2000 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 154 complaints include usable failure mileage.
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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10003567 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
THE SEATBELT ON MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE ON THE DRIVERSIDE ALWAYS OPENS. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS EVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I DO NOT TRUST THE SAFTEY BELT WILL HOLD ME IF I EVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WEIGH ONLY 125 LBS.*EA04007*
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007706 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
KIA SPORTAGE WAS MAKING A METAL ON METAL BANGING SOUND INTERMITTENTLY WHILE NORMAL OPERTION IN 2 WHEEEL DRIVE. KIA DEALER FOUND ONE FRONT WHEEL HUB AND VACUMM LINE WERE LOCKED TO ENGAGE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. HUBS AND LINE WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THERE IS A NATIONAL STOCK OUTAGE ON UPDATE KIT FOR A RECALL BY KIA. ALREADY HAVE WAITED 3 WEEKS FOR PARTS. CAN NOT GET INFORMATION FROM KIA ON WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS ALSO ON WAITING LIST FOR PARTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT BRENNER DEALERSHIP IN HARRISBURG, PA. CAN NOT USE 4 WHEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,493 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007891 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE 4WD OF MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED WORKING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL AFTER I HAD BEEN IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHEREAS THE 4WD WAS NEEDED SUCH AS SNOW AND ICE. ONE ONCE OCCASION I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT AND BECAME STUCK. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SUBMITTED FOR REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBSEQUENTLY INFORMED THE REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONED VACUUM LINE. THE REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED THREE TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY RETURNED THE VEHICLE AND DEMANDED A MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS THEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007891 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 10009357 · 2002-06-07 (June 7, 2002)
CHILD SEAT AT THE BACK SEAT CANNOT HOLD FIRMLY WITHOUT SWAYING TO THE SIDES WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762788
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010502 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)
EXHAUST HEATSHIELD, SILENCER AND TAILPIPE ROTTED. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 7,576 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010504 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)
EXHAUST LEAKS AT GASKET, WIRES SHORTING IN HARNESS TO ALTERNATOR BOTH FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 9,914 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010504 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V205000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2000-07-27 (July 27, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM WERE FOLLOWED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE RESULTING IMPROPER CONNECTIONS COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUPTURE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURES.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V305000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗