2001 Kia Sportage Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ ;UPDATED VIN INVALID 4/25/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ID

10795040

Incident

Nov 19, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

I JUST TRIED TO GET MY KIA SPORTAGE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES THE FRAME IS RUSTED RIGHT OUT AND I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DRIVING IT. I JUST LOOKED ONLINE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS FINE OTHERWISE. IF THERE IS NO RECALL I AM GOING TO BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573564

Incident

Mar 19, 2014

Mileage

131,000 mi

I WAS HEARING A CLUNK EVERY TIME I STARTED GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AND GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO NOTICE THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER WAS TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. IT IS THE FRAME CROSSBAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME. THE AFFECTED FRAME CROSS MEMBER GOES UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK AND WOULD REQUIRE 2 DAYS LABOR TO FIX AT MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. TO REMOVE THE GAS TANK IS ONE PROJECT AND TO HAVE A NEW WELDED SUPPORT BAR IS ANOTHER PROJECT AND WILL COST ALOT TO FIX. I CALLED KIA FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS AND THEY SAID "OH ITS OUT OF WARRANTY" GOODLUCK WITH THAT!!! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526274

Incident

Jul 22, 2013

Mileage

193,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10503211

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

36,000 mi

AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SHE NOTICED THE REAR OF THE SUV WAS SWAYING UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF MYSELF AND AN AUTO MECHANIC WE FOUND A CRACK IN THE RT REAR FRAME THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO PARK IT AND CONTACT KIA. TOLD BY KIA AS THIS CAR WAS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE OR IT . WELL WE WELDED ON A FEW PIECES OF STEEL AND IT LASTED ONLY ANOTHER 3 MONTHS AND IT STARTED AGAIN THIS TIME WE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR TO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGER THRU IT CAR IS NOW PARKED AND WONT BE DRIVEN AGAIN. KIA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I WENT TO THE BONE YARD TO SEE IF THEY HAD A FRAME AND THE 7 KIAS THAT I CHECKED ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IF I WERE YOU AND I OWNED A KIA I WOULD CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE I DROVE ANOTHER MILE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470284

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

100,004 mi

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 84,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC ROADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468494

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED HER THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10449756

Incident

Feb 28, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

STABILIZER CONNECTED TO THE CHASIS ROTTED FROM THE FRAME AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO FIND THIS OUT. CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN CURRENT CONDITION AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T GOING FAST AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. PEOPLE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO HAVE THIS CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428345

Incident

Sep 28, 2011

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS ROTTED WERE THE STABILIZER CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS. HONDA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND RECALLED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378551

Incident

Jan 23, 2011

Mileage

105,280 mi

1 2001 KIA SPORTAGE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DRY PAVEMENT. REAR OF VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE NOTICE CLUNKING SOUND INTERMITTENT 2. CHASSIS IS ROTTED EVERYTIME VEHICLE DRIVEN FAILURE OCCURS. TURNING CORNERS, ACCELERATING, OR IF BAGS OR LUGGAGE ARE LOADED IN REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWAYS OR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING ON VERY LOW TIRES IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE. 3.NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETELY ROTTED ON BOTH CHASSIS RAILS, ALSO THE CROSS MEMBER THAT STABILIZES THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS IS SO ROTTED THERE IS A 5" OVAL HOLE THROUGH THE CROSS MEMBER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED LOOKS GREAT FROM THE TOP BUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU CAN LITERALLY POKE HOLES IN THE CHASSIS WITH A SCREWDRIVER. MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION : UNFIT/UNSAFE FOR TRAVEL ON PUBLIC ROADS. VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY SITTING IN YARD UNDRIVABLE. I HAVE PICS OF THE ROT TO SEND TO NHTSA IF THIS WILL HELP GET INVESTIGATION STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358794

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETECTED THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION NEAR THE FUEL TANK AREA. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MAIN FRAME WAS ULTRA THIN AND DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10354411

Incident

Jun 6, 2010

Mileage

137,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLUNK AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES YET THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEN THE PART FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE, IT STRUCK THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10347831

Incident

Jul 23, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME JULY 14TH 2010 WHEN I BEGAN TO HEAR A "THUD" UNDERNEATH MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. IT WAS THEN THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. I PRESSED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. I HAD TO TRAVEL OVER 20 MILES BACK HOME ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO BRAKES. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR BACK WITH NO DAMAGE TO IT, MYSELF, OR MY TWO FRIENDS WHO WERE RIDING WITH ME. IT TURNS OUT THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND THUS FELL SUDDENLY, CUTTING THE BRAKE LINE. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE ROTTING OF THE FRAME WAS DUE TO POOR AND NEGLIGENT DESIGN. IT IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED AND HAS NO VENTILATION TO FLUSH OUT WATER AND SALT. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN SOONER AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITH NO INJURIES. KIA LATER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE FRAME WITH AN $1,800 ONE, BUT NOTED THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $6,000 TO HAVE IT INSTALLED WHICH IS SIMPLY UNREASONABLE. I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347279

Incident

Jul 14, 2001

Mileage

144,642 mi

THE WHOLE UNDERBODY OF A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE IS RUSTING OUT , ESPECIALLY AROUND THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319620

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

THE FRAME, BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS, RUSTED TO THE POINT OF NOT PASSING INSPECTION IN 2009. IT COULD HAVE LED TO A PROBLEM IN AN ACCIDENT WITH COLLAPSE AND CRUSHING THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310624

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

74,000 mi

PURCHASED A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 55200 MILES. WENT TO KIA DEALER BECAUSE OF FUEL LEAK. TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IF I HIT A POT HOLE THAT THE REAR END COULD LET GO. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT FROM 1995 TO 2001 KIA USED LOW GRADE MATERIAL ON THE FRAMES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND POSSIBLY DID NOT COAT THEM. HE TOLD ME WHEN HE PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT THAT THERE WAS PIECES OF THE FRAME DROPPING ON THE GROUND. HE SAID HE SLIGHTLY TAPPED A HAMMER AGAINST THE FRAME AND IT MADE HOLES. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD JUNK THE VEHICLE AND GAVE ME PAPERWORK STATING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO HAD SPOKEN TO THE OWNER OF A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA PRIOR TO THIS AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT SELL THE 1999 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HE PURCHASED AT AUCTION WITH APPROX. 73,000 DUE TO THE FRAME ROTTING OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IF I HAD NOT HAD THAT FUEL LEAK. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW KIA COULD PRODUCE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. LOWER QUALITY COSMETICS ARE ONE THING BUT A FRAME ON A VEHICLE IS ANOTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308831

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

73,764 mi

FUEL TANKS RUST OUT QUICK. I NOTICED SMELL OF GAS, AND REPLACED TANK IMMEDIATELY. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE, JUST CONCERN FOR OTHERS. POOR DESIGN CAPTURES MOISTURE BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND SKID PLATE. THIS HAS COST ME 250.00 FOR THE TANK, A HALF DAY OF LABOR, AND I'M CONCERNED WITH PUTTING SKID PLATE BACK ON. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THERE WERE SEVERAL EXACT AND OTHERS FOUND WITH THE FUEL TANKS. NO CARS HAVE CAUGHT FIRE YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219220

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

2001 KIA SPORTAGE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER REGISTERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED.*MR THE COOLANT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, THE REAR HATCH PANEL INSIDE FELL OFF, NEW CLIPS WERE INSTALLED. REPLACED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH, TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, WIND NOISE FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AREA. *BF

NHTSA ID

10122633

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

45,230 mi

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH 2001 KIA SPORTAGE CONVERTIBLE. REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES 5 TIMES, REPLACEMENT OF BELTS 6 TIMES AND 14 OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CUP HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE TOP, AND BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE ALARM WIRES WERE RE-ADJUSTED, THE AC COMPRESSOR, IGNITION COIL PACK, CD PLAYER RIGHT REAR AXLE, RIGHT FRONT STRUT, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CENTER CONSOLE, REAR WINDOW FUSE, SPARK PLUG AND ENGINE HARNESS WERE ALL REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10109781

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT NOR DID THE VEHICLE HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. AFTER BUMPER FELL OFF VEHICLE MOVED AT SUCH A RATE OF SPEED THAT THE IT RAN OVER THE BUMPER . MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038242

Incident

Sep 3, 2003

Mileage

28,500 mi

CONSUMER STATE VEHICLE BACKED INTO A TREE, THEN INSTEAD OF BUMPER CATCHING THE IMPACT THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER WAS CRUSHED. BUMPER WAS NOT STRONG AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

10026790

Mileage

9,880 mi

SEVERAL: LOOSE BOLTS AT HEAT SHIELD, LOOSE MUFFLER BOLTS, PROBLEM WITH FAN PULLEY, MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER DEFECTIVE, T-STAT, ENGINE LIGHT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT IDENTIFY MOST RECENT PROBLEM, SAID THEY PUT A NEW COMPUTER IN. REFLECTED LAST DATE BELOW........ *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023411

Incident

Jun 18, 2003

Mileage

16,047 mi

CAR SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO START WHEN IT RAINS, MOISTURE CAUSES SPORTAGE TO STALL NUMEROUS TIMES UNTIL I DRIVE A FEW MILES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023196

Incident

Jun 2, 2003

OVER THE SPAN OF THE LAST 1 1/2 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS *REAR SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP WOULDN'T LOOSEN FAR ENOUGH TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. *FRONT SEAT BELTS (BOTH) WOULD COME OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T LATCH WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE IT, HAD TO JIGGLE THE INSIDE HANDLE *SPARE TIRE ARM WOULDN'T STAY IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHEN OPEN. STILL WON'T *FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULDN'T ENGAGE *LIFTER NOISE--COLLAPSED LIFTER *HEAD WARPED *CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON A FEW TIMES *CUP HOLDERS (FRONT AND REAR) FELL APART *OUTSIDE TRIM WAS FALLLING OFF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10008205

Incident

Sep 22, 2001

Mileage

5,000 mi