There are 5 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2001 Kia Sportagein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE THROTTLE CABLE FELL OFF CAUSING LOST OF ACCELERATION. MR
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.*AK
THROTTLE OPENED UP COMPLETEY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED.*AK 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. *SLC
AFTER DRIVING FOR SOME TIME AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING. CONSUMER WILL STEP ON GAS PEDAL, BUT VEHICLE WILL JUST DO NOTHING. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026