1999 Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
260 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 260 complaints (14.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 47 | 18.1% |
| Braking behavior | 40 | 15.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 29 | 11.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 3.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 38 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 11 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 38; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Electrical System: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 189 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 76 |
| 2001 | 46 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 76; 2001: 46; 2002: 28; 2003: 22; 2004: 15; 2005: 15; 2006: 12; 2007: 9; 2008: 7; 2009: 7; 2010: 10; 2011: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 47 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 29 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016560 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)
I HAVE A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. ON 23 APRIL, 2003 I ACCELERATED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A "CLUNK" SOUND COMING FROM MY TRANSMISSION, MY VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND THE "HOLD" LIGHT AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE MOVING AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND AFTER CHECKING THINGS OUT IN A LOCAL PARKING LOT AND NOT SEEING ANYTHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET FIXED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042731 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES SITTING VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023681 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
KIA SPORTAGE 1999: BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP EVERY 15000 MILES, ROTORS EVERY 50,000. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038676 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
ECM NOT OPERABLE (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REOCCURRING AFTER SERVICE VISITS) GOING ON 8 VISIS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. 2 MISDIAGNOSIS , GAS CAP NOT TIGHT ENOUGH, FUEL CANISTER VALVE. PURCHASED USED 2 MONTHS AGO, PROBLEM OCCURRED 1 MONTH AFTER OWNERSHIP. HAVE WARRANTY WITH DEDUCTIBLE. HAVE RESEARCHED MAKE AND MODEL HISTORY AND FEAR THAT SAFETY IS A FACTOR. FIRST TIME OWNER OF A 4WD AND FEEL THAT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ROUGH TRAVEL EXPECTED FROM A 4WD IS SOMETHING IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE IN MY RESEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032492 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
1999 KIA SPORTAGE WIRING HARNESS, THROTTLE BODY POSITION, FUEL PUMP REPLACED, ETC.... NAR 07/28/2003.*MR *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050037 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION. FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023549 · 2003-06-22 (June 22, 2003)
99 KIA SPORTAGE SURGES WHEN STARTING AND IDLES SO ROUGH WHEN STOPPED THAT YOU THINK THE CAR WILL DIE, HAS DIED A FEW TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE TO REPAIR. ALL RECALL WORK WAS DONE, INCLUDING THE WIRING HARNESS FIX SC014, BUT THERE WAS NO SYMPTOM OF PROBLEM THEN. EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, AND CONTINUALLY FINDING PROBLEM WITH CAR. ALSO TAIL PIPE RECENTLY BROKE OFF HAD TO BE REPLACED. I NOW HAVE A SPREADSHEET OF THE PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS. WOULD LIKE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IF I KNEW WHAT IT WAS. HAD MASS AIR FLOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426954 · 2011-09-23 (September 23, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AND WHEN IT WOULD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10426954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044358 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH AN IMPACT WAS SUSTAINED AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH KNEE BOLSTERS UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094927 · 2004-10-04 (October 4, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED RED LIQUID ON DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT POWER STEERING HOSE RUSTED AND BROKE. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094927 at NHTSA ↗