1998 Kia Sportage Body & structure Problems

REAR FRAME RUST/ROT IS INCREDIBLY EXCESSIVE. NOTICED TODAY WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. REAR CROSS MEMBER IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. VISIBLE DETERIORATION HAPPENED QUICKLY. PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2012 THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ROT ON THE FRAME. NOW I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR, OR SELLING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, THE INTEGRITY OF THE SQUARE TUBE FRAME IS COMPROMISED TO THE POINT THAT SAFETY IN A REAR END COLLISION IS IN QUESTION, ANY KIND OF TRAILER LOAD WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE AND UNSAFE. REALLY A DANGER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BECAUSE IT COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622399

Incident

Aug 13, 2014

Mileage

175,000 mi

EXTREME CORROSION AT REAR OF FRAME WHERE AXLE IS SUPPORTED READY TO COLLAPSE AND WILL REQUIRE REMEDIATION TO PREVENT FRAME FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511776

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

PAINT CHIPPING OFF TRIM OF SPORTAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037269

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

CONSUMER STATES SHE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE DOORS UNLOCKING 4 TIMES PER SECOND AND THE HEATER FAN NOT OPERATING.*JB

NHTSA ID

785782

THE VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TO HAVE VARIOUS PARTS REPAIRED AND REPLACED, VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DEALER HAS TRIED ALL TYPES OF REMEDIES BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*JB

NHTSA ID

562970

Incident

Dec 11, 1999

ALL FOUR WINDOWS GET STUCK, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, VEHICLE IS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4X4 WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AIR CONDITIONER WORKS 1 OUT OF 4 TIMES, LATCH OPENS ON BACK OF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. BLACK TARRY DUST ON FRONT TIRES.

NHTSA ID

748607

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

CENTER CONSOL LID BROKE UNABLE TO OPEN- REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

744045

Incident

May 16, 2000

FUEL TANK SENSOR WENT OUT IN VEHICLE 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. DOOR HANDLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD CAME OFF TWICE. 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK WHEN USING IT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL TANK SHOULD NOT BE FILLED COMPLETELY. WILL BE LOOKING AT THE OTHER PROBLEMS FOR REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID

884498

ACORDING TO DEALERSHIP , THE PREDRILLED HOLES AND THE CHILD SAFTY SEAT ANCHORING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE 1998 KIA SPORTAGE AND ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. ITS IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ITEMS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. IM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED A NEW CARSEAT FOR MY TWO YEAR OLD SON. THE MANUAL FOR THE CARSEAT STRICTLY SAYS THAT WITH OUT THE PROPER ANCHOR HARDWARE THE CARSEAT CAN NOT BE INSTALLED PROPERLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

737307

MAIN CONCERN IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF INDICATOR LAMP IS ON AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGING. CAUSING A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY ON HAZARDOUS ROADWAYS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID

731606

Incident

Mar 4, 1999

IM NOT HAPPY THAT I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND IT AVERAGES GOING INTO THE SHOP EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I CANT AFFORD THIS. IM TO ARRANGE MY OWN TRANSPORTATION WHILE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP, ITS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE LITE, WHEN WORK IS DONE THEY DON'T CALL AND TELL US WHAT WAS WRONG AND IT CAN BE PICKED UP, LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THEY DIDNT CALL FOR OVER A WEEK TO TELL ME TO COME GET IT, I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER AND LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES AND THEY STILL HAVENT CALLED. I WIL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN OR BUY FROM ANY RIZZA. I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT JUNK, I WANT MY MONEY BACK, TAKE THE CAR. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE PROCESS AT WEBSITE 100% I HATE KIA. THANK YOUL

NHTSA ID

730942

Incident

Dec 23, 1999

BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT. NLM

NHTSA ID

551421

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

THE ENTIRE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. KIA DOES LITTLE TO ASSIST WITH CARS THAT HAVE CRONIC PROBLEMS.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

719915

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

WHILE ACCELERATING IN REVERSE VEHICLE CUTS OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS CHANGED TWICE. ALSO, THE MOULDING AROUND THE SPARKS PLUGS BROKE LOOSE, AND IT WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS. SHIELD OVER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. THE REAR LATCH FOR THE SPARE CABLE RUSTED AND CAME OUT UPON PULLING, THE MOUNTING FOR THE REAR WHEEL HAS RELEASED ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

857615

Incident

Nov 11, 1999

I'VE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE SHOP FOR THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON 2 TIMES, THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED 2 DAYS LATER , THEY THEN SAID IT WAS A HARNESS, THAT WAS REPLACED THEN I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR TWO RECALLS ON THE BRAKES AND A HUB PROBLEM, I'M CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLES STICKING SO IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE, DEALER STATES THAT THEY CAN'T GET IT TO HAPPEN WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP BUT IT OCCURES CONTINUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MY POSSESSION, BACK HATCH DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY UNLESS YOU SLAM IT SEVERAL TIMES, DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG, ENGINE ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING AND NOW THE CAR WILL ONLY START WHEN IT WANTS TO, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY BUT THE CAR IS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD, I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER SPORTAGE OWNERS WHO ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, I FEEL THE MANUFACTERER NEEDS TO BUY ALL THESE CARS BACK, I'VE TRIED TO TRADE THIS CAR AND NONE OF THE DEALERS WANT IT THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS NOT WORTH WHAT I'VE PAID FOR IT SO I'M STUCK WITH IS PIECE OF JUNK, I'M AT MY WITTS END...I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO GET STUCK SOMEWHERE. THE CAR IS LITTERALY FALLING APART IN MY HANDS AND THERES NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT, I'VE TALKED TO A LAWYER IN REGARD TO THE LEMON LAW BUT THEY SAY THAT IT HAS TO BE A REOCCURING PROBLEM OF THE SAME ORIGIN BUT THERES APPARENTLY HELP FOR THE COMSUMERS THAT ARE STUCK WITH AWFUL PRODUCTS LIKE THESE SUV'S. THERE WERE 166 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE AND ALMOST EVERY PERSON HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS I'M HAVING WITH MY VEHICLE. I AM PERSONALLY TELLING AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN ABOUT THESE JUNKIE KIA'S. THE MANUFACTERER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. IF I OR ANYBODY IN MY CAR SHOULD BE HURT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS, KIA WILL SEE A LAW SUIT THAT WILL MAKE THEIR HEAD SPIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

716342

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID

549709

Incident

Jul 22, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

706700

Incident

Nov 2, 1998

BACK HATCH LOOSE CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION AND THEFT ALARM SYSTEM TO FAIL, SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID

544628

Incident

Feb 1, 1998

WE HAVE AN ANTIFREEZE PROBLEM STILL TO THIS DAY; OUR BRAKES STILL ARE SQUEALING NOW; IT DIDN'T START TWICE; ICE BUILDS UP WHERE THE DOOR AND THE CAR COME TOGETHER-DAMAGING DOOR; HAS ICED OVER INSIDE THE CAR; WINDOWS WOULD NEVER CLEAR OFF-COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WHILE DRIVING; DIDN'T IDLE PROPERLY-AND STILL DOESN'T

NHTSA ID

703981

Incident

Mar 3, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED ENGINE NOISE, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.

NHTSA ID

544064

WATER RUNS OFF MY WINDSHILD INTO THE DOOR AND FORMS ICE IN THE HINGES WHICH RESULTS IN HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IN OR OUT OF MY VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS, AND I HAVE TO ACCEPT IT AND LIVE WITH IT ALL FOR $17,000.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

703079

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

703076

Incident

Nov 30, 1998

BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE.

NHTSA ID

543713

DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED. DEALER SAYS IT'S BAD WIRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

833421

ENGINE IDLES TOO HIGH, CORRECTION OF WIRING HARNESS TO THROTTLE POSITION DID NOT RECTIFY HIGH IDLE.

NHTSA ID

605865

Incident

Oct 7, 1998