Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2000 Kia Sportage submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 47 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 47, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE FAN BLADE DETACHED AND WENT THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,477.
THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 DAYS. MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR, DROVE IT ABOUT 1/4 - 1/2 MILE WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SEE IF SHE COULD TELL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND COULD SEE FIRE THROUGH THE CRACK IN THE CONSOLE WHERE THE COVER OVER THE CONSOLE WAS JOINED TOGETHER. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A GASOLINE LEAK. SHE WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. HAD SHE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TRAFFIC, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO. SHE AND OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE. HER POCKETBOOK HAD FALLEN ON THE FLOOR AND SHE REACHED OVER TO PICK IT UP AND THAT IS WHEN SHE SAW THE SMOKE. SHE HAD TIME TO GET OUT BEFORE THE CAR IMPLODED. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS GUTTED AND THE PAINT WAS BURNED OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ROOF OF THE CAR. ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE INSIDE IS SOOT, METAL AND CHARCOAL FROM FRONT TO REAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER ON DECEMBER 21, 2012. IT RAN GREAT, WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE HAD NO PROBLEMS OR WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I AM GOING TO NOTIFY KIA, BUT AM NOT VERY HOPEFUL OF ANY RESOLUTION WITHOUT SOME INTERVENTION FROM NHTSA. *TR
BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY.,WHEN YOU STEP ON BRAKE YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE OR TIRE SPENDING AND YOUR CAR IS STILL ROLLING WHEN YOUR ARE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. ENGINE, TURNING THE CAR ENGINE ON AND OFF. WHEN YOU START THE ENGINE THE ENGINES CLICKS BUT DOES NOT START. ITS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES BUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE HAS BEEN LEAKING GAS. WE HAVEN'T HAD IT REPAIRED, AS WE CANT AFFORD IT. SOMEONE SUGGESTED LOOKING FOR RECALLS, THAT'S WHEN I FOUND THIS SITE. THE "HEAT SHIELD" (?) HAS ALWAYS RATTLED BADLY. IN ADDITION TO THE RATTLING AND BAD GAS LEAK, THE MOTOR BLOWER FAN IS NOT WORKING, MY 4WHEEL DRIVE ISN'T WORKING. UNDERNEATH IT IS A RUST BUCKET! THE BACK DOORS WONT LOCK/UNLOCK. SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE!!! PLEASE, SOMEONE STAND UP FOR THE LITTLE GUY AND MAKE KIA FIX THESE PROBLEMS!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAS PAID FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS. BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT, SHE NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE SEVERELY. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT THE SHAKING PERSISTED. THIRDLY, A TIRE BLEW OUT AND HAD TO BE CHANGED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A NEW TRANSMISSION LINE WAS INSTALLED. LASTLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE GLASS CAVED IN ON THE CONTACT, BUT DID NOT BREAK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CURRENTLY, THE GLASS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 1/5/09 *CN THE GAS TANK WAS FALLING APART. A SHIELD WAS NEEDED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DRIVERS WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE CABLE HAD MELTED. UPDATED 01/09/09*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, TWO OF HIS FAN BLADES FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BOUGHT NEW PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,708. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING. THE COOLING FAN WAS BENT, BUT THERE WERE NO LEAKS.
TL* - THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. ON 1/1/2007, AFTER DRIVING 1.5 MILES THE CONTACT'S SMELLED GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ,AND WHEN THE CONTACT CHECKED THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING. THE CONTACT FOUND A SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK ,AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SCREWS THAT HELD THE FUEL PUMP IN THE GAS TASK RUSTED , AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PUMP WHICH FITTED INTO THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED KIA, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING ,AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT A WIRE WAS LO0SE AND IT WAS REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATED DUE TO AN OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. *AK
ROTORS WERE BAD UPON PURCHASE, DEALER REPLACED THEM FOR FREE ONLY BECAUSE THE SERVICE REP. KNEW MY DECEASED HUSBAND. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH, WHEN THE TRUCK DIED AT 87,000 MILES. I WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES. THE TIMING BELT BROKE-SOMETHING THAT WAS REPLACED A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR BY THE DEALER. MY WATER PUMP AND PULLEYS AND BELT WERE REPLACED FOR ABOUT 700 DOLLARS LESS THEN DEALER ORIGINALLY CHARGED ME. THE DEALER SINCE HAS REPAID FOR THEIR INCORRECT BELT SIZE--BELT WAS INCORRECT FOR MY TRUCK. DEALER INSTALLED STRUTS BROKE AFTER ABOUT 25 MILES OF USAGE--DEALER CLAIMED THAT I DROVE MY TRUCK OVER SPEED BUMPS ROUGH--HAHAHA. THAN, I GUESS IS SUCH A BAD CA SMOG LAW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR 2 YEARS PLUS STILL WILL NOT GO OFF. I PASSED ALL EMISSIONS FOR MY SMOG CHECK, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS FAILING ME. I HAD THE HEAT PLATE REMOVED AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND IT FROZE MY UPPER O2 SENSOR--REPAIR DONE BY PERSONAL MECHANIC WITH PARTS THAT I PURCHASED ONLINE FOR ABOUT 1/3 THE PRICE OF THE DEALER PARTS AND WORK DONE. OK, I THOUGHT THE LIGHT WOULD COME OFF..IT DIDN'T. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE OTHER O2 SENSOR. ALSO MY BRAKE SENSOR FOR ABS BRAKES--THAT I DON'T HAVE--WENT OUT AND NOW I HAVE TO OVERRIDE THE SYSTEM WITH AN ICE-PICK. YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM BUT IT ISN'T. THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SENSOR CAUSES NOT ONLY FOR THE GEAR BOX TO LOCK, IT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TURN SIGNALS--THEY ARE ON THE SAME FUSE SYSTEM. MY TRUCK HAS ABOUT 135K MILES AND FOR THE MOST PART RUNS GREAT, JUST MINOR ISSUES THAT MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAS FIXED AND REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS A TEST TRUCK FOR THE OTHER KIA'S THAT COME IN FOR WORK AND THE DEALER CAN OR WILL NOT TROUBLE SHOOT. OH AND GET THIS, I TAKE THE TRUCK IN FOR THE SEAT-BELT REPLACEMENT DURING THE RECALL, DEALER TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WORK AND THE PARTS ARE FREE. THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE PAPERWORK I GOT IN THE MAIL. *NM
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
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS A RUSTED GAS TANK AND A BAD FUEL PUMP. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANAGER STATED THAT TOYOTA NO LONGER DOES REPAIR ON KIA VEHICLE. THE OIL PAN RUSTED CAUSING AN OIL LEAK. OIL LEAKED FROM THE SPEED SENSOR AND OIL SEAL. THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO AN OUTDATED HUB KIT. THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE #3 CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. *NM PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (OCT 31, 2005): THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL (DAVE @ THETFORD'S AUTO CENTER @ 607-433-0319) INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS RUSTED AND WAS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL SUPPLY OR RETURN LINE WAS ROTTED AT THE FUEL TANK CONNECTION; FUEL WAS LEAKING WHE THE FUEL PUMP WAS TURNED ON.
HEAT SHIELD BROKE AWAY, MUFFLER AFFECTED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT DUE TO HEAT SHIELD. I CONTACTED THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN RENO, NV AND THE ATTENDANT STATED MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I INFORMED HIM OF MY CAR, DAUGHTER'S AND FRIENDS VEHICLES ALL HAVING HEAT SHIELD/MUFFLER ISSUE. I ASKED WHO I SHOULD INFORM OF THE POSSIBLE ASSEMBLY LINE ISSUE? HE STATED "THE DEALERSHIP". MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE AND A FRIEND HAS A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE (ALL 4X4). WITHIN 5 MONTHS ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE IDENTICLE FAILURE. AM CONCERNED THE MUFFLER AND/OR HEAT SHIELD CAN HARM OCCUPANTS IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ON HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING IN THE EVENT ANY PARTS SHOULD DROP OFF.
PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS ICING UP DURING THE COLD SEASONS ON 2000 KIA SPORTAGE.*MR AN AIR LEAK CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO ICE SHUT. THE ENGINE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE FUEL TANK, SENDER UNIT AND PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
I OWN A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE EX THAT HAS REPEATEDLY STALLED WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY BEING STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS/PART OF THE WAY ACROSS A ROAD, DESPERATELY TRYING TO RESTART MY CAR BEFORE BEING HIT. IT HAS ALSO LOST POWER WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, DROPPING FROM 65MPH WITH NO WARNING. IF I DO NOT GET OFF THE HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY I RISK LOSING TOTAL POWER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DURHAM,NC MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM ON THEIR COMPUTERS. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE DONE ON THIS CAR.*AK
THE CONSUMER HAD MULTIPLES PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB THE MECHANIC HAS REPLACED SENSORS BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
KIA HAS HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF FAN FAILURES THAT CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE FAN TOTALLY CAME APART AND DID A LOT OF DAMMAGE TO THE ENGINE ON THE TURNPIKE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AT THE SPEED LIMIT AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF FOR SAFETY. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN KEEPING IT QUIET TO THE PUBLIC. THE SMALL DEALERSHIP NEAR ME HAS HAD 5 CASES ALONE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
WHEN APPLYING GAS PEDAL VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE. DEALER STATES OIL AND GAS MIXED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. *AK
ENGINE FAN HAS A GAP CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IS STARTED, CRANKS UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN VEHICLE PULLS OFF IT CUTS OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICE THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL ,AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLES MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL LINE FAILED AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE. *AK *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL.
MY 2002 KIA STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, I WENT TO KIAS REPAIR SHOP FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES IN THREE DIFFERENT STATES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME OF BEING IN THE SHOP THE ONE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A BENT OR DENTED DRIVE SHAFT, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS. AND I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING, TAKEN THE VEHICLE OFF ROAD OR RAN OVER ANYTHING TO DENT OR BEND THIS DRIVE SHAFT. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THIS WAS AN IMPACT PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRIVE SHAFT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY. $800. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR SIX MONTHS. AGO AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES THAT WERE NOT CAUSED BY MYSELF. MY DOORS ALSO LOCK BY THEMSELVES REPEATEDLY AND ALL FOUR DEALERS SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY STILL LOCK BY THEMSELVES. THE ENGINE RUNS LIKE THE CAR IS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD. *JB
AUTO SURGES AND ACCELERATES WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS / NEAR ACCIDENTS. DEALER "CANNOT DUPLICATE" AND THEREFORE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO "NOTHING TO FIX - IF DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE". HAVE BROUGHT IN TO DEALER 2 TIMES. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT/INJURY/ OR WORSE? HOW CAN THEY DUPLICATE IT THEN? PLEASE NOTE HAVE HAD OTHER FAILURES-COOLING FAN FELL OFF AND RUPTURED RADIATOR, 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. *JB
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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