Tl* the contact owns a 1999 kia sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted strong fuel fumes on the exterior and the interior. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a manufacturer's recall and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact also stated that the timing belt failed three times and was replaced by a mechanic. The drive train failed once and was replaced by a mechanic. The crank shaft was also replaced once. The contact also was experiencing a transmission failure in which the gears slipped randomly and were slow to change over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer more than three times and they were not able to remedy the failure. The contact replaced the seals due to the transmission failure. The fuel leak continued and was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The failure mileage was 333,000.
The worst 1999 Kia Sportage problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine81
- Transmission57
- Brakes44
- Electrical41
- Fuel system38
- Body29
- Visibility27
- Airbags23
- Suspension19
- Seat belts17
- Acceleration11
- Steering10
- Tires9
- Lights7
- Locks3
- Wheels3
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Kia Sportage
Stalling 46Wipers 15Check engine light 14Fuel smell 14Fuel leak 11Fuel pump 10Seat belt 9Won't start 9No deployment 8Grinding brakes 7Airbag light 6Jerking 5
Recalls 3
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- The latch can then pull out of the buckle when tension is applied.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners should contact kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 04V305000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 99V325000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This condition can cause a loss of rear brake increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, increase the clearance between the brake pipe and steering intermediate shaft coupling.
Recall number 98V222000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1999 Kia Sportage
Defect investigations
Fuel tank leakage
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 the federal safety agency 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.
EA06007
Fuel tank leakage
On january 4, 2006, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged fuel leakage from the steel fuel storage tank in certain model year 1999-2000 kia sportage vehicles.odi sent a letter to the manufacturer on january 25, 2006 requesting information about these and other kia sportage vehicles.odi is aware of 40 non-duplicative complaints that allege fuel storage tank leakage in the subject vehicles.analysis of manufacturer data indicates that alleged fuel leakage at or near the storage tank may be attributed to several different failure modes involving the fuel containment and distribution system.kia has identified corrosion as a primary causal factor related to fuel storage tank complaints and continued fuel system part sales.according to kia, fuel tank corrosion claims related to leakage can be divided into two categories: lower tank claims associated with exterior corrosion due to disruption of the polyvinyl chloride (pvc) protective coating and upper tank claims associated with corrosion at the fuel sending unit mounting plate area.the manufacturer's investigation into alleged fuel tank corrosion resulting in leakage is ongoing.accordingly, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea06-007) to further study the frequency, scope, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.
PE06002
Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction
The manufacturer has initiated a safety related campaign to recall the subject vehicles for correction of the seat belt buckle defect.the corrective action is to replace the seat belts/buckles.this safety recall program has been assigned the federal safety agency campaign no. 04v305.
EA04007
Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction
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.
RQ03007
Engine stalling post-recall
Rq02-013 was opened to assess the scope and adequacy of recall 99v‑325, which involved modifications to the engine fuel injection wire harness (harness).vehicles produced after the recall population have shown no signs of a defect trend.the majority of recall remedy failures identified were repaired within one day of the initial work.subsequent failure experience is minimal (249/55,548 vehicles remedied).field data show no indication of an ongoing concern: of 627 post-recall stalling-related wire harness warranty repairs, only seven occurred in 2003.consumer complaints and fuel injection wire harness saleshave declined since 2001.odi has received a total of twelve potentially relevant consumer complaints since 2001.under these circumstances, further expenditure of agency resources is not justified.the recall query is therefore closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.the agency will take further action in the future if circumstances warrant.
RQ02013
Windshield wiper
PE02002
Turn sighal
There is no summary currently available
EA00018
Turn signal, traffic safety hazard
Allege that while driving, the trun signal switch failed.this failure increases the risk of a vehicle crash due to operator distraction and due to other vehicles being uninformed of the operator's intentions.
PE00004
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Kia Sportage 13
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Information for headlamp condensation and moisture
- Pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Kia: all models. article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear...
- Fuel tank replacement under repair benefit program
- Fuel pump relays & emissions failures
- Subject on recall campaign to replace the manifold catalytic converter
- Information regarding manifold catalytic converter replacement
- Information regarding recall campaign to replace the manifold catalytic converter
1999 Kia Sportage fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | RWD | 17 | 21 | 19 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 17 | 21 | 19 |
What 1999 Kia Sportage owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
I had just filled gas tank with unleaded gas. When I noticed a strong gas smell. The car sits all day. I only move it for emissions each year I work from home. They tested and told me evap emission control sys malf. The guy said he could see gas leaking from my fuel line. He said it was a recall on this to check with kia. Kia told me my VIN number did not match the recall. This car does not see alot of action there is no reason other than a few good snows that may have rusted the tank other wise why would my tank all of a sudden leak gas. This is a hazard that I think kia should be responsible for. I am the second owner of the car and have had it longer than the first. I have experienced first hand some issues this model has had which kia took care of. But they refuse this.
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.
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
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.
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.
Front left side seat belt, won't retract.
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.
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.
Compare the 1999 Kia Sportage
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1999 Kia Sportage
Is the 1999 Kia Sportage reliable?
Owners have filed 284 complaints about the 1999 Kia Sportage, 2.1 times a typical Sportage model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Kia Sportage?
Engine and cooling, with 81 complaints, typically around 50,280 miles. Next is transmission (57).
How many recalls does the 1999 Kia Sportage have?
3 recalls, covering seat belts, electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.
What year does the Kia Sportage have bad engine?
The Kia Sportage model years with the most engine complaints are 2012 (330 complaints), 2013 (313 complaints) and 2017 (230 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Kia Sportage get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Kia Sportage range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 17 city and 21 highway.
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