10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
393 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Kia Sportage engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Kia Sportage Owner Comments

problem #14

Jan 162002

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer has a concern that the speedometer needle would not register the proper speed. The needle would move back and forth while driving.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #13

May 242002

Sportage

  • miles
After putting vehicle into park and then putting up hand brake vehicle started to accelerate, and ran through garage into the basement.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #12

Jan 272002

Sportage 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission jumps out of gear. The shifter jumps from drive to neutral when vehicle accelerates. Dealer has been notified.

- Newburg, PA, USA

problem #11

Oct 312001

(reported on)

Sportage

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am so dissatisified with Kia. I have 30226 miles on my car, and I'm already having engine problems. I just got done paying $200.86 for airplugs and airfilter to be removed. Well, that didn't help the problem that I have now. When I put my car in park my RPM revs up to 5 and when I'm driving the car shifts really bad and the RPM goes to 4. Kia says they have no idea what is wrong with it, they thought it was the spark plugs causing the problems. Which I told the owner of Kia that it wasn't. but no they disagreed! I have tried on 3 occasion to get rid of my car, but everytime I try I get told that I still owe to much on my Kia. I have had times when I'm stopped at a light and my car dies. What the hell, 30,226 it shouldn't be having any problems. I am coming so close to give the keys right back to the dealership and let them deal with it. I'm tired of driving around in a unsafe car. Kia should take every single on of those cars back and give us our money back. Even a guy that worked at the Kia dealership told me, that I made a bad decision on buying a Kia. That is pretty sad!

- Plano, TX, USA

problem #10

Aug 032001

Sportage

  • miles
Final continuation 5...the fender. They kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the fender. I have only had the vehicle back for a month now and everything is happening all over again. I am now at 35,150 miles and fear that I will have to incur all of these charges for the problems that are now back and do not feel that this is right. All of these problems started happening 2 months after I bought the vehicle and have not been corrected in the 19 months I have had the vehicle. I know that you receive several of these types of complaints from the automotive world as well as other fields but I think that if enough people came out and spoke about what problems they are having with there vehicles, maybe something will be done about it. Thank you for your time.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #9

Jun 112001

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle hesitates in acceleration once consumer lifts off the gas. Engine vibrates hard and will shut off if not accelerating. Vehicle has been repaired several times to replace master air flow. Problem occurs when the A/C is on and off.

- Bloomfield, NJ, USA

problem #8

Aug 222000

Sportage 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the freeway, my car accelerated itself to 85 mph and then became stuck. When shifted into nuetral, the RPM's continued to increase to the top of the scale. The only way we were able to stop the car was by using both feet on the brake to slow it enough in 5th gear to cause a stall. Kia and my dealership are being no help, saying that "they cannot duplicate the problem." On this website, I have noticed several other complaints of this nature.

- Round Hill, VA, USA

problem #7

Jun 151998

Sportage

  • miles
No summary

- Severn, MD, USA

problem #6

Mar 222000

Sportage

  • miles
While driving vehicle would slow down, like there was no gas and motor shut down. Then all of a sudden it will take off. Also, engine light constantly came on. Once while coming across railroad tracks, vehicle attempted to slow down and stop, when all of a sudden it took off, and consumer lost control and went into a ditch.

- E. Chicago, IN, USA

problem #5

Feb 292000

Sportage 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly, dealer cannot find the problem.

- St Louise, MO, USA

problem #4

Nov 111999

Sportage 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While accelerating in reverse vehicle cuts off. Vehicle has been brought to the dealership 3 times for this problem. Fuel injection system was changed twice. Also, the moulding around the sparks plugs broke loose, and it was replaced. Consumer is still experiencing stalling problems. Shield over the catalytic converter replaced. The rear latch for the spare cable rusted and came out upon pulling, the mounting for the rear wheel has released itself while vehicle is in motion.

- Markham, IL, USA

problem #3

Jan 272000

(reported on)

Sportage 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle somtimes accelerates while driving normally

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #2

Sep 031999

(reported on)

Sportage

  • miles
When applying brakes front end will shake/vibrate, resulting in potential safety hazard. 2. vehicle will accelrate by itself without applying accelerator. In both cases, dealer claims that it is normal operation. Defects are intermittent.

- North Port, FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 011998

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While at a stop vehicle accelerates. Then, vehicle will stall unexpectedly which may cause an accident. Won't restart until after 30 seconds. Been to dlr 5 times. Dealer replaced the mass airflow sensor. Dealer cannot determine the problem.

- Bellechasse, LA, USA

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