Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Kia Sportage problems
Owners filed 303 complaints about the 1998 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Apr 1998 and Apr 2017. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (73).
Complaints
303
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling73
- Service brakes, hydraulic61
- Power train59
- Electrical system41
- Suspension23
- Visibility23
- Structure18
- Equipment17
- Vehicle speed control17
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Steering11
- Air bags10
- Seat belts8
- Latches/locks/linkages8
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
21
75
61
63
23
26
10
5
5
2
0
1
2
2
0
4
1
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 21 |
| 1999 | 75 |
| 2000 | 61 |
| 2001 | 63 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
73 reports2 crashes
“THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHICH STATED THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE MANUFACTURED IN 1997 BUT THE VEHICLE IS 1998. *NLM”
Service brakes, hydraulic
61 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“THE ABS ON MY VEHICLE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER CALLED KIA USA, WHO COULD OFFER NO HELP. BECAUSE THE ABS IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE, THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE VERY UNRELIABLE. ON 2 DECEMBER THE ABS SYSTEM SUDDENLY BECAME OPERATIONAL, CAUSING THE "FEEL" OF THE PEDAL TO CHANGE, STARTLING THE DRIVER, WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB AND NARROWLY MISSED A TREE. *NM”
Power train
59 reports3 crashes
“THE 4WD SYSTEM ON THE 98 KIA SPORTAGE IS UNRELIABLE. THE VACUUM SYSTEM, WHICH ACTUATES THE FRONT HUBS DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM EVERY WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1998. THE DEALERS REPAIR LASTS A WEEK OR SO AND THEN FAILS. UNEXPECTED LACK OF 4WD IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB”
Electrical system
41 reports2 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“1998 KIA SPORTAGE A RECALL ABOUT THE WIRING HAS BEEN REPORTED I [XXX] HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION JUST NEED JUSTIFICATION A.S.A.P MY MAILING ADDRESS IS [XXX] MY PH. IS [XXX] ALSO [XXX]. THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY. *TR”
Suspension
23 reports1 crash
“REAR FRAME RUST/ROT IS INCREDIBLY EXCESSIVE. NOTICED TODAY WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. REAR CROSS MEMBER IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. VISIBLE DETERIORATION HAPPENED QUICKLY. PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2012 THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ROT ON THE FRAME. NOW I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, OR SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, THE INTEGRITY OF THE SQUARE TUBE FRAME IS COMPROMISED TO THE POINT THAT SAFETY IN A REAR END COLLISION IS IN QUESTION, ANY KIND OF TRAILER LOAD WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE AND UNSAFE. REALLY A DANGER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECAUSE IT COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. *TR”
Visibility
23 reports
“CONTINUAL FAILURE OF BATTERY , REPLACED 5 TIMES AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR BUT CONTIUES TO HAVE BATTERY FAILURE ALSO WINDOWS AND DOOR LCKS GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES.*AK”
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.