The contact owns a 1999 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted strong fuel fumes on the exterior and the interior. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a manufacturer's recall and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact also stated that the timing belt failed three times and was replaced by a mechanic. The drive train failed once and was replaced by a mechanic. The crank shaft was also replaced once. The contact also was experiencing a transmission failure in which the gears slipped randomly and were slow to change over. The vehicle was taken to the dealer more than three times and they were not able to remedy the failure. The contact replaced the seals due to the transmission failure. The fuel leak continued and was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The failure mileage was 333,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

I purchased my Kia used, from a dealer, less than a year ago, and it passed the electronic systems check for vehicle inspection. I immediately had to have dealer replace the gasoline tank after smelling gasoline. This car is used solely for light usage to Transport myself and my children to and from dr's and grocery stores. After owning the car for less than two months, check engine light came on, reporting issue with catalyst. Found a recall on this issue and am trying to get original dealer to fix. Now experiencing loss of power to engage inclines or hills, causing a hazard to other drivers. Also back brakes simply "blew"! without any forewarning, with my children in the car, I lost all braking abilities. Thank goodness I was not going fast and have a standard to quickly downshift. My mother was killed due to loss of brakes, and it was an absolute panicking situation for me emotionally. Being a single mother I rely on mechanics to do all my work, and I had just had all my fuel levels topped off and my pads checked, without any issue found. I have also had an intermittent issue with the front seat belts remaining engaged. The dealer warranty expired and I am stuck with recalls nobody seems to want to fix!

- Penn Yan, NY, USA

This Kia was purchased new and is a one owner car. It has had 2 master cylinders, and 4 sets of brake pads. The car currently has 50,000 miles on it. The car slides to the right on wet roads and does not stop until it hits something or slows to a stop. I have slid 2 times, rear ended someone the 3rd, and my son hit a light pole. The other times the brakes may or may not work. The problem is worse during rainy weather. The brakes go to the floor and the car does not stop. At times the brakes vibrate. This car has had a new cloth top, new air conditioning 2X, 5 catalytic converters, new carpet from the air leaking and molding, new seat covers as they ripped, new brakes, rotors, pads several items I have lost count, the check engine light comes on, the car has been re-wired, at times the car won't accelerate if the air conditioner is on. Last night the highway patrol office wanted to know why I would endanger my son's life in a car that won't stop or slides. That is a good question. Why are any of these models still on the highway when there are so many things wrong with them. In looking at the complaints there were many that dealt with the brakes. At this point is there any recourse with the car? I don't feel that I can sell it outright honestly and put someones life in danger. The highway patrol officer made me feel like a neglectful parent by even letting my son drive the car. We even parked it for 6 months trying to decide what to do with the car. My son's car was in the repair shop, so he took the Kia. I feel that the car is a death trap.

- Palmetto, FL, USA

: the contact stated the vehicle stalls at various speeds and intermittently will not start. After sitting for a while the vehicle will restart. The dealership has been informed. There are no lights illuminated on the dash prior to the vehicle stalling. The temperature gauge was acting erratic. The power steering belt was replaced. Updated 09/13/06.

- Garland, TX, USA

The vehicle takes about twenty minutes to start, it will turn over. The vehicle will stall in the middle of the road, and it will shake right before stalling.. found recall 99V325000 for the electrical system wiring but Kia said my vehicle not included in the recall due to VIN. Took vehicle to two mechanic shops, and they could not find what was wrong with it. This started on April 15, 2005.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

Vehicle does not want to start, however, the radio and power windows are still working so it is not a battery issue. Once the vehicle did start it would die when you started up from a stop at a traffic light and/or sometimes would simply die when put your foot on the gas pedal. I took it to a shop and they indicated it was a fuel pump issue. The following day after the fuel pump was repaired the vehicle did the same thing. The shop then indicating there had been a wiring recall so they changed out the wiring harness. Two days later the vehicle almost died on the way to the airport, it would shake violently when idling and there was very limited power when I was attempting to accelerate. The shop looked at it again and the air manifest indicator came on so they cleaned out the air flow. Two days later it was still doing the same thing. The shop then indicating that their sensor indicated a different part of the system was failing. The shop contacted a Kia facilitated and was told it sounded like a computer issue, however, even if the computer was changed out, it could be a sensor issue and the vehicle would continue to die when I was driving in traffic and/or pulling from a stop. A vehicle that dies is a huge safety issue, and it does not sound like it can be easily fixed and/or Kia does not want to do the work.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

While driving vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, but was unable to do so. Consumer contacted the manufacturer. Dealer informed consumer that this was not a recall pertaining to the information obtained from all data 2cmp01C1. The consumer's vehicle exhibited all the symptoms of the Kia recall 99V-32000. The consumer believes her vehicle's VIN should have been included in the stalling recall.

- Zuni, VA, USA

Headlights randomly short out. A few months after I got the car. I brought the car back to dealership 3 times before the headlights would stay on. Things were ok for a while but on 02/06/04 headlights shorted out again. 02/07/04 headlights were back on. 02/09/04 headlights out. Brought car in to be serviced, and car was fixed. 02/12/04 headlights out again. Brought car to dealership 02/13/04. On 02/14/04 car was fixed. Headlights stay on. Very happy...at least for a week. 02/21/04 headlights out. Am afraid of car.

- Hull, MA, USA

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 research. Have asked for my money back, down pmt $2000 and trade in of $200, as my experience with the dealership has been more than unpleasant. I recieved "a slap in the face" offer which would have cost me $ 5000 a penalty for purchasing a vehicle only 2 months previous. Was not an as is sale, and I did purchase an extended warranty with deductible. In my book this type of business practice should be outlawed.

- Spanaway, WA, USA

Consumer having problems with alternator, wire harness and spark plugs.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Starter and battery failure, cigarette lighter inoperable due to faulty fuse.

- Salamanca, NY, USA

While driving heard a noise, then steering was very hard to turn, and brakes went to the floor. Consumer had to use transmission to slow vehicledown. 4 wheel drive failed. Wife of this vehicle's owner also has exact same vehicle, VIN [xxx] with 4 wheel drive failure, also consumer experienced power window failure and has experienced electrical problems ever since. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- E. Stroudsburg, PA, USA

Engine check light keptcoming on while driving. Taken vehicle to dealership & mechanic repaired it each time. Engine check light would come on again. Finally was informed the electrical system was the problem & no corrective solution was found.

- E. Palo Alto, CA, USA

A short in the electical system caused the battery to go dead and other electrical component failure.

- Uniondale, NY, USA