U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

303 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

70,838 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 154 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 33 of 303 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	77	25.4%
Braking behavior	53	17.5%
Electrical and battery issues	25	8.3%
Engine operation	17	5.6%
Transmission and shifting	11	3.6%
Steering behavior	10	3.3%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)

Structure:Frame And Members

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Gasoline	33
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	22
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	13
Electrical System	12
Fuel/Propulsion System	12
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)	12
Structure:Frame And Members	12
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	12

Fuel System, Gasoline: 33; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 22; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Electrical System: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 12; Structure:Frame And Members: 12; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 7

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 149 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2020

2000: 28; 2001: 35; 2002: 37; 2003: 44; 2004: 17; 2005: 19; 2006: 24; 2007: 26; 2008: 11; 2009: 10; 2010: 16; 2011: 8; 2012: 11; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 77 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 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 10087087 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)

CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 41,412 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117731 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)

PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS ICING UP DURING THE COLD SEASONS ON 2000 KIA SPORTAGE.*MR AN AIR LEAK CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO ICE SHUT. THE ENGINE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE FUEL TANK, SENDER UNIT AND PRESSURE SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117731 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002811 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)

HAVE HAD VEHICLE IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE 9X IN 2 YRS. ONLY 20 K MILES ON CAR.(2000 KIA SPORTAGE). 13 TIMES TOTAL FOR SERVICE . REPLACED ROTORS 3X AND NOW HAVE PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP YORK CHRYSLER KIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE 3X. THEY TOLD US THEY NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. BUT IT HAPPENED 3X TO US. THE 4 WHEEEL DRIVE WENT OUT. THEY SAID IT HAPPENS SINCE THERE IS NO DIRT SHIELD ON THE LINKAGE. THEY INSTALLED A RETROFIT KIT TO PROTECT AGAINST THIS BUT ONLY DO IT IF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002811 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009213 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)

THE VEHICLE ONLY GOT 80 MILES TO A HALF TANK OF GAS, AND THE BRAKES COLLECTED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009213 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014424 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)

ALL POWER DOORS, WINDOWS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IN MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER INSPECTING ALL FUSES AND LIGHT BULBS, I BELIEVE BAD WIRING OR BAD CONNECTORS TO BE THE CULPRIT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 36,137 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014424 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024255 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT THE VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE WHOLE TIME PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIR DEPARTMENT DEEMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND HAD BECOME A TOTAL LOSS. (RECALL #00V205000) *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024255 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018178 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10027130 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL ,AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027130 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10014181 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)

MY 2002 KIA STARTED LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, I WENT TO KIAS REPAIR SHOP FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES IN THREE DIFFERENT STATES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME OF BEING IN THE SHOP THE ONE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A BENT OR DENTED DRIVE SHAFT, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR SIX MONTHS. AND I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING, TAKEN THE VEHICLE OFF ROAD OR RAN OVER ANYTHING TO DENT OR BEND THIS DRIVE SHAFT. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THIS WAS AN IMPACT PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,852 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014181 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068818 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

TRANSMISSION WENT OUTAND IT SHOULDN'T OF CAR IS ONLY 3YEARS OLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068818 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024696 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

SMOKE HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED FRICTION. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN TO THE GROUND. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A CORRODED CABLE WHICH LEAD TO THE ENGINE. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAG(S) WOULD DEPLOY. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024696 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030337 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)

I AM NOT SURE IF YOU CAN HELP ME BUT I FEEL THAT I NEED TO VENT IN REFERENCE TO KIA. I PURCHASED A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. AT THAT TIME THE WARRANTY WAS 3 YEARS OR 36000 MILES WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THAT I PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY ARE SAYING I DIDN'T. MY CARE ONLY HAS 30050 MILES. THE ISSUE IS THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD IN THEIR SERVICE SHOP AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR FOR SEVERAL PROBLEMS. NOW IT IS BACK IN FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR TWO PROBLEMS THAT THEY CLAIM HAD BEEN FIXED TWO…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,738 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030337 at NHTSA ↗