RoadVitals

1995 Kia Sportage Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
56
Latest Mar 16, 2006
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 10, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 56 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Kia Sportage. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 56 · page 1 of 3

Engine
Filed Mar 16, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE ENGINE LOCKED CAUSING LOSE OF POWER. THERE IS A SPECIAL CAMPAIGN #011, REGARDING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE CAMPAIGN; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10152900
Incident
Mar 16, 2006
Mileage
114,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2004

VEHICLE STALLED. IT DIED IN TRAFFIC EVERYDAY. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091576
Incident
Aug 17, 2004
Mileage
109,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 9, 2003

WHILE DRIVING LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. AXLE BEARING OIL SEAL RETAINING NUT WAS MISSING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022706
Suspension
Filed Oct 22, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE THE REAR AXLE AND TIRE FLEW OFF, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND COME TO A STOP. TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTRAL NEEDS REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID
8021355
Incident
Oct 16, 2002
Visibility
Filed Sep 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH FUMES COME THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
8018922
Incident
Jul 5, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Jul 29, 2002

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS "CONNECTING" PROPERLY. OFTEN WILL DETACH WHILE DRIVING UNLESS IT IS PROPERLY "SEATED" AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
764875
Engine
Filed May 15, 2002

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 1997 AND HAVE REPLACED 4 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN 5 YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2000, AND WE REPLACED IT THE 4TH TIME DURING MY OWNERSHIP. IT IS OUT AGAIN AND I AM GETTING FROM KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY FOR IT. I THINK THIS PART IS SERIOUSLY FAULTY FOR IT TO CHANGED OUT SO MANY TIMES. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AND THEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR OR SO AS LONG AS I OWN THE VEHICLE. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP FROM YOU. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
761930
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Apr 6, 2002

SEAT BELTS SOMETIMES LATCH PARTIALLY. A BELT SEEMS TO HAVE LATCHED, BUT POPS LOOSE LATER. WE REPLACED THE FRON-LEFT SEAT BELT TWICE, I BELIEVE, IN 1998, DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. NOW BOTH THE FRONT-LEF AND FRONT-RIGHT BELTS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE KIA DEALER SUNBURY MOTORS, SUNBURY, PA (RON, NIGHT SHIFT) VERIFIED THE PROBLEM AND APPLIED A LUBRICANT. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE REPORT THE PROBLEM AT THIS WEB SITE AND SAID HE WOULD MENTION IT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE PARTIAL LATCH DOES NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN ANY MORE AFTER LUBRICATION. WE HAVE ORDERED TWO NEW SEAT BELTS ANYWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
760353
Fuel system
Filed Feb 6, 2002

CAR HAS STALLED IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS 6 TIMES NOW AND RETURNED TO DEALER 4 TIMES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. OCCUPANT OF VEHICLE NARROWLY MISSED A MAJOR COLLISION TWICE. THE CAR STALLS BUT ELECTRICAL POWER STILL THERE. *AK

NHTSA ID
757858
Incident
Feb 6, 2002
Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 2001
1 injury reported

VEHICLE LOST 4WD, GOT STUCK AND CRACKED BODY MOLDING, RESPONSE FROM DEALER WAS TO REPLACE FRONT END COMPONENTS,SECOND OCCURRENCE WHILE TRAVELING IN SNOW STORM, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE HIT TREE EMBANKMENT, WHEN PULLED OUT CONSUMER REALIZED 4WD HAD GONE OUT, DEALER RESONSE WAS TO BAD VACUUM SEALS, THIRD OCCURRENCE LOST 4WD DUE TO VACUUM LINE BEING RUSTED, AND FOURTH OCCURRENCE LOST 4WD AND DEALER REPLACE FRONT END COMPONENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
560859
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Feb 23, 2001

SEATBELT IS RELEASING ,IT IS COMING OUT OF BUCKLE ON ITS OWN WHILE CONSUMER IS WEARING SEATBELT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. BUCKLE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AND REPLACEMENT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 2 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
881255
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Feb 22, 2001

THESE ARE REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS. THE ORIGINAL ONES ALSO STOPPED WORKING. BOTH MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. THEY SAID VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (< 34K MILES). NHTSA NOTIFIED 2 YEARS AGO. NOW THESE BELTS ARE FAILING CONSTANTLY. LATCH MECHANISM IS NOT HOLDING. IT SLIPS OUT. REAR DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK DUE TO LATCH FAILURES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
741307
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Feb 21, 2001

FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLES HAVE FAILED AND HAVE COME UNLATCHED ON THEIR OWN WHILE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING THEM,CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. BUCKLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE PRIOR, BUT REPLACEMENT PART HAS FAILED ONLY AFTER 2 YEARS OF USAGE. *AK *SLC REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
880948
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 4, 2000

CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER WITHIN FIVE DAYS THE REPLACEMENT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT, TIRE MAKE/MODEL NOT PROVIDED. *MJS

NHTSA ID
558276
BrakesElectricalSeat belts+1 more
Filed Nov 14, 2000

HORN FAILED TO OPERATE/ ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY/ INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD COME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN ANY OF THESE CONCERN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
874953
Incident
Mar 15, 2000
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2000

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE COULD HEAR A LOT OF TICKING INSIDE OF ENGINE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO A TECHNICIAN, AND THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES*AK

NHTSA ID
874927
Incident
Nov 11, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 27, 2000

CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
871669
Body & structure
Filed Jul 27, 2000

VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, CONSUMER CANNOT GET PASSED 40 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
866119
Incident
Apr 27, 2000
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering+2 more
Filed Jun 26, 2000

THE ENGINE WILL START UP AND STAY AT APROX 3000 RPM FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TWICE THE RPMS JUMPED WHILE EACH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IT AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. THE LOCKING HUBS ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT UNLOCKING. IT CAUSED SOME SLIDING IN THE RAIN GOING AROUND A CORNER. THE WHEELS ALWAYS TURN AT THE SAME RATE AROUND CORNERS. THE TRIM IS COMING LOOSE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH WHEN I SHIFT, AND DURING DRIVING IT WILL SOME TIMES SURGE FORWARD AND BACK. TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
724567
Incident
May 25, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2000

CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM/CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER ARRIVING, WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. WOULD ORDER PARTS & CONTACT OWNER. SO FAR NO CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
854934
Incident
Nov 9, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 14, 1999
Crash reported

BOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS IN THE WRECK, LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE WINDOW SEATS, THEIR LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN PINNED IN BY THE COLLAPSED FRONT SEATS

NHTSA ID
716061
Incident
Dec 5, 1999
Visibility
Filed Nov 18, 1999

COOLANT LEAK FROM HEATER CORE NUMEROUS TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
714969
Incident
Nov 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 1999

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 9., SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN RAW ODORS AND ODORS OF FUMES. SHE WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CATYLAC CONVERTER WAS GONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
838854
Incident
Apr 4, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Mar 8, 1999

SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE WHILE I'M DRIVING, IN FACT I CAN PULL IT OUT MANUALLY!

NHTSA ID
704163
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 13, 1999

AT FREEWAY SPEED LEFT BEARING SEIZED PULLING LEFT TIRE AND WHEEL ALONG WITH AXLE OUT OF REAR END. WHEEL AND AXLE SPUN THROUGH TRAFFIC . CAR WENT TO MEDIAN

NHTSA ID
703262
Incident
Nov 26, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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