IllustrationBOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS IN THE WRECK, LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE WINDOW SEATS, THEIR LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN PINNED IN BY THE COLLAPSED FRONT SEATS
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sportage years →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
What owners actually said
56 reportsCOOLANT LEAK FROM HEATER CORE NUMEROUS TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.*AK
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 9., SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN RAW ODORS AND ODORS OF FUMES. SHE WAS TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THE CATYLAC CONVERTER WAS GONE. *AK
SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE WHILE I'M DRIVING, IN FACT I CAN PULL IT OUT MANUALLY!
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
SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE HOOD AREA. AS CONSUMER STOPPED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH AND SIDE SWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THE ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
BATTERY FAILURE.
WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND STOPPED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF A BLOWN FREEZE PLUG. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
THE RESTRAINT BELTS WILL DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
202V216000 · 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
1PE02051 · 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.