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1995 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 56 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2001
Power TrainInjury

VEHICLE LOST 4WD, GOT STUCK AND CRACKED BODY MOLDING, RESPONSE FROM DEALER WAS TO REPLACE FRONT END COMPONENTS,SECOND OCCURRENCE WHILE TRAVELING IN SNOW STORM, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE HIT TREE EMBANKMENT, WHEN PULLED OUT CONSUMER REALIZED 4WD HAD GONE OUT, DEALER RESONSE WAS TO BAD VACUUM SEALS, THIRD OCCURRENCE LOST 4WD DUE TO …

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VEHICLE LOST 4WD, GOT STUCK AND CRACKED BODY MOLDING, RESPONSE FROM DEALER WAS TO REPLACE FRONT END COMPONENTS,SECOND OCCURRENCE WHILE TRAVELING IN SNOW STORM, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE HIT TREE EMBANKMENT, WHEN PULLED OUT CONSUMER REALIZED 4WD HAD GONE OUT, DEALER RESONSE WAS TO BAD VACUUM SEALS, THIRD OCCURRENCE LOST 4WD DUE TO VACUUM LINE BEING RUSTED, AND FOURTH OCCURRENCE LOST 4WD AND DEALER REPLACE FRONT END COMPONENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #560859

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

THE ENGINE WILL START UP AND STAY AT APROX 3000 RPM FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TWICE THE RPMS JUMPED WHILE EACH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IT AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. THE LOCKING HUBS ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT UNLOCKING. IT CAUSED SOME SLIDING IN THE RAIN GOING AROUND A CORNER. …

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THE ENGINE WILL START UP AND STAY AT APROX 3000 RPM FOR AT LEAST 30 SECONDS. A FEW TIMES IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. TWICE THE RPMS JUMPED WHILE EACH MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING IT AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. THE LOCKING HUBS ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT UNLOCKING. IT CAUSED SOME SLIDING IN THE RAIN GOING AROUND A CORNER. THE WHEELS ALWAYS TURN AT THE SAME RATE AROUND CORNERS. THE TRIM IS COMING LOOSE AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH WHEN I SHIFT, AND DURING DRIVING IT WILL SOME TIMES SURGE FORWARD AND BACK. TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #724567

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1999
Power Train

AT FREEWAY SPEED LEFT BEARING SEIZED PULLING LEFT TIRE AND WHEEL ALONG WITH AXLE OUT OF REAR END. WHEEL AND AXLE SPUN THROUGH TRAFFIC . CAR WENT TO MEDIAN

NHTSA ODI #703262

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

HORN MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS AND GAS GAUGE. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, REPLACED MUFFLER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518506

Official recalls

2

02V216000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Aug 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: 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.

95V073000 · Suspension:rear

Apr 11, 1995

THE NUTS ATTACHING THE REAR AXLE BEARING OIL SEAL RETAINERS AND BRAKE BACKING PLATES TO THE REAR AXLE HOUSING MAY BE UNDER- TORQUED CAUSING THESE UNITS TO LOOSEN OR FALL OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE (1) OIL LEAKAGE INTO THE REAR BRAKE AND ONTO THE BRAKE LININGS; (2) REAR BRAKE DAMAGE FROM THE AXLE NUTSFALLING INTO THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS; OR (3) SEPARATION OF THE REAR WHEEL/AXLESHAFT FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETORQUE THE REAR AXLE BEARING OIL SEAL RETAINER NUTS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02051 · Safety Belt Buckle Malfunction

Opened Jun 17, 2002 · Closed Sep 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

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.

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