Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 014 | 01/01/2008 | 10024232 | Fuel tank replacement under repair benefit program. on certain 1997-2000 sportages. *nj | 03/27/2008 | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP | |||||
| 76 | 01/01/2004 | 10015753 | Fuel pump relays & emissions failures. kia technician times. *tt | 08/10/2005 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | ||||||
| EA06007 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 05/09/2006 | 11/30/2007 | FUEL TANK LEAKAGE | ||
| A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from june 1999 to october 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component was replaced.odi's analysis focused on leaks occurring on the underside of the tank due to corrosive failure caused by disruption of the protective pvc coating.the analysisindicates that such leaks are rare and do not show evidence of an increasing trend. accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see document file for additional information regarding this resume. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE | ||||||
| EA06007 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 05/09/2006 | 11/30/2007 | FUEL TANK LEAKAGE | ||
| A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from june 1999 to october 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component was replaced.odi's analysis focused on leaks occurring on the underside of the tank due to corrosive failure caused by disruption of the protective pvc coating.the analysisindicates that such leaks are rare and do not show evidence of an increasing trend. accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see document file for additional information regarding this resume. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | ||||||
| EA06007 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 05/09/2006 | 11/30/2007 | FUEL TANK LEAKAGE | ||
| A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from june 1999 to october 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component was replaced.odi's analysis focused on leaks occurring on the underside of the tank due to corrosive failure caused by disruption of the protective pvc coating.the analysisindicates that such leaks are rare and do not show evidence of an increasing trend. accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. see document file for additional information regarding this resume. | ||||||
| PE06002 | HYUNDAI-KIA AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER INC | 01/04/2006 | 05/09/2006 | FUEL TANK LEAKAGE | ||
| On january 4, 2006, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged fuel leakage from the steel fuel storage tank in certain model year 1999-2000 kia sportage vehicles.odi sent a letter to the manufacturer on january 25, 2006 requesting information about these and other kia sportage vehicles.odi is aware of 40 non-duplicative complaints that allege fuel storage tank leakage in the subject vehicles.analysis of manufacturer data indicates that alleged fuel leakage at or near the storage tank may be attributed to several different failure modes involving the fuel containment and distribution system.kia has identified corrosion as a primary causal factor related to fuel storage tank complaints and continued fuel system part sales.according to kia, fuel tank corrosion claims related to leakage can be divided into two categories: lower tank claims associated with exterior corrosion due to disruption of the polyvinyl chloride (pvc) protective coating and upper tank claims associated with corrosion at the fuel sending unit mounting plate area.the manufacturer's investigation into alleged fuel tank corrosion resulting in leakage is ongoing.accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea06-007) to further study the frequency, scope, and safety consequences of the alleged defect. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 06/05/2009 | 105000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1999 kia shortage. the contact stated after dispensing fuel into the full tank, he would smell a strong odor of fuel inside and outside of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they were unable to locate the problem. there was a manufacture voluntary recall pertaining to the fuel system. the contact notified the dealer and they informed that safety recall expired. in addition, the fuel tank was not in stock. the problem persisted and became progressively worse. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 105,000. js | |||
| 08/16/2010 | 100198 | ||
| I own a 1999 kia sportage and recently had it racked to see what the noise was that was coming from underneath my car. the entire undercarriage has rusted out and the fame is separating from each other, leaning on the shock absorbers on both sides, there are large holes in the fame where they have rusted through, the fuel tank and shield is rusted out and this car is a ticking time bomb, ready to fall apart, and or if anything hits the fuel tank it will disentegrate and possibly explode. this car is litteray coming apart underneath.two of the doors panels underneath have rusted away. everything is rusted and it scares me to death to be driving it now that i have seen the undercarriage. i have many photos to submit for proof of the problem.apparently this car has been rusting for some time and i have never noticed it. i bought it brand new in september of 1999. it has prematurely rusted out unlike most vechicles which last for many years. i was informed by my brother this past summer and he told me that there was a service campaign on the fuel tank but when i took it to the dealer, they said it was past the 10 year mark by a few months and they wouldn't do anything about it. i have been in contact with kia to gather information about recalls and service campaign notices of which i only was notified about 3 or 4 of them shortly after i purchased it. | |||
| 04/05/2010 | |||
| The chassis of my 1999 kia sportage is rooting out. i have had to have the railings welded together, one railing has a hole about 6 in long on the side of the railing and the gas tank has to be replace. but if the tank is removed the part of the chassis it is attached to will come off and there will be no way to attach a new one. | |||
| 02/01/2010 | |||
| Fuel tank leak. smell of gasoline when car is put in garage. | |||
| 08/28/2009 | 1 | ||
| Fuel tank leaking every time when filling tank. fuel pump was replaced, problem with gasoline leakage when filling tank is still a problem. no repairs as of yet. i'm on disability. *tr | |||
| 05/20/2009 | 112307 | 1 | |
| I own a 1999 kia sportage. when i filed tank, gas leaked. i took my car to the repair shop and they stated that i have a leak in my gas tank. *tr | |||
| 06/19/2009 | 89000 | 1 | |
| 1999 kia sportage, had a gas leak got it repaired with a new tank last year, still have a gas smell. i have taken it back several times for the smell they cannot find the problem, of course this is my regular mechanic not a kia dealer. now the frame is busted from premature rusting and disintegration which is holding up the gas tank. check engine light is constantly on for evap leak . no power when a/c is running. a/c now has leak. constantly smell a burning smell just before the check engine light comes on. also constantly blows fuses for power windows etc. this is a death trap for sure, you can imagine my surprise when i was advised not to drive my grandbabies in this car it is unsafe...and when they refused to fix it as they couldn't take responsibility for the safety of the vehicle when trying to fix a framing problem. this car has had very good maintenance, oil changes, tires etc. and only has 114,000 miles , i never dreamed i would have to find another car so soon. i really thought i should have at least another 100,000 to go! *tr | |||
| 01/02/2009 | 137700 | 1 | |
| On december 22, 2008, during vehicle inspection, found gas smell and possible leak in gas tank. phone kia dealership, and they indicated that there was a service campaign, and to bring the vehicle in for a fuel tank inspection (along with some other recall repairs). on 1/2/2009, the vehicle was inspected by the kia dealership, and they indicated that the fuel tank was leaking from the bottom of the tank, and that this was a known issue and may be covered by a service campaign. however, the mileage on the vehicle was 137,700 miles, and the limit was 130,000 for kia to reimburse. i indicated that i had never received an notice of this problem. further investigation showed that there were at least two (2) service campaigns (sc059 and rb001) which dated back to may 2006, and january 2008. had i been notified, the vehicle would have had much less than the limit of 130,000 miles. i phoned and e-mailed customer support (no mailing address listed). during the phone conversation with steve, i was informed too bad, but it is out of the mileage limit and there is nothing we can do. not sure why you never got a notice. when i e-mailed, i received a phone reply (after the second e-mail) from steve stating we already discussed this. not sure why you e-mailed since this was already addressed. i feel that a problem as important as a leaking fuel tank should not be left to chance, waiting for a regular inspection or an actual leak to detect it. i feel that kia should be responsible for a recall, and should also be responsible for the cost of the repair. currently i have repaired the tank, while looking for a replacement tank. thank you for your time. *tr | |||
| 11/27/2008 | 69000 | 1 | |
| I purchased my kia used, from a dealer, less than a year ago, and it passed the electronic systems check for vehicle inspection. i immediately had to have dealer replace the gasoline tank after smelling gasoline. this car is used solely for light usage to transport myself and my children to and from dr's and grocery stores. after owning the car for less than two months, check engine light came on, reporting issue with catalyst. found a recall on this issue and am trying to get original dealer to fix. now experiencing loss of power to engage inclines or hills, causing a hazard to other drivers. also back brakes simply blew! without any forewarning, with my children in the car, i lost all braking abilities. thank goodness i was not going fast and have a standard to quickly downshift. my mother was killed due to loss of brakes, and it was an absolute panicking situation for me emotionally. being a single mother i rely on mechanics to do all my work, and i had just had all my fuel levels topped off and my pads checked, without any issue found. i have also had an intermittent issue with the front seat belts remaining engaged. the dealer warranty expired and i am stuck with recalls nobody seems to want to fix! *tr | |||
| 08/31/2005 | 71200 | 6 | |
| Vehicle does not want to start, however, the radio and power windows are still working so it is not a battery issue. once the vehicle did start it would die when you started up from a stop at a traffic light and/or sometimes would simply die when put your foot on the gas pedal. i took it to a shop and they indicated it was a fuel pump issue. the following day after the fuel pump was repaired the vehicle did the same thing. the shop then indicating there had been a wiring recall so they changed out the wiring harness. two days later the vehicle almost died on the way to the airport, it would shake violently when idling and there was very limited power when i was attempting to accelerate. the shop looked at it again and the air manifest indicator came on so they cleaned out the air flow. two days later it was still doing the same thing. the shop then indicating that their sensor indicated a different part of the system was failing. the shop contacted a kia facilitated and was told it sounded like a computer issue, however, even if the computer was changed out, it could be a sensor issue and the vehicle would continue to die when i was driving in traffic and/or pulling from a stop. a vehicle that dies is a huge safety issue, and it does not sound like it can be easily fixed and/or kia does not want to do the work. *nm | |||
| 03/17/2001 | 3 | 04/17/1999 | |
| Consumer states that muffler is noisy, gas tank and fuel pump are being replaced. *tt | |||
| Kia motors recall notice, dealer will not schedule an appointment for repairs | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | |||
| 07/28/2006 | 57546 | 2 | 06/01/2004 |
| Defective gas tank and fuel lines had to be replaced at owner's expense of $836.54 manufacturer refuses to acknowledge defect and pay for repairs to correct the problem. fortunately, problem was discovered before personal injury. occurred by fire or explosion! *nm | |||
| 07/19/2006 | 56750 | 1 | 11/15/1999 |
| Noticed smell of gas. replaced gas tank and fuel pump/sender unit. *jb | |||
| 08/02/2005 | 6900 | 1 | 12/15/2000 |
| Dt: the fuel pump went out. fuel tank was rusted and had to be replaced ,and the bolts broke. the vehicle was out of warranty. marathon told consumrer the need of a need a new fuelpump. contacted a couple of kia dealers they said there were afraid someone else may break the bolts. this happened on august 2, 2005. *ak | |||
| 06/12/2000 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle was leaking gasoline, and fuel line was defective. there was a trail of gasoline miles away, and vehicle just stopped without prior warning. also, speedometer didn't work, and she didn't know how fast she was going. consumer felt that vehicle was very unsafe to drive.*ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 100000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle was towed to shop / no start fuel pump inoperative, rust found in fuel filter, fuel tank leaking externally ( rusted through ). *tr | |||
| 07/04/2003 | 3 | ||
| 1999 kia sportage wiring harness, throttle body position, fuel pump replaced, etc.... nar 07/28/2003.*mr *cb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 57800 | 1 | 01/01/1999 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact began to smell gas from somewhere around the vehicle. he then noticed gas leaking from the top of the oil tank, which began to leak underneath the tank. as a result, the bottom of the tank began to rot and form holes. he took the vehicle to the dealer and they noticed that the hoses of the fuel pump also rotted from the leak in the oil pan. there is a technical service bulletin (kt2006050901) issued by kia that lists the exact same defect the vehicle was experiencing. service campaign inspection number sc059 was referenced. the failure mileage was 57,800 and current mileage was 58,739. | |||
| 01/30/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer stated that fuel line was too close to the battery. about 3 months ago a fuel line broke and sprayed gas all over the hood and motor, which could have caused a fire. consumer took vehicle to a mechanic and had fuel line repaired. *ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | |||
| 10/25/2000 | |||
| When accelerating vehicle hesitates and jerks forward. dealer has inspected vehicle, and determined that problem was with fuel injection electrical system. manufacturer will be notified. *ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | |||
| 10/25/2007 | 1 | 11/30/2006 | |
| Gas tank leaks! *tr | |||
| 08/31/2007 | 85000 | 1 | 04/29/2005 |
| I own a 1999 kia sportage. it has developed a leak in the gas tank. it has corroded prematurely. *tr | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 100000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle was towed to shop / no start fuel pump inoperative, rust found in fuel filter, fuel tank leaking externally ( rusted through ). *tr | |||
| 05/05/2006 | 63559 | 1 | 10/01/2000 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the fuel tank assembly developed a hole causing a fuel leak. the dealer replaced the fuel tank and determined the storage assembly also had a leak which could no longer be seen. gas totally covered that area where the hole was located. the contact also stated when the front passenger side door was locked, the door could not be opened from the outside with the key. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer regarding the lock. updated 10/4/2006 - the dealer failed to fix the door while it was there for service. the four wheel drive was not activated although the four wheel drive light was illuminated on the dash. the dealer replaced the vacuum lines. *nm | |||
| 07/23/2006 | 59000 | 1 | 07/02/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated there was a smell of gas and a fuel leak observed under the vehicle. it was driven to an independent repair shop who replaced the fuel tank and the fuel lines. the dealer has been alerted. the fuel tank and fuel lines had rusted and were leaking gasoline. updated 08/25/06. *jb | |||
| 11/21/2005 | 28000 | 1 | 10/06/1999 |
| I have a 1999 kia sportage with less than 35,000 miles on it as of july 5, 2006. in november of 2005 i started noticing a really strong fuel smell. shortly thereafter i noticed fluid leaking from the rear of my vehicle. i took it in around thanksgiving to find out that the gas tank had to be replaced. i had to pay almost $1,000 for this repair. also, in may of 2006 power steering fluid leaked all over my garage while the car was in summer storage. upon further investigation it is due to the power steering pressure hose damping pipe rusting out. this car has also already have to get new front brake rotors (rusted/warped) as well as a new exhaust pipe since the previously one rusted off the muffler. within the first couple years one of the bearings went bad and they ended up replacing the whole front axle unit. this car has had many problems and with less than 35,000 miles on it basically makes me sick to my stomach. i am reporting this to you after reading on www.kia.com technical/owners section about a service campaign for the leaking fuel tanks in may 2006. nobody has notified me and i just happened to run into myself as i was researching information related to the power steering system since that started leaking in may 2006. *jb | |||
| 06/01/2006 | 1 | ||
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicles gas tank was leaking. a certified independent mechanic determined the cause to be a defect. the vehicle was not ta ken into dealers for confirmation. | |||
| 11/17/2005 | 1 | ||
| Dt: the contact smelled gas fumes approximately one week ago. he took the vehicle to a local mechanic, and he found the skid plate on the bottom of the tank held moisture against the tank, and caused it to rust. the vehicle has not been repaired at this time. *ak | |||
| 08/02/2005 | 1 | 12/12/2000 | |
| In december of 2000 i purchased a kia sportage 1999 from mcgrath in elgin, il. from the beginning the front seat belt buckle did not always lock and the interior & exterior lights flickered. i took the vehicle to a local repair shop but they could not find why the lights flickered. on august 2, 2005 my vehicle died in front of a marathon gas station/repair shop in rolling meadows, il. the mechanic called me and told me i needed a new fuel pump. i told him to do the repair. the next day, the mechanic calls me to tell me that the fuel tank is so rusted it needs to be replaced and he has already called the kia dealer and the fuel tank is in stock. i told him to do the repair. (please reference complaint #10131393). when i went to pick up the vehicle, it kept blowing the fuses and dying. i never got out of the gas station parking lot. i left the vehicle with them. on august 4, i had the vehicle with the original fuel pump and fuel tank towed to the mcgrath kia dealer in elgin, il. in the meantime, i got on the internet and did a search for kia recalls. my vehicle has 3 recalls- one for the front seat belt buckle campaign #04v305000, one for the electrical system wiring campaign #99v32500, and one for service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components: hoses, lines/piping and fittings campaign #98v222000. all of these recalls were in effect before i purchased the vehicle. i have asked the mcgrath kia dealer to fax me copies of the repairs for the recalls, but have not received anything in writing that these recalls were repaired before they sold me the vehicle. now i am waiting for the kia dealer to look at my vehicle. i was told it could be days. *jb phone interview update (oct. 31, 2005): no fuel leak; however, the tank was so badly rusted. she agreed to email pictures of the tank. | |||
| 12/04/2003 | 33000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle failed state inspection. fuel tank was leaking, and needed to be replaced. dealer notified. please provide further information. *ph | |||
| 01/10/2002 | 1 | 09/01/1999 | |
| Fuel tank is corroding from the inside out. fuel system is contaminated and the structural integrity of the tank is in question. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | |||
| 11/27/2008 | 69000 | 1 | |
| I purchased my kia used, from a dealer, less than a year ago, and it passed the electronic systems check for vehicle inspection. i immediately had to have dealer replace the gasoline tank after smelling gasoline. this car is used solely for light usage to transport myself and my children to and from dr's and grocery stores. after owning the car for less than two months, check engine light came on, reporting issue with catalyst. found a recall on this issue and am trying to get original dealer to fix. now experiencing loss of power to engage inclines or hills, causing a hazard to other drivers. also back brakes simply blew! without any forewarning, with my children in the car, i lost all braking abilities. thank goodness i was not going fast and have a standard to quickly downshift. my mother was killed due to loss of brakes, and it was an absolute panicking situation for me emotionally. being a single mother i rely on mechanics to do all my work, and i had just had all my fuel levels topped off and my pads checked, without any issue found. i have also had an intermittent issue with the front seat belts remaining engaged. the dealer warranty expired and i am stuck with recalls nobody seems to want to fix! *tr | |||
| 01/14/2004 | 5 | 06/01/2003 | |
| Immediately after purchasing this used vehicle, it would sputter and die when applying pressure to the gas. this usually happens in the middle of an intersection. i would take it back to the dealership. they would allegedly fix the problem than the next day it would do it again. i had pocession of the vehicle a total of 5 days during my first month of ownership. it was in the shop the other 25 days. it has been several months later and it is having the same problems. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY | |||
| 08/12/2007 | 100000 | 2 | |
| Vehicle was towed to shop / no start fuel pump inoperative, rust found in fuel filter, fuel tank leaking externally ( rusted through ). *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 07/23/2006 | 59000 | 1 | 07/02/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated there was a smell of gas and a fuel leak observed under the vehicle. it was driven to an independent repair shop who replaced the fuel tank and the fuel lines. the dealer has been alerted. the fuel tank and fuel lines had rusted and were leaking gasoline. updated 08/25/06. *jb | |||
| 11/21/1999 | |||
| We bought a 1999 kia in november of 1999. since then we have had nothing but trouble with it. every six months there is something gone wrong with it. | |||
| 07/05/2002 | |||
| The fuel line came off under hood causing fuel to spill on the engine. taken to the dealership the dealer said that the clip on fuel line came off. please provide any additional information. ts | |||