25 of the 558 complaints about the 1998 KIA Sportage are about the equipment — 4% of everything reported for this model year.
25
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
PROBLEMS WITH HORN, STEERING WHEEL AND AIR CONDITIONER ON 1998 KIA SPORTAGE.*MR THE VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10089580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR SPARE TIRE RELEASE CABLE IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #562970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BELT WHICH CAME OFF.
NHTSA complaint #562970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
OXYGEN SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WIPERS WERE NOT CLEARING WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS GO UP SLOWLY, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERATIVE,VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER STEERING, DEALER REPLACED THE FAN BELT,AIR CONDITION WAS INOPERATIVE,WHEEL BEARING WERE LOOSE,WEATHERSTRIP WAS REPLACED,THE ENGINE BOGGS DOWN WHILE DRIVING, FRONT BRAKES WERE NOISY.*SLC
NHTSA complaint #8002866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR SPARE TIRE RELEASE CABLE IS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #562970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED THE A/C COMPRESSOR BELT WHICH CAME OFF.
NHTSA complaint #562970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINT.... I THEN CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE CAMPAIGNS AND FOUND 3 RECALLS THAT FIT IN MY VIN RANGE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED KIA'S 800 NUMBER AND ASKED IF MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD NO. I BELIEVED THIS RESPONSE SINCE IT WAS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND NOT THE DEALER. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A DISTURBING CALL FROM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TELLING ME TO IMMEDIATELY STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SAME 3 RECALLS I SAW ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT INCLUDED MY VEHICLE. THE RECALLS WERE: BRAKE LINE RECALL-THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. ELECTRICAL WIRING- THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE THIRD RECALL WAS AN OBD LABEL. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT KIA PUT MY FAMILY AND ME IN SO MUCH DANGER BY TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT KIA WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. SINCE I KNEW THAT I COULD POSSIBLE DIE BY CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, I TOOK A DAY OFF OF WORK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DLR. BY THIS TIME, I HAD KEPT A TIMETABLE AND LOG OF EVERYTHING THAT HAD GONE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND PRESENTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE LIST INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HESITATION ON ACCELERATION, VEHICLE SHAKES SEVERELY WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED, THE IDLE SURGES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER HAD COME OFF OF THE VEHICLE, THE RADIO HAD STARTED TO STATIC AND TURN ON LOUD EVEN WHEN IT WAS TURNED OFF, THE VOLUME KNOBS ON THE RADIO WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN
NHTSA complaint #752476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ALL FOUR WINDOWS GET STUCK, DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, VEHICLE IS TRYING TO SHIFT INTO 4X4 WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AIR CONDITIONER WORKS 1 OUT OF 4 TIMES, LATCH OPENS ON BACK OF VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION. BLACK TARRY DUST ON FRONT TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #748607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY IS RUSTING - REPAINTED- HOWEVER IT IS RUSTING AGAIN ON 4/13/01.
NHTSA complaint #744046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
SPARE TIRE RELEASE CABLE WOULD NOT WORK TO RELEASE TIRE TO GET INTO BACK OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #744047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BLOWER MAKING LOUD NOISES- WAS REPLACED THIS TIME- WAS REPAIRED PRIOR ON 2/5/99.
NHTSA complaint #744050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
SPARE TIRE RELEASE WAS FREEZEN UNABLE TO OPEN- SHOP THAWWED IT OUT AND LUBRICATED IT.
NHTSA complaint #744058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BLOWER STOPPED WORKING (WINTER- TIME) - SHOP FIXED BAD CONNECTION
NHTSA complaint #744060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
IM NOT HAPPY THAT I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND IT AVERAGES GOING INTO THE SHOP EVERY 6-8 WEEKS. I CANT AFFORD THIS. IM TO ARRANGE MY OWN TRANSPORTATION WHILE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP, ITS BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE LITE, WHEN WORK IS DONE THEY DON'T CALL AND TELL US WHAT WAS WRONG AND IT CAN BE PICKED UP, LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THEY DIDNT CALL FOR OVER A WEEK TO TELL ME TO COME GET IT, I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER AND LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES AND THEY STILL HAVENT CALLED. I WIL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN OR BUY FROM ANY RIZZA. I FEEL LIKE I BOUGHT JUNK, I WANT MY MONEY BACK, TAKE THE CAR. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE PROCESS AT WEBSITE 100% I HATE KIA. THANK YOUL
NHTSA complaint #730942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO/CD PLAYER FAILED AND WOULD NOT EJECT CD FROM PLAYER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
PUDDLES OF WATER SEEPED INTO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
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.
NHTSA complaint #857615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C DRAIN HOSE CLOGGED CAUSING LEAKAGE. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CD PLAYER FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CIGARETTE LIGHTER ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THIS VEHICLE HAS MANY PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF. NO SAFETY DEFECTS LISTED IN SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #707391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER NOISE, UNABLE TO RECTIFY.
NHTSA complaint #544064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
C.D. PLAYER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WATER LEAKING INTO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE FROM A/C.
NHTSA complaint #542058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN CONSUMER IS AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN ACCELERATES, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL LIKE THERE IS NO GAS IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK VEHICLE IDLED LOW, WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE AM VEHICLE HAD NO POWER AND STUMBLED UNTIL IT WARMED UP, DEALER STATED THE IAC WOULD NOT OPEN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE TPS SENSOR BEING OUT OF SPECIFICATIONS. TAIL LIGHT LENS CRACKED AND THE DASH LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH FELL IN THE DASH. VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUGS, VEHICLE BACKFIRED AND HESITATED, DEALER REROUTED THE WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIRED THE PIN CONNECTORS. VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR RATTLED WHEN CLOSING AND THE WINDOW WAS DOWN, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. CARPET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WOULD NOT LIE FLAT. REAR HATCH WOULD NOT POP AFTER BEING UNLOCKED, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK FROM THE SEAL. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE A/C LEAKED ON THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD, DEALER REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #824213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.