RoadVitals

2000 Kia Sportage Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission 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 Feb 3, 2010
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 304 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.
1
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Feb 3, 2010

I OWN A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE EX [4X4] AND ADD I DONE MORE RESEARCH ON THIS I NEVER WOULD'VE PURCHASED IT. LIKE ALL SPORTAGES APPARENTLY THE 4WD DOESN'T WORK. I LIVE IN CLEVELAND OHIO AND WE NORMALLY GET 6MONTHS OF SNOW. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH ONLY REAR WHEEL DRIVE. IT'S INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE BACK WHEELS ALWAYS SPIN OUT DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. KIA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HASN'T RECALLED THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR SOME STRANGE REASON. I WON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT SOME OF OTHER MINOR DEFECTS OF THIS SUV, BUT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE FAULTY 4WD!!!! RECENTLY I GOT STUCK IN 2INCHES MUD IN MY BACKYARD AND IT TOOK 4 HOURS OF ROCKING, LIFTING THE SUV WITH A JACK AND 2X4'S, AND CLEVER IDEA'S TO GET UNSTUCK. KEEP IN MIND I RECENTLY PURCHASED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES AND HAD THE SUV IN 4WD THE ENTIRE TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR FAULT OF KIA THAT SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10304926
Incident
Jan 4, 2010
Mileage
118,125 mi
ElectricalEngineSuspension+3 more
Filed Nov 10, 2008

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

NHTSA ID
10248252
Incident
Jan 28, 2008
Mileage
86,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 2005

INCIDENTS: 2000 KIA SPORTAGE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE - I (AND AT LEAST TWO OTHER KIA SPORTAGE OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH) HAVE EXPERIENCED SLIPPAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE WERE ALL TOLD THAT NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND BUT WE HAVE ALL CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM FROM TIME TO TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10136899
Incident
Sep 10, 2005
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Jun 15, 2005

DT: FIRST GOT CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE GOOD, BUT IN THE WINTER THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DIDN'T WORK. KIA FIXED IT, AND THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, KIA FIXED IT AGAIN. THIS SEEMED TO HAPPEN WHEN IN HIGH SPEEDS AND THEN SLOWING, THE WHEELS WOULD SHAKE. AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO FIX IT, KIA DEALER SAID THEY CHANGED THE KIT THAT PUTS IT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO FIX IT, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID, BUT IT HAD TO DO WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE. AT THIRD ATTEMPT KIA SAID THE HOSES WERE CLOGGED. TOOK HOSES OFF AND CLEANED THEM AND PUT THEM BACK ON. ALSO, SAID THERE WAS A NEW KIT INTO THE CARS, BUT HE DID NOT PUT IT INTO CONSUMER'S CAR. HE ASSURED CONSUMER THAT THE CAR WOULD BE FINE. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND TRANSMISSION IWERE NOT WORKING RIGHT. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE FRONT WHEELES LOCKED UP AND SLID.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10123769
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 20, 2003

WHILE DRIVING MY SPORTAGE, I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GEAR CONTROL ON THE FLOOR. TO MY SURPRISE, IT MOVED FORWARD FROM THE DRIVE POSITION TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. I FOUND AN ISOLATED STREET AND TESTED IT AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE GEAR HANDLE DOES NOT PROPERLY LOCK INTO EACH POSITION AS IT SHOULD. THE SAFETY BUTTON ON THE GEAR LEVER DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY SORT OF PROTECTION. I DID NOT WANT TO DAMAGE MY CAR BY TESTING TO SEE IF I COULD SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO REVERSE USING THIS NEWLY-FOUND PROBLEM. I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE TO THE AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONALS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND DETERMINE IF THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE OR A VEHICLE DESIGN FLAW. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! *NLM

NHTSA ID
10023486
Incident
Jun 5, 2003
Mileage
37,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT FUNCTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018924
Incident
Jul 6, 2002
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 14, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TWICE. *YH

NHTSA ID
567126
EngineTransmission
Filed Jun 19, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
763230
Incident
May 20, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 5, 2002

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 10MPH DRIVER TRIED TO DOWN SHIFT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION/ CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
8004998
Transmission
Filed Mar 5, 2002

THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE SLIPPING INTO THE NEXT GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004995
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Dec 20, 2001

WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE EVEN THOUGH LIGHT INSIDE TURNED ON, SHOWING FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ON. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001007
Incident
Nov 12, 2001
EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Dec 15, 2001

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF ENGINE STALLING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *TT

NHTSA ID
785817
Incident
Oct 3, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE PARKED IN GEAR WITH PARKING BRAKE NOT ON, AND VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
892196
Incident
Jun 16, 2001
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jun 17, 2001

HAD TO HAVE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED FOR 2ND TIME IN 23000 MILES. WHILE BRAKE JOB WAS BEING PERFORMED THEY FOUND OUT THAT BOTH BEARING SEALS WERE COMPLETLELY GONE. REMOVED TIRES AND HUBS TO FIND HUBS COMPLETELY CONTAMINATED WITH CORROSION. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS ALSO INOPERATIVE. REPLACED BOTH HUS TO INCLUDE BOTH RUBBER VACUUM LINES, FOUR WHEEL SOLENOID AND VACUUM CANISTER BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATION. CAR DROVE FINE FOR 3 DAYS , NOW IT HAS A LOUD SQUEEL AND FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT A NORMAL BREAKING SPEED OF AROUND 45 MPH. SERVICE DEPT. COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM....I WILL BE RETURNING VEHICLE BACK FOR FURTHER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. THERE IS NOW A GROOVE IN LEFT FRONT ROTOR AFTER ONLY ABOUT 400 MILES OF WEAR.

NHTSA ID
746956
Incident
Jun 4, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2001

4-WHEEL DRIVE FEATURE DOES NOT OPERATE, WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THAT SYSTEM IS WORKING. BUT 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
881299
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 26, 2000

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, IT RUNS ROUGH AND ALMOST STALLS. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, IT HESITATES AND BUCKS, HAS TOTAL LOSS OF POWER IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT DOES HAPPEN FREQUENTLY. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. CAR HAS LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC CAUSING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
738263
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Nov 30, 2000

CAR HAS LOST POWER IN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR SMOKES, REPLACED TWO 02 SENSORS, TAPPING NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN START ENGINE, CAR WOULD NOT START, ONCE STARTED HAD GAS SMELL, AND BLEW SMOKE OUT EXHAUST

NHTSA ID
737098
Incident
Aug 23, 2000
Transmission
Filed Apr 5, 2000

ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH OR MORE, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
859785
Incident
Mar 29, 2000

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .