Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Kia Sportage problems

Owners filed 284 complaints about the 1999 Kia Sportage with NHTSA between Oct 1998 and Sep 2015. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (74).

Complaints
284
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
27
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling74
  2. Power train51
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic40
  4. Electrical system38
  5. Fuel system, gasoline33
  6. Structure23
  7. Air bags23
  8. Visibility22
  9. Suspension17
  10. Seat belts16
  11. Vehicle speed control11
  12. Equipment9
  13. Steering9
  14. Tires8

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
19982
199922
200076
200146
200228
200322
200415
200515
200612
20079
20087
20097
201010
20114
20120
20134
20144
20151

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

Engine and engine cooling

74 reports6 crashes
“KEYWAY ON CRANKSHAFT WHERE TIMING GEAR ATTACHES WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND CAN RESULT IN HAVING TO REPLACE ENGINE! I HAVE REPLACE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, FUEL FILTER, AND KNOCK SENSOR ALSO THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED AS THERE APPEARED TO BE A TIMING ISSUE COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM SO TOOK TO KIA DEALER TO FIND THE KEYWAY ON CRANKSHAFT TO BE SO WORN YOU COULD ALMOST TURN GEAR ALL THE WAY AROUND! IN ALL THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VEHICLES THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEN THIS AND IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10316796

Power train

51 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED STRONG FUEL FUMES ON THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED THREE TIMES AND WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE DRIVE TRAIN FAILED ONCE AND WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE CRANK SHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED ONCE. THE CONTACT ALSO WAS EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN WHICH THE GEARS SLIPPED RANDOMLY AND WERE SLOW TO CHANGE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE SEALS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FUEL LEAK CONTINUED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 333,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2015Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10778236

Service brakes, hydraulic

40 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“I PURCHASED MY KIA USED, FROM A DEALER, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, AND IT PASSED THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CHECK FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HAVE DEALER REPLACE THE GASOLINE TANK AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE. THIS CAR IS USED SOLELY FOR LIGHT USAGE TO TRANSPORT MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN TO AND FROM DR'S AND GROCERY STORES. AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REPORTING ISSUE WITH CATALYST. FOUND A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND AM TRYING TO GET ORIGINAL DEALER TO FIX. NOW EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER TO ENGAGE INCLINES OR HILLS, CAUSING A HAZARD TO OTHER DRIVERS. ALSO BACK BRAKES SIMPLY "BLEW"! WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR, I LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITIES. THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND HAVE A STANDARD TO QUICKLY DOWNSHIFT. MY MOTHER WAS KILLED DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKES, AND IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PANICKING SITUATION FOR ME EMOTIONALLY. BEING A SINGLE MOTHER I RELY ON MECHANICS TO DO ALL MY WORK, AND I HAD JUST HAD ALL MY FUEL LEVELS TOPPED OFF AND MY PADS CHECKED, WITHOUT ANY ISSUE FOUND. I HAVE ALSO HAD AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELTS REMAINING ENGAGED. THE DEALER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND I AM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2008Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasoline, Fuel system, other, Electrical system, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Interior lighting, EquipmentODI 10250200

Electrical system

38 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“THIS KIA WAS PURCHASED NEW AND IS A ONE OWNER CAR. IT HAS HAD 2 MASTER CYLINDERS, AND 4 SETS OF BRAKE PADS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR SLIDES TO THE RIGHT ON WET ROADS AND DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT HITS SOMETHING OR SLOWS TO A STOP. I HAVE SLID 2 TIMES, REAR ENDED SOMEONE THE 3RD, AND MY SON HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE OTHER TIMES THE BRAKES MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. AT TIMES THE BRAKES VIBRATE. THIS CAR HAS HAD A NEW CLOTH TOP, NEW AIR CONDITIONING 2X, 5 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NEW CARPET FROM THE AIR LEAKING AND MOLDING, NEW SEAT COVERS AS THEY RIPPED, NEW BRAKES, ROTORS, PADS SEVERAL ITEMS I HAVE LOST COUNT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR HAS BEEN RE-WIRED, AT TIMES THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. LAST NIGHT THE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICE WANTED TO KNOW WHY I WOULD ENDANGER MY SON'S LIFE IN A CAR THAT WON'T STOP OR SLIDES. THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. WHY ARE ANY OF THESE MODELS STILL ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THEM. IN LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS THERE WERE MANY THAT DEALT WITH THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2006Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10166674

Fuel system, gasoline

33 reports
“I HAD JUST FILLED GAS TANK WITH UNLEADED GAS. WHEN I NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL. THE CAR SITS ALL DAY. I ONLY MOVE IT FOR EMISSIONS EACH YEAR I WORK FROM HOME. THEY TESTED AND TOLD ME EVAP EMISSION CONTROL SYS MALF. THE GUY SAID HE COULD SEE GAS LEAKING FROM MY FUEL LINE. HE SAID IT WAS A RECALL ON THIS TO CHECK WITH KIA. KIA TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL. THIS CAR DOES NOT SEE ALOT OF ACTION THERE IS NO REASON OTHER THAN A FEW GOOD SNOWS THAT MAY HAVE RUSTED THE TANK OTHER WISE WHY WOULD MY TANK ALL OF A SUDDEN LEAK GAS. THIS IS A HAZARD THAT I THINK KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND HAVE HAD IT LONGER THAN THE FIRST. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRST HAND SOME ISSUES THIS MODEL HAS HAD WHICH KIA TOOK CARE OF. BUT THEY REFUSE THIS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 14, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10569244

Structure

23 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND CAUSED THAT CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AFTER HE REGAINED CONTROL, STOPPED AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2014StructureODI 10562740
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.