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Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Kia Sportage problems

Owners filed 57 complaints about the 1996 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Aug 1996 and Dec 2004. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (13).

Full 1996 Sportage research
Complaints
57
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  2. Power train11
  3. Engine and engine cooling10
  4. Air bags9
  5. Seat belts7
  6. Electrical system6
  7. Vehicle speed control3
  8. Suspension3
  9. Equipment2
  10. Wheels2
  11. Structure2
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Service brakes, air1
  14. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19967
199714
19987
19997
20004
20017
20023
20037
20041

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

13 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING, SEAT BELT DETACHES. WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKES HARDER THAN USUAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS DETACHING 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT LIST THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2001Service brakes, hydraulic, Seat beltsODI 899324
Get this fixed

Power train

11 reports
“THE CAR'S REAR LEFT TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LUG NUTS AND THE ASSEMBLY WHERE INTACT. FROM WHAT THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE BALL BEARINGS MELTED CAUSING THE CASING WHERE THE BOLTS GO TO DETACH. I'M NOT A MECHANIC SO I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS BUT IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE BODY SHOP THAT'S WORKING ON THE CAR. I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU REQUEST IT. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2001Power trainODI 754244
Get this fixed

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports1 crash
“OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2002Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 8007103
Get this fixed

Air bags

9 reports8 crashes
“CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2004Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10105282
Get this fixed

Seat belts

7 reports1 crash1 related recall
“RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 216 000 CONCERNING FRONT SEAT BELTS, BUT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT REPLACING THE REAR SEAT BELT UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2003Seat beltsODI 10040370
Recall: Seat belts: buckle assemblyGet this fixed

Electrical system

6 reports2 fires
“ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND DIE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2000Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 873272
Get this fixed
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.