10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Kia Sportage miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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1998 Kia Sportage Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Apr 142017

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Right rear frame rusted through completely stablizer rusted off frame

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #23

Oct 092015

Sportage

  • 170,000 miles
My steering column doesn't lock when I turn off the engine. It has also started failing to start but when we jumpstart it it responds immediately. I have learned; that sometimes if I rock it or push it a few feet it will start right up too. It acts almost like a vapor lock because the engine is warm and just doesn't start after having set for an hour. Almost like a short or disconnect. Additionally the blower motor seems to have died too. Heat/ac works, just doesn't distribute. I'm wondering if there's a recall on either of these since they seem to be electrical or wiring harness issues.

- N. Charleston, SC, USA

problem #22

Apr 022010

Sportage

  • 101,000 miles
Sway bar had broken off from half of the frame.it was found the frame has rotted most of the way through in the backend of vehicle on both sides. I was told the back end could break off from vehicle at any moment.

- Keene, NH, USA

problem #21

Nov 172006

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Safety recall.

- Rutherford, NJ, USA

problem #20

Apr 272006

Sportage

  • miles
I have not received the 3 most recent recalls for my vehicle from the manufacturer which gives me great concern in regards to myself and my passenger's safety. Please tell me what I need to do next to fix this.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

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problem #19

Jan 272003

Sportage

  • miles
On going problem with a "check light" with the 1998 Sportage Kia. Went to mechanics at Pontiac and martin Mazda (when they took over) and all they did was unplug the battery and put it back in again. The check light come back on a day or two later. They never fix the problem. My feeling is there was a conspiracy by martin Mazda and nucar Pontiac to delay actually fixing the problem. Being that my car was registered for three years, the state of Delaware wouldn't catch it on the inspection report. I went for inspection and it failed because the "check light" was on and it produced certain codes.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #18

Aug 162002

Sportage 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had numerous problems with the Kia when reporting problems stated they said contact dealer but never assist me with working with dealer. Once they sell me the vehicle its my problem and work it out with dealer. I feel when the axle cracks almost causing a accident and brakes fail. Also sensors fail causing lost of power would this not be a safety issues and be of a big concern to Kia.

- Palos Hills, IL, USA

problem #17

Apr 022001

Sportage

  • miles
Continuation part 4...on as they usually did when I started the vehicle. I took the vehicle back to the dealer 2 days later and found that the technician or "someone" disconnected my instrument panel in an attempt to stop the engine light from coming on and me coming back to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for another 2 days and so-called fixed the problem. As you know by now, the engine light came back on. By this time, I had filed with BBB and begged Kia to take this problem back. At an arbitration hearing, the Kia representative downplayed all of my return trips to the dealer by stating that the dealer did not report all of these problems to them and they were not aware of what was going on. All of that was a lie since Kia was notified by certified letter of the problems and return trips. Well, the arbitrator sided with Kia and stated that even though the vehicle presumably met the criteria for lemon law, she felt that the dealer should get one more chance to repair the vehicle. Since I did not like the arbitratorS decision, I utilized one of the other options she offered and acted as if the hearing never happened. I drove with the engine light coming on and off for about 2 months until things got worse. The rear end started jingling louder than ever, the front end was grinding like never before, the vehicle would just take off on it's own, the transmission would become stuck in one gear or another without shifting, the windows were slow again, and the vehicle was shaking like a leaf. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they kept it for another 7 consecutive days and when I picked my vehicle up, there was a hideous dent and scratch on my right front fender as if a cinder block had fell on it. The dealer tried to release the vehicle to me that way but I refused. The kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the fender. They kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #16

Apr 242001

Sportage

  • miles
Continuation of complaint.... I then checked the NHTSA website for recalls or service campaigns and found 3 recalls that fit in my VIN range. I immediately called Kia's 800 number and asked if my vehicle was included and was promptly told no. I believed this response since it was coming directly from the manufacturer and not the dealer. About 2 months later, I received a disturbing call from a representative from Kia Consumer Affairs telling me to immediately stop driving the vehicle because the same 3 recalls I saw on the NHTSA website and called to inquire about included my vehicle. The recalls were: Brake line recall-the steering intermediate shaft coupling can contact a hydraulic brake pipe causing fluid leakage. This condition can cause a loss of rear brake increasing the risk of a crash. Electrical wiring- the wires connected to the C123 and C124 connectors can be put under tension by movement of the engine, thus pulling the wires and connectors, loosening them and resulting in a loss of circuit continuity. This condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash. The third recall was an obd label. I could not believe that Kia put my family and me in so much danger by telling me that my vehicle was not involved. The Kia representative told me that Kia would provide me with a loaner vehicle. Since I knew that I could possible die by continuing to drive this vehicle, I took a day off of work and took the vehicle back to the dlr. By this time, I had kept a timetable and log of everything that had gone wrong with the vehicle and presented it to the dealer. The list included, of course, the check engine light on, hesitation on acceleration, vehicle shakes severely when the wheel is turned, the idle surges when the vehicle is stopped, the rear window defogger had come off of the vehicle, the radio had started to static and turn on loud even when it was turned off, the volume knobs on the radio worked intermittently, the windows rolled up and down

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #15

Sep 031999

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
Engine check light on and fluttering when starting- dicovered O2 sensor was bad- replaced

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #14

Sep 152000

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While periodically driving 5mph or less vehicle would automatically shutoff. Engine check light came on first, than it shutoff. Consumer has taken vehicle to dealer, and was not able to find cause or remedy. Since the first incident, vehicle has shutdown 5 more times.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #13

Jun 151998

Sportage

  • miles
No summary

- Severn, MD, USA

problem #12

Sep 011998

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
The entire car should be recalled. Kia does little to assist with cars that have cronic problems.no safety defect listed within summary.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

problem #11

Sep 061999

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
The car has been the shop more than it has been out. The dealership's service deptartment has informed me, that since they can not duplicate the problem I have discribed to them, they can't fix the car. When I pick the car back up from the service deptartment, the problem continues for me. Time after time, the service dept. Is informed of this problem and as of this date 2/27/00 the car is still at the dealership unfixed. No safety defect listed within summary.

- Levittown, PA, USA

problem #10

Jan 282000

(reported on)

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
All the nut, bolts, clamps, brackets and some parts in my Kia are badly corroded/rusted....ect. None of these parts are covered under warranty. It looks as if they used the cheapest parts they could find. I'm scared that the whole thing might fall apart driving down the road. Another couple of years up here in new england and it just might!

- South Portland, ME, USA

problem #9

Apr 121999

Sportage

  • miles
When driving at any speed engine check light kept coming on, and the engine wasn't running properly. Consumer had vehicle into the dealer's shop for repairs seven or eight tims, and dealer still can't determine the cause of the problem.

- Huntsville, AR, USA

problem #8

Jul 141999

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at 55 mph to 70 mph engine check light came on. Vehicle shut down, causing loss of power. Also, when putting vehicle into reverse, vehicle shut down. Consumer almost hit another vehicle due to brakes failing. Consumer had to use the emergency brake to stop vehicle.

- Atlantic, GA, USA

problem #7

Nov 021998

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
There are many of problems with this vehicle as of today ther are only 1700 mile on the vehicleas where mor than 1/2 those miles are from going back and forth to the service dept as it is an 80 mile trip to the service dept. As for Kia they are totally ignorant as they do not ever return any of my phone calls. This suvis a lemon if I ever saw one. You would thin. No safet defect (s) listed in the summary.

- Brunswick, ME, USA

problem #6

Apr 221999

(reported on)

Sportage

  • miles
When coming to a stop and starting again the engine cuts off. Sometimes when gas is applied vehicle has a delayed start. Also engine check light comes on. Dealer can't find the problem.

- Brokton, MA, USA

problem #5

Mar 251999

(reported on)

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
Engine light failed.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

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