6.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,833 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Kia Sportage:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Feb 282005

Sportage 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles
The contact stated engine light illuminated intermittently and the RPM gauge was reading incorrectly, either very high or not reading at all when the same amount of pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal. Also, the exhaust was glowing red underneath the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership eight times, and they have been unable to diagnosis the problem.

- Byesville, OH, USA

problem #5

Jul 012003

Sportage 4WD 4-cyl

  • 37,000 miles
I am having difficulty with my 2001 manual Kia Sportage convertible. I first have trouble getting it started in the morning. After I get it started and drive it a short while, the car cuts out on me. It doesn't stall, it cuts out and there is no gas when I step on the pedal. This has happen while shifting, while accelerating, while adjusting my speed. After it cuts out, I then have difficulty getting it started again. Sometimes I have to step on the clutch and gas pedal for the car rpms to catch. And then the car may then cut out again. I have taken it to the service department, but they could not find the problem. The problem has since gotten worse and I have been placed in dangerous situations in moving traffic.

- Weehawken, NJ, USA

problem #4

Jul 012001

Sportage

  • miles
The steering wheel is peeling, I have had it replaced but the new one is doing the same thing. The window strips are all twisted up and make a roaring sound when I drive. I have had them replaced but they still roar. The dash rattles, but they didn't fix it. The rear windows do not roll down. The radio has static most of the time. It doesn't seem to want to go when I accelerate. It kind of sputters and then goes. The bands squeal bad. They have been replaced but they still squeal.

- Jasper, GA, USA

problem #3

Jan 192002

Sportage

  • miles
Speedometer malfuctioned/jumped at approx. 30mph to 40 mph then back down to 20 took back 3X. SUV shimmied at 60+ mph 3X's took back to dealer dealer replaced tires, electric back windows 3X's to dealer replaced twice, wiring assy-engine, coil ignition, conv. Assy-cat. Replaced (may have caused speedometer, windows etc to operate improperly. R/R main wire harness, R/R both cat convertors, R/R coil and spark plugs, repaired fuel injector wire harness. Vehicle idled at high RPM (SUV power surged to 80 mph, the slowest I could get the vehicle to go was 40mph and had to use the emergency brake. (throttle cable in wrong poss. At this time transmission is still slipping vehicle at dealership plus I am going through the lemon law and bbautoline. This is the 10 day limit. Kia has not been very hospitable about this situation, I do not feel safe in their vehicle.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #2

Jan 292002

Sportage

  • miles
While driving 40mph vehicle kept accelerating on its own. Applied brakes, but brakes would not stop vehicle.had to use emergency brake to stop vehicle. Dealer contacted.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 242001

Sportage

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Throttle opened up completey while driving. Dealer has been contatced. A piece of plastic that should have been removed from the factory and was not, got wedged under the throttle cable and stuck the throttle wide open.

- Pawling, NY, USA