2001 KIA Sportage fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT DEALER STARTED NOTICING A SMELL OF GAS THOUGH WAS. BECAUSE JUST PUT GAS IN .THEN WHEN TURNED ON HEAT SMELL WOULD GET WORSE ! A FEW DAYS AGO WENT TO FILL GAS AND A LOT GAS OVER.FILLED ONTO GROUND NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE SMELL GAS SO STRONG INSIDE CAR ITS. ACTUALLY UPSET MY STOMACH WHEN DRIVING THE. AT AND AFRAID GOING START FIRE ! ALSO LEAKAGE ON GROUND WHEN PARKED . I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM !! IT'S A 2001 KIA. ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT THINK SHOULD BE COVER. FROM COMPANY SINCE NOT ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM .

NHTSA complaint #11082039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES FROM AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT HARDLY DROVE IT. NOW AT 21K MILES, THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND GAS SPEWS OUT OF TANK WHILE I'M PUMPING GAS. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO FALL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS TWICE ALREADY. ALSO, THE DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES THINKING IT WILL LAST FOR AWHILE, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10940367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

NHTSA complaint #10703076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEEN...WHEN FILLING GAS TANK IT BEGINS TO SPEW OUT ONTO HIM . ARE THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK.ALSO A BAD SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE OF CAR,,,,PLEASE HELP THE PROBLEM....

NHTSA complaint #10668990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH CREATED FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOCATED THE LEAK UNDER THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #10626338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, THEY SMELLED AN ODOR OF FUEL EVER SINCE THEY ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS OWNED BY ONE OWNER AND GARAGE KEPT. THE FUEL TANK AND BOTTOM PROTECTOR WAS ROTTED AWAY AND IN DANGEROUS LEAKING CONDITION. KIA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALL AND THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE ROT IN THIS TANK DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WARRANTS A LOOK FROM THE NHTSA INTO THIS. A MANUFACTURER SUCH AS KIA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL AN INFERIOR SAFETY HAZARD TO THE CITIZENS OF THE USA. THERE WERE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS PROBLEM A FULL 7 YEARS AGO AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS IS AN INSULT TO PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH MOTORING SAFETY, WE SHOULD EXPECT BETTER FROM BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THIS ONE. IT'S NOT A MILEAGE ISSUE, THE 1999/2000 SPORTAGES WERE RUSTING OUT WITH ONLY A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE AND IT IS DUE TO INFERIOR MATERIALS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER THAT USES THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10615861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE CAR KEEPS STALLING JUST QUITS WHEN I SLOW DOWN. I HAD TWO MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT. FILLED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS, AND NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE ELECTRICAL CHECK. IT IS A MYSTERY WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR AND GIVE SOMEONE ELSE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10614450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I PURCHASED A KIA SPORTAGE EX 2001 ON 12/27/12 FROM FRONT RYAL AUTO GROUP IN FRONT ROYAL VA. I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. AFTER A FEW DAYS I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM , THEY DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY TO BRING IT IN MON-FRI 8-5 WELL I CAN NOT MAKE THOSE HOURS TO GO ,SO THE ODOR CONTINUES TO FIND OUT FROM A MECHANIC OF MY OWN CHOICE WHICH AFTER I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AGAIN BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT THAT WE DICOVERED I HAVE A FUEL TANK GAS SEAL LEAKAGE..

NHTSA complaint #10496157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE, WITH A FAULTY SENDING UNIT SEAL. THE SEAL LEAKED, CAUSING FUEL TO RUN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE TANK AND RUST A HOLE INTO THE TANK CAUSING A SECOND LEAK. THE SENDING UNIT AND THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE GAS TANK ARE ALL SOLD SEPARATELY. THE SHIELD AROUND THE TANK CAUSES FLUID TO TRAP BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE SHIELD, WHICH IS WHERE IT RUSTED. THE SHIELD IS ANOTHER EXPENSE. KIA WILL HONOR NOTHING. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS. IT WILL COST AROUND $600-800 IN PARTS ALONE.

NHTSA complaint #10470234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS TANK LEAK. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW BUT NO HELP FROM KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM !

NHTSA complaint #10467652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AS IS IT HAPPENING WITH THE 2002, AND 2005 MODELS, MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE ALSO HAS PROBLEM WHEN I PUT GAS IN. WHEN I TRY TO FILL IT UP, IT SPITS THE GASOLINE OUT WITH SO MUCH FORCE IT GETS ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, IT GETS ON YOU. THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT THE GASOLINE YOU PUT IN THE TANK GOES BACK OUT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOLD ME THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE VALVE INSIDE THE TANK AND IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB. I CHECK BUT THERE ARE NO KIA RECALLS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME ENFORCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST KIA SO THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THE OWNER'S HEALTH, BUT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIS POCKET TOO.

NHTSA complaint #10465986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

OUR 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAD A GAS SMELL. NOW WE NOTICED GAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. IT SEEMS TO STOP AT 1/4 FULL. WE BOUGHT IN BRAND NEW IN 2002.

NHTSA complaint #10432457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL TANK LEAKING, STRONG FUMES INSIDE CABIN.

NHTSA complaint #10423022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED CAUSING A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED REPLACING AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10412022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTERIOR OF THE FUEL TANK WAS WET ON THE EXTERIOR BECAUSE THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/03/11

NHTSA complaint #10407480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTERIOR OF THE FUEL TANK WAS WET ON THE EXTERIOR BECAUSE THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/03/11

NHTSA complaint #10407480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FAULTY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK LEAKS GAS.

NHTSA complaint #10400937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

WHEN PUMPING FUEL IT SPLASHES OUT, YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS VERY SLOW AND CONSTANTLY START AND STOP CAUSING TRIPLE THE TIME TO PUMP GAS THEN NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #10373715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL ODOR ,FOUND GAS LEAKS FROM CORRODED GAS TANK, CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS,TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER , CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTIES BUT KIA PAID TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK, I WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS KIA SPORTAGE 2001 , THE TANK SHIELD UNDER THE TANK COLLECTED THE SALT FROM THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER AND SIT THERE BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND THE TANK CAUSING EXCESSIVE CORROSION,I WAS PLEASED WITH KIA ACTION TO PAY FULLY FOR THE TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10369290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT; HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

NHTSA complaint #10367899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

NHTSA complaint #10360061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUEL ABNORMALLY FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10351931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK LEAKS AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AND YET KIA CORPORATION AND THE DEALERSHIP IN CANTON MICHIGAN WHERE I PURCHASED VEHICLE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN OUTSTANDING CARE OF MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE-IT WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND AWAY FROM THE ELEMENTS. I EVEN HAVE COVERED PARKING AT WORK. I WANT KIA TO COMPENSATE ME BY 1) REPLACING THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE; 2) GIVING ME MY $ BACK $11K--THAT I SPENT ON PURCHASING THIS CARE; OR 3)GIVING ME $ TO PURCHASE A TANK AND COVER LABOR. DO YOU KNOW THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A NEW OR USED 2001 KIA SPORTAGE FUEL TANK. THIS IS TERRIBLE AND AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY VIOLATION. I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO GET AN ANSWER AND I JUST GET THE RUN AROUND. I AM WRITING KIA, THE DEALERSHIP, MY MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND PRESIDENT OBAMA. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED THAT A COMPANY CAN PRODUCE THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN DEFECT AND NOT BE HELD LIABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10351097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AND CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS LEAKING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #10319647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS TANK IS LEAKING WHEN TANK IS FILLED FULL.

NHTSA complaint #10306598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON TWO OCCASIONS, MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAS SUFFERED A RUPTURED GASOLINE TANK FROM ROCKS BEING TRAP BETWEEN THE GASOLINE TANK AND THE GASOLINE TANK GUARD PLATE, MAKING MY VEHICLE A ROLLING BOMB UNTIL I DISCOVERED THE GASOLINE LEAK. THE GASOLINE GUARD PLATE WAS DESIGNED WITH 8, CIRCULAR HOLES IN THE GUARD APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WHICH ALLOWS SMALLS ROCKS FROM THE ROAD TO ENTER THE SPACE BETWEEN THE GUARD PLATE AND THE GASOLINE TANK AND GRINDING A HOLE IN THE GASOLINE TANK, ALLOWING THE FUEL TO LEAK WHICH CREATES AN ALMOST CERTAIN RECIPE FOR A DISASTER IF THE GASOLINE WAS TO CONTACT A HOT TAILPIPE, OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A ACCIDENT. IN BOTH CASES I HAD TO REPLACE A VERY EXPENSIVE GASOLINE TANK. I WILL BE INJECTING FOAM INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN GASOLINE TANK AND THE GUARD PLATE LATER THIS WEEK TO HOPEFULLY, KEEP THIS EXPLOSIVE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. THIS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA OF AMERICA YESTERDAY AND EXPLAINED THIS SITUATION, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN MY OPINION, LESS THAN RECEPTIVE ABOUT KIA LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION. WHEN SOMEONE GETS CREMATED BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, IT WILL BE TOO LATE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10278657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GASOLINE SMELL COMES IN THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE WINDOWS. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE DURING COOL OR COLD WEATHER. FIRST MENTIONED IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND THAT THE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY. 8 YEARS LATER THE SMELL HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND HASN'T GONE AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10277282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

KIA 2001 SPORTAGE / GAS TANK LEAK /PLATE GUARDING TANK RUSTED AWAY/FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. RECALL DATE 2007 FOR KIA SPORTAGES ALREADY INACTED / GARAGE SAID DIDN'T APPLY TO KIAS IN OHIO????? COST 1200 TO REPAIR . WHY NOT OHIO????? GARAGE TELLING TRUTH???

NHTSA complaint #10276175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL RELATED ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL OR A SLOPE. THE FUEL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, TWO FUEL FILTERS, AND ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 63,398.

NHTSA complaint #10274857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

JUST BPURCHASED A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE ,THE GAS TANK IS ALL RUSTED AND LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10273501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.