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.
I bought the car 2 weeks after I left dealer started noticing a smell of gas though was. Because just put gas in.then when turned on heat smell would get worse ! a few days ago went to fill gas and a lot gas over.filled onto ground not able to figure out why the smell gas so strong inside car its. Actually upset my stomach when driving the. At and afraid going start fire ! also leakage on ground when parked. I have read other complaints with same problem !! it's a 2001 Kia. Only has 78,000 miles on it think should be cover. From company since not only one with this problem.
Bought this vehicle with only 11K miles from an elderly couple that hardly drove it. Now at 21K miles, there is a gas smell coming inside the vehicle and also outside of the vehicle. Has a rough idle and gas spews out of tank while I'm pumping gas. The front passenger tire sounds like it's about to fall off. Had to replace spark plugs twice already. Also, the driverside seatbelt will not retract. I bought this vehicle with only 11K miles thinking it will last for awhile, but I've had so many issues with it.
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. While driving at various speeds, fuel fumes emitted into the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that fuel was leaking from the top of the fuel tank and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel, which created fumes in and around the vehicle. The contact located the leak under the fuel tank on the passenger side of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated due to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Just purchased this vehicle from a private owner, they smelled an odor of fuel ever since they acquired the vehicle a month ago. Prior to that it was owned by one owner and garage kept. The fuel tank and bottom protector was rotted away and in dangerous leaking condition. Kia was contacted and they said there were no recall and they wouldn't repair the vehicle. The rot in this tank didn't happen overnight, but it was so severe that it warrants a look from the NHTSA into this. A manufacturer such as Kia should not be able to sell an inferior safety hazard to the citizens of the usa. There were investigations into this problem a full 7 years ago and nothing was done. This is an insult to people concerned with motoring safety, we should expect better from both the manufacturer and government agencies such as this one. It's not a mileage issue, the 1999/2000 Sportages were rusting out with only a few years of service and it is due to inferior materials that should be covered by a manufacturer that uses them.
- Mays Landing , NJ, USA
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I have a 2001 Kia Sportage, with a faulty sending unit seal. The seal leaked, causing fuel to run down the side of the tank and rust a hole into the tank causing a second leak. The sending unit and the pressure regulator and the gas tank are all sold separately. The shield around the tank causes fluid to trap between the tank and the shield, which is where it rusted. The shield is another expense. Kia will honor nothing. I fear for my life to drive it the way it is. It will cost around $600-800 in parts alone.
As is it happening with the 2002, and 2005 models, my 2001 Kia Sportage also has problem when I put gas in. When I try to fill it up, it spits the gasoline out with so much force it gets all over the floor and if you are not careful, it gets on you. This is been happening about a year or so ago. It is a very dangerous situation because when you least expect it the gasoline you put in the tank goes back out. I took it to the local mechanic and told me there was a defective valve inside the tank and it was a very expensive job. I check but there are no Kia recalls. I think there should be some enforcement from the government against Kia so they fix this problem which is dangerous not only to the owner's health, but to the environment and his pocket too.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Margate, NJ, USA