1998 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
207 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 207 complaints (15.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 17.9% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 16.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.9% |
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 | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 32; Unknown Or Other: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Electrical System: 9; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 8
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 173 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 | 61 |
| 2001 | 63 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 61; 2001: 63; 2002: 23; 2003: 26; 2004: 10; 2005: 5; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 34 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 21 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001701 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
DUE TO A DEFECT THE HEATER VENTS BLOW EXTREMELY HOT AIR THAT SMOKE COME THOUGH THE VENTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002439 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NO ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER WHO INSTALLED SOME TYPE OF CHILD SAFETY DEVICE UNDER THE CLUTCH. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003480 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
ON GOING PROBLEM WITH A "CHECK LIGHT" WITH THE 1998 SPORTAGE KIA. WENT TO MECHANICS AT PONTIAC AND MARTIN MAZDA (WHEN THEY TOOK OVER) AND ALL THEY DID WAS UNPLUG THE BATTERY AND PUT IT BACK IN AGAIN. THE CHECK LIGHT COME BACK ON A DAY OR TWO LATER. THEY NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. MY FEELING IS THERE WAS A CONSPIRACY BY MARTIN MAZDA AND NUCAR PONTIAC TO DELAY ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. BEING THAT MY CAR WAS REGISTERED FOR THREE YEARS, THE STATE OF DELAWARE WOULDN'T CATCH IT ON THE INSPECTION REPORT. I WENT FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED BECAU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004256 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. ON JUNE 2002, DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE, SEVEN MONTHS LATER PROBLEM IS RECURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006445 · 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH DOES NOT HOLD, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO POP OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****743827
Owner-reported narrative. 19,176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006912 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT HOLD WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007259 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AT HIGH SPEEDS, AND WHEN IN IDLE OR DRIVE.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007752 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
1998 KIA SPORTAGE. FAILLURE TO CRANK. AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. HARD TO CRANK. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT IT'S DOING THE SAME THING. REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,459 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007752 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V216000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2002-08-16 (August 16, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V222000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1998-09-15 (September 15, 1998)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V325000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 1999-11-19 (November 19, 1999)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗