1999 Kia Sportage: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 284 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints); the 1997 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the transmission slipped gears without warning. The failure recurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, who stated that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle began to shake violently and caused that contact to lose control of the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was corrosion on the rear end of the vehicle after he regained control, stopped and exited the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they did not inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 168,390. Updated 02/03/2014 *lj updated 02/24/14*lj”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Rear frame of my 1999 kia sportage rotted, and causing the whole rearend to shift severely. At 30mph. Causing me to park my sportage. Rest of the frame in good shape. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact was driving approximately 55 mph when a larger truck passed him on the roadway and caused the contact's vehicle to swerve into another lane. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the frame was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2013
“I was driving on the interstate and hit a bump when my car began swaying back and forth from side to side. I had a very hard time maintaining control. I slowly drove home and upon further inspection underneath my 1999 kia sportage I discover the frame is totally rusted to the point of falling apart. The passenger side of the frame is almost non existent and the drivers side isn't much better there are holes and pieces of the frame gone. I have been reading on line that this is a huge problem my 11 year old daughter or myself could have been killed because of this defect, please do something so others will not have to worry about this. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact took the vehicle for an oil change and was told that the frame of the vehicle was rusted completely. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where an engineer for the manufacturer inspected and determined that the rear frame was severely rusted and could not be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 72,083.”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate when accelerating. When accelerating from a complete stop, there was a delay in the vehicle accelerating and when it would, the transmission would exhibit an abnormal noise. The vehicle was not inspected. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. While driving 50 mph, the contact stated that the vehicle began to sway back and forth. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic where they advised that the vehicle had rusted from the chassis on the rear passenger side. The mechanic also advised that the failure was non-repairable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but was unable to assist. The failure and current mileage was 88,000. Updated 9/16/11 *cn updated 2/9/12 *cn”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2011
“1995 to 2002 kia sportages frames are rotting out and gas tanks leaking also. Kia refuses to repair or put out a recall on this issue. Vehicles are a safety issue to the public. Ford windstars had similar problems from 1998 to 2003 back axle rotting out, they are taking action and owning up to the problem. I have been a state inspection mechanic for the state of pa. For 35yrs this defect is going to cause several crashes, maybe deaths. Kia is not concerned about this matter any help would be great. Thanks *tr”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 27 of these complaints and injuries in 14 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITHOUT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1999 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sportage by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 284 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Kia Sportage. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Kia Sportage problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 78,000 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Kia Sportage have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.