RoadVitals

1996 Kia Sportage Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Apr 9, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 57 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 9, 2002

OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8007103
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2001

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS/ AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND NO ONE COULD LOCATE CAUSE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, IN INTERSECTIONS, AND GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS AND VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
892623
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 10, 1999

VEHICLE ACCELERATES AUTOMATICALLY AT 35MMPH AND HIGHER, AND THEN IT WILL DECELERATE. DEALER HAS REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
852771
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING HAD NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER IT WAS THE OIL THAT WAS BURNING, BUT ODOR STILL PERSISTED. LIFTED TRUNK FOR USAGE & NOTICED CARPET HAD BURNED. A FRIEND CHECKED UNDER VEHICLE & NOTICED A HOLE ON TOP OF MUFFLER. NOTIFIED DEALER & WAS CHARGED TO HAVE MUFFLER REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
840260
Incident
Mar 25, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Nov 12, 1998

REMOTE CONTROL WINDOW MOTOR BLEW IN THE RIGHT PASSAGER SEAT FRONT EXHUAST PIPE FELL FROM THE MANIFOLD, A/C BLOWER SWITCH FAILED,A/C FILTER BROKE,3 TIMES BRAKES HAD TO BE ADJUSTED, HEAD LIGHT BLEW, BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON, CURRENTLY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP FOR THE 21 DAY CONCERNING THE CHECK ENGINE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
700534
Incident
Feb 10, 1998
Body & structureBrakesEngine+4 more
Filed Dec 11, 1997

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. IN ADDITION, NOISY REAR BRAKES DUE TO RECENT BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS/STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK/ GAS GAUGE FAILURE/ ODOMETER FAILURE/PASSENGER'S SIDE SUNVISOR DISCONNECTS FROM CLIP WHEN ENCOUNTERING HARSH RIDE OR WHEN VISOR IS PULLED DOWN AND ENGINE OFTEN HARD TO START. *AK

NHTSA ID
526320
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 8, 1997

THROTTLE SENSOR MISADJUSTED.

NHTSA ID
519238
Incident
May 22, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 1997

CAR IS CONSTANTLY LEAKING OIL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, REPLACED THE DRIVE LINES AND TWO SEALS,. MANUFACTURER TOLD OWNER THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT LEAK ANY MORE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
813558
Incident
Jun 21, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 1997
Crash reported

WHEN DRIVING ALONG VEHICLE WILL START SHAKING AND IT WILL JUST CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAS HAPPENED WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR PARK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE STALLING AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED JUST AS I WAS MAKING A TURN TO GO ONTO THE RAMP WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
812643
Incident
Apr 19, 1997
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 6, 1997

COMPUTER FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL.

NHTSA ID
513410
Incident
Nov 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Brakes15Airbags9Seat belts8Transmission8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .