2001 Kia Sportage Complaint Log

I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT DEALER STARTED NOTICING A SMELL OF GAS THOUGH WAS. BECAUSE JUST PUT GAS IN .THEN WHEN TURNED ON HEAT SMELL WOULD GET WORSE ! A FEW DAYS AGO WENT TO FILL GAS AND A LOT GAS OVER.FILLED ONTO GROUND NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE SMELL GAS SO STRONG INSIDE CAR ITS. ACTUALLY UPSET MY STOMACH WHEN DRIVING THE. AT AND AFRAID GOING START FIRE ! ALSO LEAKAGE ON GROUND WHEN PARKED . I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM !! IT'S A 2001 KIA. ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT THINK SHOULD BE COVER. FROM COMPANY SINCE NOT ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM .

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES FROM AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT HARDLY DROVE IT. NOW AT 21K MILES, THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND GAS SPEWS OUT OF TANK WHILE I'M PUMPING GAS. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO FALL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS TWICE ALREADY. ALSO, THE DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES THINKING IT WILL LAST FOR AWHILE, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ ;UPDATED VIN INVALID 4/25/18*JB *TR

JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEEN...WHEN FILLING GAS TANK IT BEGINS TO SPEW OUT ONTO HIM . ARE THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK.ALSO A BAD SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE OF CAR,,,,PLEASE HELP THE PROBLEM....*JS

THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTS FROM WATER THROWN UP BY THE TIRES. WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT NORMALLY BE A DANGER UNLESS YOU WERE TOWING, ON THIS MODEL IT'S WHERE THE FRAME CONNECTS TO THE WHEELS BELOW TO STABILIZE THE FRAME OVER THE SUSPENSION, WITHOUT THIS SUPPORT IT RELEASES THE BACK SUSPENSION AND ALLOWS THE CAR TO EASILY ROCK BACK AND FORTH INTO THE WHEELS. I COULD SEE SHINY SPOTS ON THE SHOCKS FROM TIRE RUB WHERE THE PAINT WAS RUBBED OFF, NO CURRENT SIGN OF TIRE DAMAGE. I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SHOCKS, SPRINGS OR OTHER METAL BODY OR FRAME PART COULD WEAR OR POSSIBLY IF SHARP PUNCTURE A TIRE ON EITHER SIDE WHEN CORNERING. THIS PROBLEM CAN EASILY BE SEEN BY SWINGING THE SPARE TIRE OUT OF IT'S CLOSED POSITION TO OPEN THE TAILGATE, WHEN THE TIRE REACHES THE END OF IT'S ARM THE WHOLE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE OVER, THE RUSTED FRAME BELOW WILL BEND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH CREATED FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOCATED THE LEAK UNDER THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

THE CAR KEEPS STALLING JUST QUITS WHEN I SLOW DOWN. I HAD TWO MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT. FILLED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS, AND NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE ELECTRICAL CHECK. IT IS A MYSTERY WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR AND GIVE SOMEONE ELSE THIS PROBLEM.

JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, THEY SMELLED AN ODOR OF FUEL EVER SINCE THEY ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS OWNED BY ONE OWNER AND GARAGE KEPT. THE FUEL TANK AND BOTTOM PROTECTOR WAS ROTTED AWAY AND IN DANGEROUS LEAKING CONDITION. KIA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALL AND THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE ROT IN THIS TANK DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WARRANTS A LOOK FROM THE NHTSA INTO THIS. A MANUFACTURER SUCH AS KIA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL AN INFERIOR SAFETY HAZARD TO THE CITIZENS OF THE USA. THERE WERE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS PROBLEM A FULL 7 YEARS AGO AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS IS AN INSULT TO PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH MOTORING SAFETY, WE SHOULD EXPECT BETTER FROM BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THIS ONE. IT'S NOT A MILEAGE ISSUE, THE 1999/2000 SPORTAGES WERE RUSTING OUT WITH ONLY A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE AND IT IS DUE TO INFERIOR MATERIALS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER THAT USES THEM. *TR

I JUST TRIED TO GET MY KIA SPORTAGE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES THE FRAME IS RUSTED RIGHT OUT AND I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DRIVING IT. I JUST LOOKED ONLINE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS FINE OTHERWISE. IF THERE IS NO RECALL I AM GOING TO BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. *TR

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL GOING 30MPH, I REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP SOMETHING OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR( I WAS THE PASSENGER), WHEN I HEARD A SOUND LIKE BREAKING GLASS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD RUN OVER A GLASS OBJECT BUT WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK BACK THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I DID NOTICE THAT MY SEATBELT WAS NO LONGER RESTRAINING ME. THE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE KEPT ME SAFE, THE SEATBELT, HAD COME COMPLETELY OUT OF ITS COMPARTMENT. I KNOW THAT IF WE HAD BEEN IN A WRECK I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

I WAS HEARING A CLUNK EVERY TIME I STARTED GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AND GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO NOTICE THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER WAS TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. IT IS THE FRAME CROSSBAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME. THE AFFECTED FRAME CROSS MEMBER GOES UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK AND WOULD REQUIRE 2 DAYS LABOR TO FIX AT MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. TO REMOVE THE GAS TANK IS ONE PROJECT AND TO HAVE A NEW WELDED SUPPORT BAR IS ANOTHER PROJECT AND WILL COST ALOT TO FIX. I CALLED KIA FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS AND THEY SAID "OH ITS OUT OF WARRANTY" GOODLUCK WITH THAT!!! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 84,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC ROADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED HER THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE WIRES ARE MOUNTED CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DASH BOARD COMPONENTS ARE NOT READING/MOVING NEITHER IS THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND OVERDRIVE. I'VE LEARNED THROUGH BLOG POSTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES SIZE 205/75R15, DOT NUMBER U9ULC2T2811. A FRIEND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE TIRE SHREDDED INTO PIECES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY AS THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE HE INSTALLED A SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BRAND NEW AND RECENTLY PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 3,562. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,238. UPDATED 12/29/11 *BF UPDATED 03/16/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED A DIFFICULT TIME STEERING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRACK BAR, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE REAR AXLE, WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500. AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,600. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ UPDATED 01/10/12

STABILIZER CONNECTED TO THE CHASIS ROTTED FROM THE FRAME AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO FIND THIS OUT. CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN CURRENT CONDITION AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T GOING FAST AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. PEOPLE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO HAVE THIS CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE, WITH A FAULTY SENDING UNIT SEAL. THE SEAL LEAKED, CAUSING FUEL TO RUN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE TANK AND RUST A HOLE INTO THE TANK CAUSING A SECOND LEAK. THE SENDING UNIT AND THE PRESSURE REGULATOR AND THE GAS TANK ARE ALL SOLD SEPARATELY. THE SHIELD AROUND THE TANK CAUSES FLUID TO TRAP BETWEEN THE TANK AND THE SHIELD, WHICH IS WHERE IT RUSTED. THE SHIELD IS ANOTHER EXPENSE. KIA WILL HONOR NOTHING. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS. IT WILL COST AROUND $600-800 IN PARTS ALONE. *TR

AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK SHE NOTICED THE REAR OF THE SUV WAS SWAYING UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF MYSELF AND AN AUTO MECHANIC WE FOUND A CRACK IN THE RT REAR FRAME THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO PARK IT AND CONTACT KIA. TOLD BY KIA AS THIS CAR WAS NOW OVER 100,000 MILES THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE OR IT . WELL WE WELDED ON A FEW PIECES OF STEEL AND IT LASTED ONLY ANOTHER 3 MONTHS AND IT STARTED AGAIN THIS TIME WE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTED FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR TO THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGER THRU IT CAR IS NOW PARKED AND WONT BE DRIVEN AGAIN. KIA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS. I WENT TO THE BONE YARD TO SEE IF THEY HAD A FRAME AND THE 7 KIAS THAT I CHECKED ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IF I WERE YOU AND I OWNED A KIA I WOULD CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE I DROVE ANOTHER MILE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY KIA SPORTAGE ON 6/29/11 WITH 90000 MILES ON IT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I ALSO PURCHASED A ONE YEAR WARRANTY/10,000 MILES. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING MY CAR WOULD TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. FIRST TIME SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME HAD NOT CONTROL WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH NO STEERING. CAR STARTED BACK UP. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO WAY POSSIBLE OF THIS OCCURRING. I THEN DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND SAW THAT MANY OTHER KIA SPORTAGE OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PRINTED OUT THE INFORMATION FROM OTHER OWNERS AND BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP.THEY SAID MY BATTERY HOUSING WAS LOOSE AND THEY REPAIRED. A WEEK LATER MY CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. TOOK BAG TO KIA THEY THEN REPLACED MY BATTERY AND WIRES. NO PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR SAME ISSUE AGAIN. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. I CANT BELIEVE I HAVE YET TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THIS TIME MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW BATTERY AND WIRES AND THE HOLDER THAT THE BATTERY SITS ON BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOW 5/9/2013. TODAY MY CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LIVING IN NEW YORK AND NOW SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. I HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH THREE THERMOSTATS IN 6 MONTHS DUE TO DEFECTS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THE CAR NOT STARTING ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. *TR

AS IS IT HAPPENING WITH THE 2002, AND 2005 MODELS, MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE ALSO HAS PROBLEM WHEN I PUT GAS IN. WHEN I TRY TO FILL IT UP, IT SPITS THE GASOLINE OUT WITH SO MUCH FORCE IT GETS ALL OVER THE FLOOR AND IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, IT GETS ON YOU. THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT THE GASOLINE YOU PUT IN THE TANK GOES BACK OUT. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOLD ME THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE VALVE INSIDE THE TANK AND IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB. I CHECK BUT THERE ARE NO KIA RECALLS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME ENFORCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT AGAINST KIA SO THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THE OWNER'S HEALTH, BUT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIS POCKET TOO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED CAUSING A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED REPLACING AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPRINGS THAT HELD THE SEAT BELT IN PLACE FRACTURED ON TWO OCCASIONS. IN MARCH 2011, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SPRING FRACTURED AND WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COLLAPSED/BROKE AND WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER. THE CONSUMER STATED NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. UPDATED 02/29/12

MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT TOLD ME THE FRAME WAS ROTTED WERE THE STABILIZER CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS. HONDA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND RECALLED THE VEHICLE. *TR

FAULTY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK LEAKS GAS. *TR

WHEN PUMPING FUEL IT SPLASHES OUT, YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS VERY SLOW AND CONSTANTLY START AND STOP CAUSING TRIPLE THE TIME TO PUMP GAS THEN NORMAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT; HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

OUR 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAD A GAS SMELL. NOW WE NOTICED GAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. IT SEEMS TO STOP AT 1/4 FULL. WE BOUGHT IN BRAND NEW IN 2002. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUEL ABNORMALLY FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

1 2001 KIA SPORTAGE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. DRY PAVEMENT. REAR OF VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE NOTICE CLUNKING SOUND INTERMITTENT 2. CHASSIS IS ROTTED EVERYTIME VEHICLE DRIVEN FAILURE OCCURS. TURNING CORNERS, ACCELERATING, OR IF BAGS OR LUGGAGE ARE LOADED IN REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SWAYS OR FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING ON VERY LOW TIRES IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE. 3.NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS IS COMPLETELY ROTTED ON BOTH CHASSIS RAILS, ALSO THE CROSS MEMBER THAT STABILIZES THE REAR OF THE CHASSIS IS SO ROTTED THERE IS A 5" OVAL HOLE THROUGH THE CROSS MEMBER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED LOOKS GREAT FROM THE TOP BUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU CAN LITERALLY POKE HOLES IN THE CHASSIS WITH A SCREWDRIVER. MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION : UNFIT/UNSAFE FOR TRAVEL ON PUBLIC ROADS. VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY SITTING IN YARD UNDRIVABLE. I HAVE PICS OF THE ROT TO SEND TO NHTSA IF THIS WILL HELP GET INVESTIGATION STARTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL CLUNK AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES YET THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL MUCH FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WHEN THE PART FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE, IT STRUCK THE BRAKE LINE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR PARTIAL REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

FUEL ODOR ,FOUND GAS LEAKS FROM CORRODED GAS TANK, CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS,TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER , CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTIES BUT KIA PAID TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK, I WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS KIA SPORTAGE 2001 , THE TANK SHIELD UNDER THE TANK COLLECTED THE SALT FROM THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER AND SIT THERE BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND THE TANK CAUSING EXCESSIVE CORROSION,I WAS PLEASED WITH KIA ACTION TO PAY FULLY FOR THE TANK. *TR

USED CAR DEALER SOLD A CAR WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON 7/3/10. JULY 5, 2010, THEY FIXED THE BACK 2 WINDOWS CAUSING CAR ALARM TO GO OFF WHEN YOU GET IN AND WHEN YOU GET OUT, THEY DISABLED THE CAR ALARM NOW CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, THE DOOR DON'T SOUND WHEN YOU OPEN IT, THE LOCKS DON'T WORK THE WAY THEY SHOULD, DOOM LIGHT DON'T WORK SEAT BELT DON'T SOUND TO REMIND YOU TO PUT THEM ON. SHOULD YOU DRIVE A VEHICLE WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR POWER WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOWS AND IN THE PROCESS, THE SECURITY ALARM INDEPENDENTLY SOUNDED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ALARM AND THEN DISCONNECTED THE FUSE. THE DEALER ALSO DISCONNECTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AND SEAT BELT ALARMS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DOOR LOCK ALSO WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER ADVISED HE WOULD NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE UNSAFE NATURE OF THE MANY FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,500.

GAS TANK LEAK. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW BUT NO HELP FROM KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISH TAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETECTED THE MAIN FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION NEAR THE FUEL TANK AREA. ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MAIN FRAME WAS ULTRA THIN AND DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 137,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

FUEL TANK LEAKING, STRONG FUMES INSIDE CABIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A CRACK FORMED IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE STABILIZER BAR DISCONNECTED FROM THE RIGHT BALL JOINT WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH; AT THAT POINT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED BUT NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,600. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,500. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ

THE WHOLE UNDERBODY OF A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE IS RUSTING OUT , ESPECIALLY AROUND THE GAS TANK. *TR

PURCHASED A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH 55200 MILES. WENT TO KIA DEALER BECAUSE OF FUEL LEAK. TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT IF I HIT A POT HOLE THAT THE REAR END COULD LET GO. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT FROM 1995 TO 2001 KIA USED LOW GRADE MATERIAL ON THE FRAMES OF THEIR VEHICLES AND POSSIBLY DID NOT COAT THEM. HE TOLD ME WHEN HE PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT THAT THERE WAS PIECES OF THE FRAME DROPPING ON THE GROUND. HE SAID HE SLIGHTLY TAPPED A HAMMER AGAINST THE FRAME AND IT MADE HOLES. HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD JUNK THE VEHICLE AND GAVE ME PAPERWORK STATING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ALSO HAD SPOKEN TO THE OWNER OF A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA PRIOR TO THIS AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT SELL THE 1999 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HE PURCHASED AT AUCTION WITH APPROX. 73,000 DUE TO THE FRAME ROTTING OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IF I HAD NOT HAD THAT FUEL LEAK. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW KIA COULD PRODUCE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. LOWER QUALITY COSMETICS ARE ONE THING BUT A FRAME ON A VEHICLE IS ANOTHER. *TR

GAS TANK IS LEAKING WHEN TANK IS FILLED FULL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AND CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS LEAKING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FAILING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AND PLAY AROUND WITH THE FUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS RE-ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

POLYPROPYLENE COOLING FAN BLADE BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE FAN PROCEEDED TO PUNCTURE MY RADIATOR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO WRECK SINCE IT OVER HEATED AND SHUT OFF AND I HAD NO CONTROL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE PURCHASED ON AUGUST 25, 2009. THERE WAS A NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED BY A PIPE THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT CONTINUED TO LEAK WATER FROM THE VENTS AND ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS ALLERGY IN THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,200.

MY 2001 KIA SPORTAGE SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME RECALL DEFECT AS THE 2001-2004 OPTIMA. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS JUST DECLARED UNFIXABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS THE SECOND ONE HE SAW TODAY, SAME MODEL/YEAR. *TR