Model year record

1996 Kia Sportage recalls & problems

The 1996 Kia Sportage has 3 safety recalls and 57 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (22 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints57filed by owners

Crashes · fires12 · 3reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths27 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsAug 16, 2002

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 02V216000189,706 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Latches/locks/linkagesDec 17, 1997

Hatchback/liftgate › Lock

Recall 97V23400023,493 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.
Risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.

Vehicle speed controlJul 15, 1996

Accelerator pedal

Recall 96V131000693 vehicles

Problem: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY COULD BIND OR STICK DURING OPERATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO HOLD THE THROTTLE PARTIALLY OPEN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Sportage 2WD

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Sportage 4WD

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Sportage 4WD

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Master cylinder	22	1	0	4	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	12	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Exhaust system	11	1	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	9	8	0	19	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Buckle assembly	8	1	0	3	79,000 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring › Interior/under dash	8	0	2	0	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages; Accelerator pedal	5	1	0	0	—
StructureBody; Body › Door	3	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	3	0	1	0	—
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing; Rear	3	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	3	—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Dec 7, 2004 · 125,000 miles
Seat belts › Rear/other
THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK
Dec 5, 2003 · 79,000 miles
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.Fire
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO . FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HER JACKET. THE FIRE BURNED PART OF THE DOOR PANEL. *JB
Jun 1, 2003
Seat belts › Rear/other
RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 216 000 CONCERNING FRONT SEAT BELTS, BUT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT REPLACING THE REAR SEAT BELT UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY.*AK
Sep 23, 2003 · 45,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedalCrash
WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK
Aug 25, 2003
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
Jun 16, 2003
Electrical system › Horn
THE VEHICLES HORN DID NOT BLOW LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
Apr 23, 2003 · 32 miles
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT FASTENER WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA, BUT THEY SAY THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT ABUSED THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT FAIL (IN ANY OTHER CAR-- NOR HEARD OF THIS) BECAUSE IT COMES UNLATCHED. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS IT SEEMS I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT BELT FASTENER. TS
Dec 29, 2002 · 105,150 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL TANK LEAKAGEClosed
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…
EA06007 · opened May 9, 2006 · closed Nov 30, 2007
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONClosedLed to recall 02V216000
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.
PE02051 · opened Jun 17, 2002 · closed Sep 20, 2002