Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 06/19/2009 | 114000 | 1 | |
| I have a 1999 kia sportage that has 114,000 miles on it. i noticed a couple weeks ago it was making a horrible noise in the right rear of the car, took it in thinking it needed shocks and they refused to fix it because the frame is rusted through and broken just behind the gas tank (which is new). they informed me this car was not safe to drive my little grandbabies in any longer and would not be responsible for any repairs that couldn't guarantee our safety. now i am forced to get another car that is safe to drive myself and my grandkids i am their caregiver monday through friday. i don't think this car is old enough for this kind of problem to occur. i have kept it in good mechanical shape so i don't appreciate being forced to find another car right now, i already work 2 jobs and this puts a strain on me. *tr | |||
| 11/15/2007 | 89000 | 2 | 10/01/2007 |
| Seatbelt restraint failure, both inertia reels failed for no reason while driving. the plastic is so dry rotted and it breaks like cardboard. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 08/16/2011 | 72083 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. the contact took the vehicle for an oil change and was told that the frame of the vehicle was rusted completely. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where an engineer for the manufacturer inspected and determined that the rear frame was severely rusted and could not be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 72,083. | |||
| 08/16/2011 | 72083 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. the contact took the vehicle for an oil change and was told that the frame of the vehicle was rusted completely. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where an engineer for the manufacturer inspected and determined that the rear frame was severely rusted and could not be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 72,083. kmj | |||
| 08/16/2011 | 72083 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. the contact took the vehicle in for an oil change and was told the frame of the vehicle had rusted all the way through. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer were an engineer for the manufacturer and it was determined the rear frame was rusted through and could not be replaced. the contact feels this is a manufacturers defect. the failure mileage and current mileages were 72,083.rl | |||
| 12/08/2000 | 09/01/1999 | ||
| No lights on dashboard came on .this is one time engine check light did not come on. oil all over motor. around area of dip stick.pressure from motor blew out dip stick has anyone else had to replace motor on these cars? also have had brakes replaced 5 times. wiper assembly replaced. fourwheel drive hose replaced. windsheild replaced. emissons replaced. rotors 5 times. seats front and back 1 time each. soft top replaced 3 times need replaced again.smells like sulfur all the time. will never buy one again . first i have to pay 3000.00 for a new motor and pay this one off.asked for help from kia they said no.they will not replace motor. i bought extended warrenty . don't buy it doesn't cover brakes or rotors or hubs.had headlight switch by motor replaced no headlights they would go off when i put them from high beam to low beam or low to high. then they stopped working alltogether had to hold switch to see to get home. | |||
| 09/18/1999 | 2 | 07/06/1999 | |
| Center console will not lock. nlm | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - BUMPERS | |||
| 1 | 08/01/2000 | ||
| Rear bumper on drivers side is broken. nlm | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 08/29/2001 | 2 | 04/17/1999 | |
| On several occasions, passenger door won't open, and door handle won't open from inside. *tt | |||
| 3 | |||
| Front two doors leak in heavy rain on the top of the door frame, dealer can't find problem. *slc | |||
| 07/06/1999 | 1 | 07/06/1999 | |
| The striker plate is out of adjustment causing the drivers side rear door to be out of alignment. nlm | |||
| 06/11/1999 | |||
| Seat belt would continuously chime. the air bag light stays on after starting vehicle. vehicle would start erratically. door frame would leak. convertible top did not stay closed. vehicle would idle at 2000rpms when slowing down & almost stall out. will be taking vehicle to dealer. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 1 | |||
| Vehicle collided with a guard rail and air bags failed to deploy. *ph on a separate occasion, the consumer had a falt tire, and when she removed the spare tire, the door and gate would not close. *jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD | |||
| 1 | |||
| The vehicle hood would not close. yh | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | |||
| 06/11/1999 | |||
| Seat belt would continuously chime. the air bag light stays on after starting vehicle. vehicle would start erratically. door frame would leak. convertible top did not stay closed. vehicle would idle at 2000rpms when slowing down & almost stall out. will be taking vehicle to dealer. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE | |||
| 08/01/1999 | |||
| Throttle: car intermittently jerks in first and second gears. service person at dealership has been present and experienced this and said throttle has problems, but problem continues to be unresolved. technician says he can't duplicate it. this jerking occurs several times a week and after the car has warmed up. this is dangerous on the roads in the winter and can cause loss of control of the vehicle. tailgate assembly has been repaired at least two times - it fails to shut properly - which allows exhaust fumes to enter vehicle. the tailgate has to be shut three or more times before finally closing. problem has not been fixed. same problem - not shutting properly - with passenger side rear doors. during the winter, inside of windows stayed fogged up preventing a clear view of traffic. defrost failed to clear moisture inside vehicle. dealership said this was normal. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 02/02/2011 | 160000 | ||
| 1995 t0 2002 kia sportages frames are rotting out and gas tanks leaking also. kia refuses to repair or put out a recall on this issue. vehicles are a safety issue to the public. ford windstars had similar problems from 1998 to 2003 back axle rotting out, they are taking action and owning up to the problem. i have been a state inspection mechanic for the state of penna. for 35yrs this defect is going to cause several crashes, maybe deaths. kia is not cocerned about this matter any help would be great. thanks | |||
| 07/01/2010 | 55000 | ||
| I have a 1999 kia sportage with 55,000 miles on it. the entire frame is rotted and rusted out. cannot drive the vehicle in saftey. will not pass inspection. i have 6 more months of payments i want to know what i can do about this? this is unacceptable. 3 dealerships would not even take it as a trade! i was told not to drive the vehcile because the gastank could fall down if i hit a bump in the road and the vehicle could explode. | |||
| 12/01/2009 | 139000 | ||
| 1999 kia sportage. i have owned it since 2008. i have had the gas tank patched 3 times, then completely replaced cost of over 400 dollars. my mechanic said the tank kept rusting no matter what he tried and it was defective. all rear brakes twice and now with even new lever and other parts 420 dollars. now the car is undriveable due to the rear frame which has cracked and seperated causing the car to sway and making steering extremely difficult. i thought it was a shock that broke when i heard the clunking sound, took it to the mechanich who informed me the car was to unsafe to drive because the frame is swinging all around. i have no other vehicle and two children am a single parent. now i can't get to work, appointments, schools ect. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 07/16/2009 | 1 | ||
| The frame is all rust. i had to have the stabilizer bar welded where it come lose from the frame from rust. the bar was on the rear of the car witch maid it go all over the road. *tr | |||
| 05/22/2009 | 84000 | 1 | |
| My wife was driving on i-80 when the vehicle swayed very badly and almost hit a another vehicle. she immediately slowed and exited the highway. upon inspection the frame severed and broke where the suspension attaches to the frame right behind the rear tire on the passenger side of the vehicle. this vehicle is a death trap... the mechanic and my insurance adjusted said my wife must have an angel watching over her. *tr | |||
| 12/28/2008 | 78000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. the contact stated that the rear driver's side frame behind the tires was beginning to rust and disintegrate. there were no recalls for the particular component. the failure and current mileages were 78,000. updated 01-26-09 *bf updated 01/27/09. *jb | |||
| 03/13/2001 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle has a water leak, water comes in and runs along the glovebox and drips onto the floor. (attorney for client) *slc | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 1 | 10/18/2003 | |
| Cracked chassis in a 1999 kia sportage due to corrosion. *tr | |||
| 02/26/2007 | 101000 | 1 | 01/18/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. the contact constantly heard loud noises when her 4 wheel drive was activated. she took the vehicle to the dealer and they discovered that the cross member in the rear differential rotted and detached from the vehicle. the vehicle is currently unable to be driven. the vin was unknown. the current mileage was 119,000 and failure mileage was 101,000. | |||
| 11/27/2004 | 80000 | 1 | 06/06/1999 |
| While driving home at the end of novemeber with my 4 children 13,12, 2 and18 month old twins my car began to rock from side to side out of control. i pulled over and figured it was a flat tire. it was not. i proceeded to drive home and thought maybe it was my power steering. in order to drive the car home i had to drive about 2 miles an hour. luckily i was only a few miles away .. after i had a friend come by to check out the car and that is when we realized that the back sway bar was hanging to the ground. it had completely broken off the frame at the bracket where it was welded to the frame. there was about a 10-12 inch hole in the frame and both the bracket and the frame where broken were covered inside and out with rust. i called the dealer and they said that my warranty was up. i asked them to reference where in the handbook they would warranty the frame. after going back and forth with them for the last 3 months they have done nothing for me. they keep saying that it is not a warranty item. i had my insurance company come look at the car. they took digital pictures and he said that is clearly a manufacture defect and a terrible insufficient weld job and it was not sealed would explain the rust. no one will fix it not even the dealer because they said that it is not safe to fix. the insurance company also said that the other side is beginning to rust as well. this could have caused a horrific accident if this would have happened 5 minutes prior while i was driving on a highway 70 mph. they refused to give me any answers or help and keep telling me to refer to my warranty. *jb | |||