RoadVitals

1998 Kia Sportage Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
18
Latest Sep 16, 2004
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.
6%
of 303 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.
2
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 forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistance
Filed Sep 16, 2004

CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOULD NOT REGISTER THE PROPER SPEED. THE NEEDLE WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JP

NHTSA ID
10092377
Incident
Jan 16, 2002
Mileage
5,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 24, 2002
Crash reported

AFTER PUTTING VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THEN PUTTING UP HAND BRAKE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, AND RAN THROUGH GARAGE INTO THE BASEMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010439
Incident
May 24, 2002
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 28, 2002

TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. THE SHIFTER JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004712
Incident
Jan 27, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 31, 2001

I AM SO DISSATISIFIED WITH KIA. I HAVE 30226 MILES ON MY CAR, AND I'M ALREADY HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT DONE PAYING $200.86 FOR AIRPLUGS AND AIRFILTER TO BE REMOVED. WELL, THAT DIDN'T HELP THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE NOW. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK MY RPM REVS UP TO 5 AND WHEN I'M DRIVING THE CAR SHIFTS REALLY BAD AND THE RPM GOES TO 4. KIA SAYS THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. WHICH I TOLD THE OWNER OF KIA THAT IT WASN'T. BUT NO THEY DISAGREED! I HAVE TRIED ON 3 OCCASION TO GET RID OF MY CAR, BUT EVERYTIME I TRY I GET TOLD THAT I STILL OWE TO MUCH ON MY KIA. I HAVE HAD TIMES WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND MY CAR DIES. WHAT THE HELL, 30,226 IT SHOULDN'T BE HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. I AM COMING SO CLOSE TO GIVE THE KEYS RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM DEAL WITH IT. I'M TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND IN A UNSAFE CAR. KIA SHOULD TAKE EVERY SINGLE ON OF THOSE CARS BACK AND GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK. EVEN A GUY THAT WORKED AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME, THAT I MADE A BAD DECISION ON BUYING A KIA. THAT IS PRETTY SAD!*AK

NHTSA ID
753939
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 23, 2001

FINAL CONTINUATION 5...THE FENDER. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER 3 DAYS WHILE THEY KNOCKED OUT THE DENT AND REPAINTED THE FENDER. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A MONTH NOW AND EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM NOW AT 35,150 MILES AND FEAR THAT I WILL HAVE TO INCUR ALL OF THESE CHARGES FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOW BACK AND DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED IN THE 19 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. I KNOW THAT YOU RECEIVE SEVERAL OF THESE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD AS WELL AS OTHER FIELDS BUT I THINK THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE CAME OUT AND SPOKE ABOUT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY ARE HAVING WITH THERE VEHICLES, MAYBE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID
752479
Incident
Aug 3, 2001
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 23, 2001

CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINT.... I THEN CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS AND FOUND 3 RECALLS THAT FIT IN MY VIN RANGE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA'S 800 NUMBER AND ASKED IF MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD NO. I BELIEVED THIS RESPONSE SINCE IT WAS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT THE DEALER. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A DISTURBING CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TELLING ME TO IMMEDIATELY STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SAME 3 RECALLS I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE. THE RECALLS WERE: BRAKE LINE RECALL-THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ELECTRICAL WIRING- THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE THIRD RECALL WAS AN OBD LABEL. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT KIA PUT MY FAMILY AND ME IN SO MUCH DANGER BY TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT KIA WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. SINCE I KNEW THAT I COULD POSSIBLE DIE BY CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, I TOOK A DAY OFF OF WORK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DLR. BY THIS TIME, I HAD KEPT A TIMETABLE AND LOG OF EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND PRESENTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE LIST INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HESITATION ON ACCELERATION, VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED, THE IDLE SURGES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAD COME OFF OF THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO HAD STARTED TO STATIC AND TURN ON LOUD EVEN WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF, THE VOLUME KNOBS ON THE RADIO WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN

NHTSA ID
752476
Incident
Apr 24, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 27, 2001

VEHICLE HESITATES IN ACCELERATION ONCE CONSUMER LIFTS OFF THE GAS. ENGINE VIBRATES HARD AND WILL SHUT OFF IF NOT ACCELERATING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES TO REPLACE MASTER AIR FLOW. PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE A/C IS ON AND OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
891385
Incident
Jun 11, 2001
BrakesDriver assistanceInterior & seats
Filed Sep 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
729807
Incident
Jun 15, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 31, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF TO 85 MPH AND THEN BECAME STUCK. WHEN SHIFTED INTO NUETRAL, THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO INCREASE TO THE TOP OF THE SCALE. THE ONLY WAY WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WAS BY USING BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW IT ENOUGH IN 5TH GEAR TO CAUSE A STALL. KIA AND MY DEALERSHIP ARE BEING NO HELP, SAYING THAT "THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM." ON THIS WEBSITE, I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE.

NHTSA ID
729657
Incident
Aug 22, 2000
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 14, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN, LIKE THERE WAS NO GAS AND MOTOR SHUT DOWN. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. ALSO, ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY CAME ON. ONCE WHILE COMING ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS, VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TOOK OFF, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND WENT INTO A DITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
860352
Incident
Mar 22, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 21, 2000

WHEN COMING TO STOP VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
858954
Incident
Mar 21, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 29, 2000

VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY, DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857658
Incident
Feb 29, 2000
Body & structureDriver assistanceFuel system+1 more
Filed Feb 28, 2000

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
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 27, 2000

VEHICLE SOMTIMES ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY

NHTSA ID
717960
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 9, 1999

AFTER PICKING CHILD UP FROM SCHOOL CONSUMER PULLED INTO A CAR WASH AND AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. SHE HAD TO PUSH TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE CAR OFF, AND IT STOPPED. SHE IS CURRENTLY AFRAID TO DRIVE AUTOMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ID
852746
Incident
Nov 3, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 3, 1999

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FRONT END WILL SHAKE/VIBRATE, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. 2. VEHICLE WILL ACCELRATE BY ITSELF WITHOUT APPLYING ACCELERATOR. IN BOTH CASES, DEALER CLAIMS THAT IT IS NORMAL OPERATION. DEFECTS ARE INTERMITTENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
846807
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Mar 25, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
544628
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 11, 1999

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THEN, VEHICLE WILL STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WON'T RESTART UNTIL AFTER 30 SECONDS. BEEN TO DLR 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
835709
Incident
Aug 1, 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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .