are snug. |
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Replace Upper Screw |
Replace Armrest Screw |
Pop In Screw Cover |
Replace the screw
in the bottom of the well in the middle of the armrest by turning it in the
clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver until it is snug. Close the small plastic screw cover and snap it back into place. |
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Line Up Trim Cover |
Push To Secure Cover |
Door Panel Replaced |
Line up the trim
cover with the door pull handle. Firmly push the cover back into place to secure the retaining clips. Sit inside the car, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock rocker switch, power door lock switch, power window switch and the door speaker are all working properly. Please check out all of my
2017-2022 Kia Sportage DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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