3.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,363 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.

2001 Kia Sportage fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2001 Kia Sportage Owner Comments

problem #13

May 302000

Sportage 4-cyl

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact stated the vehicle was parked when she smelled a strong fuel odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the exterior of the fuel tank was wet on the exterior because there was a fuel leak. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred within a few months. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 08/01/11 updated 08/03/11

- Franklin, KY, USA

problem #12

Aug 122010

Sportage

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking gasoline fuel abnormally from the top of the fuel tank. The manufacturer advised that there were no recalls on the vehicle and any repairs would be at the contacts expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Pomona , NY, USA

problem #11

Feb 012010

Sportage

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact smelled a strong odor of fuel coming from the air vents and circulating throughout the inside of the vehicle. Also, an excessive amount of fuel was leaking coming from the fuel tank. The vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction at this time. The failure mileage was 120,000. The current mileage was 155,000.

- Brielle, NJ, USA

problem #10

Nov 012008

Sportage

  • 70,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact smelled gasoline in the vehicle and took it to the mechanic. It was discovered that the tank was leaking due to a loose seam. As a result, the contact cannot fill up the gas tank in the vehicle. She discovered on the internet that there were other complaints for this year, make, and model vehicle. The contact feels that this is unsafe because the vehicle could catch fire. The failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 05/13/09 updated 05/13/09.

- Indiana, PA, USA

problem #9

Mar 252008

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The fuel tank began leaking due to failure of the fuel tank assembly. Kia provides a service campaign (SC059) to inspect 1996-2002 Sportage models to verify this failure is covered by that campaign. However, Kia only provides repair bulletin assistance for 1996-2000 models with this problem - so even though they verified it is a safety issue they refuse to repair it under the repair bulletin because it is a 2001 model. Why is the service campaign for inspection encompassing 1996-2002 models if they are only repairing 1996-2000 models without charging?

- Berwick, PA, USA

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problem #8

Mar 062008

Sportage 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact smelled a strong odor of gasoline and the fuel gauge went from a full tank to half a tank. She found a puddle of gasoline underneath the vehicle. The dealer stated that the fuel tank was corroded. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The VIN, number of cylinders, engine size, and dealer information were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 68,000.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

problem #7

Dec 202007

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Fuel tanks rust out quick. I noticed smell of gas, and replaced tank immediately. No damage was done, just concern for others. Poor design captures moisture between fuel tank and skid plate. This has cost me $250 for the tank, a half day of labor, and I'm concerned with putting skid plate back on. I looked on the internet to see if there were similar problems. There were several exact and others found with the fuel tanks. No cars have caught fire yet.

- Smithfield , VA, USA

problem #6

Aug 012006

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. The contact smelled gas coming from inside and outside of the vehicle. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The contact's husband inspected the vehicle and noticed two holes in the fuel tank. There is an open defect investigation for the fuel system tank assembly (NHTSA campaign number EA06007). The failure mileage was 42,000 and current mileage was 52,000. Updated 09/06/07

- Holderness, NH, USA

problem #5

Nov 072006

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,200 miles
Noticed a bad smell coming from the rear of my vehicle. I took my vehicle to be inspected at tires plus in wausau. They indicated to me the smell was caused by a failure with the fuel containment and distribution system.

- Marathon, WI, USA

problem #4

Sep 222006

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I own a 2001 Kia Sportage, 4dr, 4X4, with 38,000 miles. I am reporting that the fuel tank has corroded and has a leak. I will be calling the dealer for assistance, if I do not receive the proper assistance, I will be filing more complaints. I am a single mother of one, with children in the car many times per week, this car needs to be safe for everyone in the vehicle. I feel with a vehicle with this low mileage and just 5 yrs.old. This should not be happening so soon.

- Portland, ME, USA

problem #3

Jul 222006

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

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

2001 Kia Sportage in for an oil change, mechanic noticed leak from gas tank. Research shows investigation into fuel tank leakage. Have appt. To replace gas tank at lia Kia, schenectady, NY on 7/25/06. Add my car to the list.

- Rensselaer, NY, USA

problem #2

Feb 282005

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,518 miles
When pumping fuel into the vehicle, fuel sprays out onto the ground. The dealer states that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The back pressure was causing the gasoline to splash back and the pump nozzle would shut off. It was determined that ice and snow had built up on top of the gas tank and caused the orvr valve to stick. The ice and snow was removed and everything was fine for a week but the problem recurred. The screws holding the pump onto the fuel tank were breaking therefore the fuel tank was replaced along with the orvr.

- East Holden, ME, USA

problem #1

Dec 012001

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer stated fuel will not allow the tank to fill up with fuel, consumer took vehicle to dealer and had some parts replaced, the vehicle has been back to the dealer 4 times and the problem still exists. Consumer also stated the vehicle pulls from left to right, and the check engine light illuminated.

- Winchester, VA, USA

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