1998 Kia Sportage Owner Complaints

RIGHT REAR FRAME RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY STABLIZER RUSTED OFF FRAME

NHTSA ID

10980298

Incident

Apr 14, 2017

MY STEERING COLUMN DOESN'T LOCK WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE. IT HAS ALSO STARTED FAILING TO START BUT WHEN WE JUMPSTART IT IT RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE LEARNED; THAT SOMETIMES IF I ROCK IT OR PUSH IT A FEW FEET IT WILL START RIGHT UP TOO. IT ACTS ALMOST LIKE A VAPOR LOCK BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS WARM AND JUST DOESN'T START AFTER HAVING SET FOR AN HOUR. ALMOST LIKE A SHORT OR DISCONNECT. ADDITIONALLY THE BLOWER MOTOR SEEMS TO HAVE DIED TOO. HEAT/AC WORKS, JUST DOESN'T DISTRIBUTE. I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A RECALL ON EITHER OF THESE SINCE THEY SEEM TO BE ELECTRICAL OR WIRING HARNESS ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10781260

Incident

Oct 9, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

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

I CANNOT FASTEN MY SEATBELT BECAUSE IT WILL NOT EXTEND. I WENT TO POWER KIA IN SALEM, OR AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT UNLESS I PAY FOR REPAIRS. SEEING HOW THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522187

Incident

Jun 10, 2013

Mileage

157,000 mi

THIS IS A REPEAT OF CONFIRMATION NO. 10514519, BUT WITH "WAS THERE AN INJURY OR FATALITY? MARKED "YES" ABOVE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SCALDED WITH BOILING RADIATOR FLUID WITH FOOT ON PEDAL, HAD TO KEEP FOOT ON PETAL TO GET OFF ROAD. ON MAY 30, 2013, AT APPROX. 4:30PM EDT, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH, JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 98 IN WALL, NJ. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING WELL. THE LOCAL TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 90S, NEAR 100 DEGREES. I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SUDDENLY, ANTI-FREEZE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, THEN, HOT SCALDING ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN FALLING ON MY RIGHT FOOT AS IT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER WAS ALSO GETTING SCALDED. IN MY CASE, I SUSTAINED A 1ST TO 2ND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT SMALL (PINKY) TOE, WHICH WAS BLISTERED. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE MONMOUTH SERVICE AREA AT MILEPOST 100 OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN WALL, NJ. MY VIEW IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY DESIGN OVERSIGHT, NOT MERELY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ON A OLD CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A HEATER CORE BREAKS AND DOES NOT HEAT, THAT IS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF IT BREAKS AND AN UNEXPECTED DRIVER GETS HURT, AND COMPOUNDED, LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND MOREOVER, HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT BACK ONTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CONTROL THE CAR IN A HOT-LIQUID STREAM, THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO FAILURE TO SAFELY CONTAIN HOT LIQUIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514551

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SCALDED WITH BOILING RADIATOR FLUID WITH FOOT ON PEDAL, HAD TO KEEP FOOT ON PETAL TO GET OFF ROAD ON MAY 30, 2013, AT APPROX. 4:30 PM EDT, I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTH, JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 98 IN WALL, NJ. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING WELL. THE LOCAL TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE HIGH 90S, NEAR 100 DEGREES. I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SUDDENLY, ANTI-FREEZE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD VENTS, THEN, HOT SCALDING ANTI-FREEZE BEGAN FALLING ON MY RIGHT FOOT AS IT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THE SAME TIME, THE FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER WAS ALSO GETTING SCALDED. IN MY CASE, I SUSTAINED A 1ST TO 2ND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT SMALL (PINKY) TOE, WHICH WAS BLISTERED. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE MONMOUTH SERVICE AREA AT MILEPOST 100 IN WALL, NJ. MY VIEW IS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY DESIGN OVERSIGHT, NOT MERELY A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ON A OLD CAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A HEATER CORE BREAKS AND DOES NOT HEAT, THAT IS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF IT BREAKS AND AN UNEXPECTED DRIVER GETS HURT, AND COMPOUNDED, LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND MOREOVER, HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT BACK ONTO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO CONTROL THE CAR IN A HOT-LIQUID STREAM, THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO FAILURE TO SAFELY CONTAIN HOT LIQUIDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514519

Incident

May 30, 2013

Mileage

60,000 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

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING, WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, KIA WILL ONLY REPLACE TANK IF THE LEAK IS ON THE VERY BOTTOM OF TANK. THEY ARE SAYING MINE IS LEAKING AT THE SEAM. I VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM NO MATTER WHERE THE TANK IS LEAKING. I ONLY HOPE NOONE HAS A FIRE BECAUSE OF IT. I HAVE TO PAY THE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE BILL. I WAS TOLD NOT ONLY DO I NEED THE TANK I WILL NEED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY ALSO AND POSSIBLY MORE PARTS. THE TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 TO HAVE INSTALLED. THIS IS BS AN OUTRAGE. HAD I KNOWN THE PROBLEM WITH THE KIA'S I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429999

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

1998 KIA SPORTAGE A RECALL ABOUT THE WIRING HAS BEEN REPORTED I [XXX] HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION JUST NEED JUSTIFICATION A.S.A.P MY MAILING ADDRESS IS [XXX] MY PH. IS [XXX] ALSO [XXX]. THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10402454

Incident

May 16, 2011

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE HOLD BUTTON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT WHERE AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V325000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING) BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,835.

NHTSA ID

10343144

Incident

Jun 28, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

SWAY BAR HAD BROKEN OFF FROM HALF OF THE FRAME.IT WAS FOUND THE FRAME HAS ROTTED MOST OF THE WAY THROUGH IN THE BACKEND OF VEHICLE ON BOTH SIDES. I WAS TOLD THE BACK END COULD BREAK OFF FROM VEHICLE AT ANY MOMENT.

NHTSA ID

10323635

Incident

Apr 2, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED,IT STALLED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE BASICALLY HAD THE ENTIRE MOTOR REPLACED.I WENT TO TEST DRIVE AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND CAME UP WITH ONE IN THE C123 AND C124 WIRE HARNESS. I BELIEVE THIS WAS THE PROBLEM FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291852

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

I OWN A 1998 KIA SPORTAGE 4WD. I HAVE ACCESS TO ALLDATA.COM. I HAVE RECENTLY PERFORMED SOME ENGINE WORK TO MY VEHICLE AND CAME ACROSS A RECALL THAT CAUSED ME SOME CONCERN. NUMBER: KT2006050901 IS LISTED AS A POSSIBLE CONCERN FOR "CERTAIN 1996 - 2002 SPORTAGE MODELS."I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MAKES A PARTICULAR VEHICLE ONE THAT IS MARKED "FOR CONCERN." THE RECALL STATES THE EXACT ISSUE THAT I AM FACING WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION IS BEING EXHIBITED AT THIS TIME. THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ONE THAT I STO BE SERVICED UNDER THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXHIBITING WHAT THE RECALL INFORMATION OUTLINES. WHY, WOULD YOU PLEASE, IS MY VEHICLE NOT ONE THAT SHOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL? I HAVE A LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. A DEALERSHIP IN NASHVILLE SAYS THAT FROM ALL THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INSPECTED/REPAIRED FOR THIS RECALL CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197144

Incident

Jul 22, 2007

Mileage

109,000 mi

I NOTICED A SMELL GAS NEAR THE PASSENGER DOOR AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. I LOOK UNDERNEATH AND THERE WAS A LEAK OF GAS UNDERNEATH. MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED SOMETHING UNDER IT 2 X AND IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178938

Incident

Jul 28, 2006

SAFETY RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173723

Incident

Nov 17, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE GAS TANK ON MY 1998 KIA SPORTAGE IS SERIOUSLY CORRODING. MY LOCAL GARAGE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS CONDITION AS IT COULD START LEAKING OR BREAK LOOSE FROM THE CAR. AS I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NHTSA INVESTIGATION (EA06007) CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED. PLEASE INCLUDE ME INTO THE INVESTIGATION SO THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE REMEDIED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173515

Incident

Nov 13, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR INDICATED A FUEL LEAK. WHEN INVESTIGATED THE LEAK WAS FOUND COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH THE CENTER PART OF THE VEHICLE. APPEARS TO BE DUE TO CORROSION OF THE TANK. WE ARE STILL CHECKING ON REPLACEMENT FUEL TANKS FOR REPLACEMENT AND ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160307

Incident

Jun 19, 2006

Mileage

138,911 mi

I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE 3 MOST RECENT RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH GIVES ME GREAT CONCERN IN REGARDS TO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER'S SAFETY. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO DO NEXT TO FIX THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156349

Incident

Apr 27, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER IS KUMHO. THE SIZE OF THE TIRE IS: 20575R15. *AK UPDATED 05/03/06

NHTSA ID

10154830

Incident

Jan 2, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED IT WAS THE MAXIMUM AIRFLOW UNIT. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141622

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE ABS ON MY VEHICLE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER HAS RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER CALLED KIA USA, WHO COULD OFFER NO HELP. BECAUSE THE ABS IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE, THE BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE VERY UNRELIABLE. ON 2 DECEMBER THE ABS SYSTEM SUDDENLY BECAME OPERATIONAL, CAUSING THE "FEEL" OF THE PEDAL TO CHANGE, STARTLING THE DRIVER, WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CURB AND NARROWLY MISSED A TREE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144405

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

I DROVE OUR SUV ABOUT 2 MILES PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I NOTICED THE CLOCK,RADIO, DOOR LOCKS, AND PASSENGER WINDOW WERE NOT WORKING. I DROVE THE CAR THE NEXT DAY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE TO WORK. THAN CALLED KIA TALKED TO A JANSON COOK WHO CHECKED MY VEHICLE FOR RECALL ON THIS WIRING. HE SAID MY SPORTAGE WAS NOT ON FILE FOR THE VIN# AND WOULD NOT BE FIXED UNDER THE RECALL. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND THE 1998 SPORTAGES HAD A RECALL FOR A C123 AND C124 CABLE WHICH BECAME LOOSE AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR US OF MY SUV. I THAN CALLED THE NHTSA AND TALKED TO KIM SHE SAID FILE A COMPLAINT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR LONG DISTANCES MORE THE 5 MILES WITHOUT SOMETHING HAPPENING TO CAUSE ME OR SOMEONE ELSE INJURY. THE RECALL NOTICE IS 99V325000 THIS TO FIX THE LOOSE WIRING THAT CAN CAUSE SUV TO STOP COMPLETELY CAUSING INJURY OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132978

Incident

Aug 14, 2005

Mileage

62,225 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118115

Incident

Apr 18, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE 4WD SYSTEM ON THE 98 KIA SPORTAGE IS UNRELIABLE. THE VACUUM SYSTEM, WHICH ACTUATES THE FRONT HUBS DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM EVERY WINTER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1998. THE DEALERS REPAIR LASTS A WEEK OR SO AND THEN FAILS. UNEXPECTED LACK OF 4WD IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107758

Incident

Jan 21, 2005

DRIVING UPHILL IN ONE INCH OF SNOW THE AXEL HUBS ON THE FRONT OF VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING, SLIDING SIDEWAYS AND BACKWARDS TO A STOP. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE AS FOLLOWS: AXEL HUB SEALS, AXEL BEARINGS, UPPER BALL JOINT, VACUUM LINE AND REALIGNMENT OF FRONT END.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104517

Incident

Dec 4, 2004

Mileage

73,475 mi