IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER BALANCED TIRES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
2001 Kia Sportage
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 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
190–25K
3025–50K
2650–75K
2375–100K
19100–150K
8150K+
125 reports with mileage · 103 unknown
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.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
228 reportsWHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP. COULD NOT TELL WHAT SPEED WAS DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER PUT IN NEW MODULATOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FULL FRONTAL CRASH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURY TO DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND REAR ENDED. THE BACK OF MY SEAT WENT HORIZONTAL AND COMPLETELY BROKE THE SEAT.*AK
VEHICLE PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 20-60 MPH, ESPECIALLY ON MAIN HWY, PULLS SO HARD AT TIMES THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT COULD FLIP OVER VERY EASILY OR THROW ME INTO ANOTHER LANE. HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK THE SWAY BAR OR OTHER PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR OTHER MULTIPLE REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FOUND NOTHI…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT 20-60 MPH, ESPECIALLY ON MAIN HWY, PULLS SO HARD AT TIMES THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT COULD FLIP OVER VERY EASILY OR THROW ME INTO ANOTHER LANE. HAD DEALERSHIP CHECK THE SWAY BAR OR OTHER PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN WHEN CAR WAS IN FOR OTHER MULTIPLE REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, HOWEVER THEY ONLY DROVE IT 4 MILES INSIDE CITY LIMITS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS APPROX 25-35 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BEEN IN REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 10/01.*AK
CONSUMER STATED FUEL WILL NOT ALLOW THE TANK TO FILL UP WITH FUEL, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD SOME PARTS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE PULLS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*SLC
WHILE DRIVING, GEAR SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY POPS INTO ANOTHER GEAR. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS WIND NOISE COMING FROM ALL FOUR DOORS. *YD
NOTICED AFTER WASHING CAR THAT RIGHT HEAD LAMP CLEAR COVER WAS FRACTURED ON THE INSIDE. DEALER REPLACED COVER. SECOND TIME WAS 12/27/01, NOTICED WHILE TRAVLING IN FRONT OF KIA DRIVEN BY WIFE WHILE I WAS IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT THE RIGHT HEAD LAMP BEAM WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE RIGHT. WAS BLINDING SO I HAD DEALER ADJUST BEAM.*AK
POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD FROM PARALLEL PARKING SPOT. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. PROBLEM UNRESOLVED. *AK
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR WATER DRIPPING ON TO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR FROM AIR CONDITIONER UNDER DASH. FIRST TIME DEALER CLEANED OUT DRIP PAN AND SECOND TIME, REPLACED DRIP PAN. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA06007 · Fuel Tank Leakage
Opened May 9, 2006 · Closed Nov 30, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:storage; Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
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 CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline
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 CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
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 CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
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 CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
RQ03007 · Seat Belt Buckle False Latch/malfunction
Opened Oct 14, 2003 · Closed Feb 27, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES INDICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY KIA TO IMPROVE THE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLY.MY 2001 AND 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN LATCH ASSEMBLIES (TYPE DB-6 OR AUTOLIV) AND EXHIBIT A MUCH LOWER COMPLAINT COUNT.THIS RQ HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EA IN ORDER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TYPE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLIES.