Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
2000 KIA SPORTAGE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, RIGHT FRAME HAS A HUGE HOLE, MY CHILD IS AT RISK CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALSO LOCKS DON'T WORK, BATTERY DIES, SEATBELTS SUCK, RADIO GOES OFF ...
FRAME RUSTED
THE STRUCTURE IS ROTTEN AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS AND CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,066.
THE CHASSIS, AND THE AUTO BODY FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE DETERIORIZE AND COMPLETE HODEN I JUST TALK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC WHEN WAS FIND OUT. WE BELIEVE THAT IS MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS. *TR
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A SHOP TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR OF THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. ALSO THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT ONE OF THE SEAMS IN THE CORNER OF THE TANK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY PEOPLE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SPORTAGE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL. IT'S ONLY A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF OTHER VEHICLES MUCH OLDER WITHOUT ALL OF THIS KIND OF RUST ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT WITH THE MATERIALS BEING USED. I SURELY HOPE THE NHTSA WILL MAKE KIA MOTORS RECALL THESE VEHICLES. BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
(1) NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD IS SEVERELY ROTTED OUT AND IS BARELY CONNECTED. (2) SMELL FUEL VAPORS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. (3) FUEL TANK APPEARS TO BE RUSTING, AFRAID TO MESS WITH TANK IN FEAR OF DISTURBING THE RUST AND RUPTURING A HOLE IN TANK. (4) BRAKE LINES WERE SO SEVERELY RUSTED IN ONE AREA THAT IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE LINE AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING AND REQUIRED THE PROMPT ACTION FOR REPAIR. OTHER BRAKE LINES LOOK LIKE THEY MAY FAIL IN NEAR FUTURE. (5) STEEL PORTION OF POWER STEERING LINE RUSTED OUT AND BLEW FLUID EVERYWHERE PREVENTING THE ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. (6) THE FRAME HAS HEAVY RUST SCALE AND APPEARS TO BE ROTTING IN SEVERAL PLACE. (7) PAINT IS STARTING TO BUBBLE WHICH IS INDICATING BODY IS RUSTING UNDER PAINT JOB. THIS IS A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH VERY BAD ROTTING OF METAL FROM SALT CORROSION. HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH RUST ON 20+ OLD VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THE SAME NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE US. *TR
THE FRAME WHERE THE REAR STABILIZER ARM CONNECTS HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED ALLOWING THE ARM TO FALL AWAY. THE ONLY THING SUPPORTING THE ARM NOW APPEARS TO BE THE FUEL LINE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO IT. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AS WELL. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH METAL LEFT TO WELD OR REPAIR. HAD THE ARM BROKEN THE FUEL LINE AND SPARKED WHEN IT DRAGGED ON THE ROAD, THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE TURNED DEADLY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY TWELVE YEARS AND 84K MILES ON THE ROAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR MUFFLER REPAIRS WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, PROVIDING NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,048.
I NOTICE THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE WAY I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL OF MY CAR I TOOK IT TO MY GARAGE AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR HOME AND CALL KIA THE PERSON THAT MADE CAR STATED THE WHOLE FRAME WAS ROTTEN OUT AND CRACK IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED THE CAR SHOULD OF NOT BEEN ON THE ROAD WHEN SPOKE TO KIA THEY STATED I NEEDED TO BRING THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER TO LOOK AT IT TOLD THEM THE SAME THING THAT MY GARAGE TOLD THEM THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACK AND WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE KIA CORP MADE ME PAID THEM $100 DOLLARS TO LOOK AT IT AND THERE MECHANIC DID NOT WANT TO PUT IT ON LIFT BECAUSE HE FELT THAT IS WAS GOING TO FALL APART HE EVEN ADVISE ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR OUT THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE CAR HAD OVER 100,000 HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 10 YRS OLD WHEN THIS HAPPEN I FEEL THAT THIS KIA PROBLEM MY FRIEND ALSO HAS KIA SPORTAGE AND THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIS CAR IS THAT WHY KIA IS SO CHEAP ON THERE MOTORS FOR SALE BECAUSE OF THE PARTS THAT THEY SELL. *KB
I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT WORKED ON THE BRAKES THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED IN THE FALL OF 2009. I CHANGED THE EXHAUST MYSELF IN THE FALL OF 2010 AND SAW THE FRAME WAS ROTTED SO BAD THAT I COULD PUT MY HAND COMPLETELY THROUGH SEVERAL OF THE HOLES AND NOTICED SEVERAL CRACKS. IN MARCH OF 2011 THE CENTER LINK FOR THE REAR AXLE BROKE FREE FROM THE ROTTED FRAME AND FELL DOWN ON TOP OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. I DID 2 DAYS WORTH OF VERY CREATIVE WELDING TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. IN APRIL OF 2011 GAS TANK BEGAN TO LEAK. PUT CAR UP ON JACK STANDS TO REMOVE GAS TANK AND FOUND THE FRAME HAD BROKEN ABOVE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING, THE CROSS MEMBER JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR BUMPER HAS A 3-4 INCH GAP (ROTTED THROUGH-NO METAL LEFT) AND THE REAR AXLE HAS SHIFTED OVER ABOUT 4" CAUSING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TO RUB AGAINST THE SHOCK. I AM SHOCKED THAT A CAR CAN ROT THIS BAD IN ONLY 10 YEARS AND THERE IS STILL NO RECALL. WTF!!!!! *TR
PURCHASED 2000 KIA SPORTAGE USED. HAD REAR TIRES REPLACED AND FOUND FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED AT SUSPENSION WHICH WAS READY TO BREAK OFF THE VEHICLE. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR AT THIS TIME IT IS UNSAFE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO CALLED THE CONTACT AND STATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME UNDER THE FRAME HAD ROTTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE HAS SERIOUS FRAME RUST. THE CAR IS ONLY TEN YEARS OLD AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR AND THE STABILIZER BAR BROKE OFF OF THE FRAME AND MY MECHANIC STATES THE FRAME IS SI RUSTED IT IS PAPER THIN AND ADVISES NOT REPAIRING AS IT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THE FRAME BEING STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED. THIS IS SERIOUS. *TR
MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE HAS SERIOUS FRAME RUST. THE CAR IS ONLY TEN YEARS OLD AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THERE SEEM TO BE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THIS. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THE FRAME BEING STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISED. THIS IS SERIOUS. THE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST BROKEN IN TWO PIECES. *TR
2000 KIA SPORTAGE. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WHEN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD ENGAGE, IT WOULD CAUSE TREMENDOUS FRICTION WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN DRASTICALLY. ALSO, WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED IN A TURNING MODE, THE FRONT GEAR WOULD SLIP. THE GAS TANK SHIELD WAS THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY ROTTED DUE TO RUST AND THERE SEEMED TO BE MINOR GAS SEEPAGE UNDER WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TANK SHIELD. THE CHASSIS FRAME RAILS, BOTH REAR SIDES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85% ROTTED OUT BY RUST. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE RAILS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GOOD METAL TO REPAIR AND STRENGTHEN THE VEHICLE FRAME. *JB
ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTED OUT. RUST START WITH THE SHROUD OVER GAS TANK. THEN THE NECK OF THE GAS FILL PIPE CORRODED. NOW THE ENTIRE CHAISE IS RUSTED. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD BUT IT ONLY HAS 54,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. KIA SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE TO RECALL ALL OF THE 2000 SPORTAGES AND FORCED TO FIX THEM. THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY OF THESE STILL ON THE ROAD AND THEY HAVE BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS NOT A MATTER OF LACK OF MAINTENANCE, THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL CARE FOR. THIS IS A MATTER OF A MANUFACTURE BEING ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH SELLING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT. TIME THE NHTSA STEPS IN AND PROTECTS THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR PART OF THE FRAME NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD RUSTED AND THE STABILIZING BAR HAD FALLEN OFF ON ONE SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,200. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
FRAME ON MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. IT COST ME 1,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I SHOULD HAVE CALLED KIA FIRST BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD TO GET IT DONE ASAP. I HAVE PUT ABOUT 4,000 DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF FROM IT ROTTING OUT. *TR
WHILE MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE WAS ON THE LIFT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION THE MECHANIC NOTICED MAJOR FRAME RUST. SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT IF NOT NOTICED PRIOR. WOULD LIKE KIA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR
FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT FROM UNDER, ONE SIDE IS COMPLETELY BROKEN AT THE REAR AND IT WILL NOT BE LONG UNTIL THE OTHER BREAKS. THIS IS SO SHOCKING BECAUSE THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OF THE CAR THAT I CAN TELL. *TR
TIRES BECAME BALD THREE MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR NEEDED REPLACING. THE GAS LEVER HAS BEEN AND IS BROKE AGAIN. HUBS WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, SEALS WERE REPLACED SECOND TIME. THE HEAT SHIELD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED RIGHT NOW. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MOVES VERY SLOW. TIMING BELT REPLACED EARLY. BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. I WENT TO AN AUTO DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK OUT THE BRAKES. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BADLY. *NM
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO EGR AND FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILURES,DEALER REPLACED, ALSO THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO MAF CIRCUIT RANGE PROBLEM *YH
CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE IS EXPERIENCING UNEVEN BRAKE WARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *YD
POWER LOCKS WOULD OPERATE ERRATICALLY, LOCKING / UNLOCKING BY ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING/DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION . *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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