Kia Sportage Reviews

We purchased a 2000 Kia Sportage a year ago, with 35,000 miles on it. Now it has 65,000 miles on it and everything you can think of is going wrong. We replaced spark plugs in September of 2005 and in January 2006 the service engine light came on and the hold light was flashing, so we took it to autozone and they tested codes on the vehicle and said cylinder three misfiring so we replaced the coils, and the other codes were for the ECM Engine Control Module and TCM Transmission Control Module.

I own a 98 Kia Sportage and have had nothing but problems. I will be driving and it stalls, the hold light stays on and the transmission has already been replaced and it is making weird noise again!

My 4-wheel drive had to be replaced 4 times in 3 years that I owned my Kia Sportage. All those times it was under warranty. I was told it would cost $1200 to have it fixed if it wasn't under warranty. The warranty expired but the part was warrantied for 1 year. It broke on Jan. 25th, 2006. 1 YEAR AND 1 WEEK AFTER THE PART WAS REPLACED. I called Bournival in Hampton, NH where I purchased the car and have had all the repairs done. They called the regional manager from Kia and asked him if he would replace the part at no charge and he said no because the part was not under warranty any more. AGAIN 1 WEEK OVER AND BROKEN FOR THE 5TH TIME IN 3 YEARS! I now have a car with no 4-wheel drive that I've only owed for 3 yrs. & 4 months.

I bought a used (2001) Kia Sportage in 2001. It had 20000 miles on it when purchased. It has been into the shop countless times for brakes, electrical, and now it is stalling. Nothing is covered under warranty and there are no loaner cars offered. Each time my car has been in the shop (literally every 4 months) I have to plunk down another $100 to $500. The car went down in value so fast that I only have 6 payments left and I'm still upside down. Anytime it's cold or humid, my horn honks uncontrollably. The dealer has run several tests and "never found a problem".

Where do I begin in describing the horror that is my 200 Kia Sportage? In the second week of ownership, the CD player stopped working, and that has turned out to be an omen of all that was to come. I have spent over SIX THOUSANDS DOLLARS on repair for this vehicle--which, by the way, has been well maintained with oil changes, tune-ups ,etc.

I purchased a kia sportage 2002 BRAND NEW from the lot! The car was ok and then after 1 year or so i started having stalling problems i was towed because the car wouldn't start it was embarrassing! I have so many problems with the car every time the car rests it wont start i have to attempt to turn it on at least 3-4 times and this was a brand new car!! The worst problem was I would drive and all of a sudden the horn would stop working! The problem was I didn't know the horn wasn't working until a semi was changing lanes and did not see me -- thank god I got out of the way before he crushed me!!

I purchased a New Kia Sportage in January of 2003. The car is now worth $7,500. I still owe $16,000. The car has received a new transmission, a new transfer case, an oil plug, rewiring, no interior light. All in just 14 months. Parts are shipped from Korea, not stocked, so you have to wait for the parts.

Now I have a car that I am paying payments on and can not drive. This car is putting not only the people in it in danger but also others on the road!

Since purchasing my 1999 Kia Sportage (NEW) I have had nothing but problems. The check engine light comes on constantly and constantly I take it back for them to fix "anything" to make it go out. It runs really rough and the rpm goes up to 2000!!! They keep it for a day sometimes more and most of the times they just "reset" the computer on the car because theycan't find anything wrong with it. They say anything can set it off and it could be just about anything. I'm just really getting tired oftaking it back in and not getting the problem fixed.

I purchased a new 2002 Kia Sportage. Within 10 months the bushings and tie-rods had to be replaced, two power stearing boxes were installed and then broke, the vehicle overheated 3 times, the CPU went out as "there were ants" in it; coil, ignition and spark plugs went, and the vehicle has never been able to be put into alignment. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR! I have been stranded by the roadside 6 times - once during a tornado. Kia Corporation doesn't seem to care. Obviously the KIA Sportage is a defective vehicle.

This a REALSAFETY issue! I read all of the complaints regarding the KIA on your site. If you compile them all together you have a pretty accurate description of my nightmare with the vehicle I have been stuck with since 1997. You know, it's easier to get through a divorce than live with this KIA. The sales ad should read: For sale, Brand new KIA sportage ... will need transmission replaced in two months, expect engine light to appear continuously (troubleshooter: use tape to cover up the engine light on dash so as not to annoy you) ... visor to break off in approx. 6 months ... seatbelt problems, alignment problems, rust problems, comes with four wheels (but may fall off while driving), small problems with going out of control on fwy (but don't be alarmed, this is normal), shifting problems, do not be alarmed when your AIR BAG light activates it's just malfunctioning, and don't bother going to the dealer cause he can't help -- you're stuck with this lemon you fool!

I am really wondering if the Kia dealerships are aware of this dangerous situation, but they don't do anything to remedy it. I have never had a vehicle do this. It could cost me a truckload of money for them to troubleshoot the problem, and MAYBE end the problem. This is my fear, as I bought the SUV used, to save money.

I bought a Kia Sportage about a year ago. The power window on the driver side doesn't work and both cup holders are broken but those are minor. The big thing is it is incredibly unstable. 2 times the vehicle has done a 360in the middle of the highway at low speeds for no reason. I'm scared to death of it. Someone is gonna be killed in this thing.

I bought a 1998 Kia Sportage almost a year and a half ago.I have had nothing but problems with it as well. The biggest problem right now is the air conditioner is leaking into my passenger side floor. Also the door locks unlock and lock while I am driving. My car stalls all the time. There is all kinds of rattling underneath the car,like something is loose, but yet I can't find anything that is. My check engine light comes on for a week then goes off, but yet comes back on again. I took this vehicle to try and buy a new one (not a Kia) and they were willing to give me $2300. I still owe almost $7000 on this car that I believe won't last me another year. I wouldn't buy a Kia ever again and I wish I could get out of the one I have now.

I have a KIA Sportage 2000, purchased it new. Since we have had it the heat shield rattles so loud you have to turn the vehicle off when you go thru the order window at the drive thru! Also we have had transmission problems and electrical problems. The entire electrical system shorted out. We have had this in to the shop several times. They have never been able to get the heat shield fixed.

I own a 98 KIA Sportage. I am convinced the KIA has a stalling problem and an engine surging problem that I would call dangerous. I can't tell you how many times I have pulled into traffic and had my car almost stall on me. After reading the KIA problem web page I am very concerned that I can't do anything about a problem that is inherently wrong with this car.