IllustrationWHILE DRIVING RENTED VEHICLE FROM BUDGET RENTAL THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH THROUGHT A BARB WIRED FENCE AND INTO A FIELD, THE STEERING WHEEL DID A 360 DEGREE TURN AND BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. NLM
2000 Kia Sportage
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Sportage years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Kia Sportage are substantially higher than the model-year median of 122.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sportage years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
240–25K
2325–50K
3650–75K
2975–100K
35100–150K
7150K+
154 reports with mileage · 150 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports7 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
304 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE SPUN AROUND & FLIPPED OVER TRAVELING AT 25-30MPH. CONSUMER FEELS SPEED ISN'T THE CAUSE. DEALER IS SENDING A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS TOO LIGHT AND TOO HIGH UP UNDERNEATH. IT IS UNSAFE. *YH
AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS; EACH TIME DEALER WOULD INFORM CONSUMER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND EACH TIME AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. CURRENTLY, WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, BUT AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON UPON STARTING VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER L…
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AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS; EACH TIME DEALER WOULD INFORM CONSUMER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, AND EACH TIME AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. CURRENTLY, WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, BUT AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON UPON STARTING VEHICLE. *AK THE DEALER LEFT THE AIR BAG UNHOOKED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. IT WAS HOOKED BACK UP BUT THE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN ONE WEEK LATER. *YH
CONNSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS TURNING RIGHT ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT TURNING WHEELS. VEHICLE WAS TURNING ON ITS OWN DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT,MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHEN PLACING KEY IN IGNITI…
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CONNSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS TURNING RIGHT ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT TURNING WHEELS. VEHICLE WAS TURNING ON ITS OWN DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. BUT,MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHEN PLACING KEY IN IGNITION. THE BATTERY WAS LOSING POWER FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND ON RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *YH
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 TRAFF…
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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
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
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH UP A HILL, AT TOP VEHICLE JERKED TO LEFT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO STEER IT BACK. VEHICLE BEGAN DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN, HIT AN EMBANKMENT, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMERS WAS GOING 5-10MPH UPON IMPACT. DEALERSHIP, AFTER INSPECTION, COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS I WAS TURNING. HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND JERK WHEEL. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND PROBLEM AFTER VEHICAL STAYED IN SHOP 4 DAYS...4TH OCCURRENCE. *AK
ONE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THESE DIFFRENT PROBELMS FIXED ALWAYS SOMETHING ELSEWENT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE WITHIN A HOUR OR SO OF TIME AFTER PICKING VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CURRENTLY HAVE A MAJOR ENGINE PROBELM THAT STILL EXISTS WITH A VERY STRONG ODOR OF SULFUR SMELL. VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ALONG ROADSIDE WI…
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ONE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET THESE DIFFRENT PROBELMS FIXED ALWAYS SOMETHING ELSEWENT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE WITHIN A HOUR OR SO OF TIME AFTER PICKING VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CURRENTLY HAVE A MAJOR ENGINE PROBELM THAT STILL EXISTS WITH A VERY STRONG ODOR OF SULFUR SMELL. VEHICLE HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ALONG ROADSIDE WITH 3 CHILDREN IN IT ON AT LEAST 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTER AND THEY WILL NOT REPURCHASE THIS VECHILE BACK NOR DO THEY ACKNOWLEDGE CURRENT ENGINE PROBELMS AND THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS VECHILE. I HAVE A TECHINICAL NO PARTIAL PARTY REPORT ABOUT THIS VECHILE AND THE ( MAUFACTURE WILL STILL NOT REPURCHASE THIS VECHILE FROM ME) I NEED EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROBELMS THIS VECHILE HAS GIVEN ME AS OF THIS POINT ONLY OWNING THIS FOR 6 MONTHS WITH 4000 + MILES ON IT. *AK
Official recalls
204V305000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Jun 24, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
00V205000 · Electrical System
Jul 27, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM WERE FOLLOWED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE RESULTING IMPROPER CONNECTIONS COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUPTURE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA06007 · Fuel Tank Leakage
Opened May 9, 2006 · Closed Nov 30, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:storage; Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
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.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline
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
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
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 · Fuel Tank Leakage
Opened Jan 4, 2006 · Closed May 9, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
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.
EA04007 · Seat Belt Buckle False Latch/malfunction
Opened Feb 27, 2004 · Closed Jul 26, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
THE MANUFACTURER HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RELATED CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CORRECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DEFECT.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/BUCKLES.THIS SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 04V305.
RQ03007 · Seat Belt Buckle False Latch/malfunction
Opened Oct 14, 2003 · Closed Feb 27, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES INDICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY KIA TO IMPROVE THE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLY.MY 2001 AND 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN LATCH ASSEMBLIES (TYPE DB-6 OR AUTOLIV) AND EXHIBIT A MUCH LOWER COMPLAINT COUNT.THIS RQ HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EA IN ORDER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TYPE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLIES.
DP02006 · Vehicle Rollover
Opened Jun 5, 2002 · Closed Sep 23, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE00026 · Incorrect Battery JUMP-START
Opened Jul 10, 2000 · Closed Jul 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM