I bought the car 2 weeks after I left dealer started noticing a smell of gas though was. Because just put gas in .then when turned on heat smell would get worse ! A few days ago went to fill gas and a lot gas over.filled onto ground not able to figure out why the smell gas so strong inside car its. Actually upset my stomach when driving the. At and afraid going start fire ! Also leakage on ground when parked . I have read other complaints with same problem !! It's a 2001 kia. Only has 78,000 miles on it think should be cover. From company since not only one with this problem .
The worst 2001 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.
- Fuel system62
- Engine46
- Brakes27
- Body24
- Electrical23
- Transmission22
- Airbags20
- Suspension20
- Visibility17
- Acceleration11
- Seat belts9
- Lights8
- Tires7
- Steering5
- Locks4
- Seats4
- Driver assistance2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2001 Kia Sportage
Fuel leak 17Check engine light 16Fuel smell 13Stalling 13No deployment 8Brake failure 6Seat belt 6Fuel pump 5
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
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
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
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 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
- Front camera operation logic improvement (SA449)
- Pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- TSB - use of aftermarket USB charging cables in USB/12V ports
- Kia: all models. article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear...
- Fuel pump relays & emissions failures
- Information regarding ABS system vendor change
- This bulletin provides information on a change to the sportage 4WD hub seals
2001 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 | 16-18 | 20-21 | 17-19 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 16-18 | 20-21 | 17-19 |
What 2001 Kia Sportage owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Bought this vehicle with only 11k miles from an elderly couple that hardly drove it. Now at 21k miles, there is a gas smell coming inside the vehicle and also outside of the vehicle. Has a rough idle and gas spews out of tank while I'm pumping gas. The front passenger tire sounds like it's about to fall off. Had to replace spark plugs twice already. Also, the driverside seatbelt will not retract. I bought this vehicle with only 11k miles thinking it will last for awhile, but I've had so many issues with it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia sportage. While driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle begin to shake, the brake warning indicator illuminated, and the brakes failed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the frame was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/12/16*lj ;updated VIN invalid 4/25/18*jb
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia sportage. While driving at various speeds, fuel fumes emitted into the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that fuel was leaking from the top of the fuel tank and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Just purchased this car for my teen...when filling gas tank it begins to spew out onto him . Are the person filling the tank.also a bad smell of fumes inside of car,,,,please help the problem....
The rear part of the frame just behind the rear suspension rusts from water thrown up by the tires. While this might not normally be a danger unless you were towing, on this model it's where the frame connects to the wheels below to stabilize the frame over the suspension, without this support it releases the back suspension and allows the car to easily rock back and forth into the wheels. I could see shiny spots on the shocks from tire rub where the paint was rubbed off, no current sign of tire damage. I feel this could cause an accident because the shocks, springs or other metal body or frame part could wear or possibly if sharp puncture a tire on either side when cornering. This problem can easily be seen by swinging the spare tire out of it's closed position to open the tailgate, when the tire reaches the end of it's arm the whole back end of the vehicle will move over, the rusted frame below will bend.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel, which created fumes in and around the vehicle. The contact located the leak under the fuel tank on the passenger side of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated due to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Just purchased this vehicle from a private owner, they smelled an odor of fuel ever since they acquired the vehicle a month ago. Prior to that it was owned by one owner and garage kept. The fuel tank and bottom protector was rotted away and in dangerous leaking condition. Kia was contacted and they said there were no recall and they wouldn't repair the vehicle. The rot in this tank didn't happen overnight, but it was so severe that it warrants a look from the federal safety agency into this. A manufacturer such as kia should not be able to sell an inferior safety hazard to the citizens of the USA. There were investigations into this problem a full 7 years ago and nothing was done. This is an insult to people concerned with motoring safety, we should expect better from both the manufacturer and government agencies such as this one. It's not a mileage issue, the 1999/2000 sportages were rusting out with only a few years of service and it is due to inferior materials that should be covered by a manufacturer that uses them.
The car keeps stalling just quits when I slow down. I had two mechanics check it out. Filled the tank with new gas, and nothing showed up on the electrical check. It is a mystery why this keeps happening. I am worried that this might happen on a major highway. And I don't want to sell the car and give someone else this problem.
I just tried to get my kia sportage inspected and was told by two different places the frame is rusted right out and I shouldn't even be driving it. I just looked online about the problem and there are alot of complaints and feel there should be a recall to fix the problem. The car is fine otherwise. If there is no recall I am going to be without a vehicle now because I cant afford another one.
Compare the 2001 Kia Sportage
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2001 Kia Sportage
Is the 2001 Kia Sportage reliable?
Owners have filed 228 complaints about the 2001 Kia Sportage, 1.7 times a typical Sportage model year.
What is the 2001 Kia Sportage year score?
The 2001 Kia Sportage scores 54 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Sportage: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Kia Sportage?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 62 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles. Next is engine (46).
How many recalls does the 2001 Kia Sportage have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Kia Sportage have the most fuel system problems?
The Kia Sportage model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2000 (90 complaints), 2002 (67 complaints) and 2001 (62 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2001 Kia Sportage get?
Official estimates for the 2001 Kia Sportage range from 17 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 16-18 city and 20-21 highway.
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