1997 Kia Sportage review from North America

The seat belts come undone when I am driving.

I have had to replace the starter. The starter is facing a weird angle, so I had to cut a hole in the floor so I could change the starter.

I had to replace both rear coil springs after one of them tipped over and broke my brake lines while I was driving.

I had to replace the entire brake line.

I had to replace the steering box.

I had to replace the master cylinder.

I had to replace the catalytic converter.

I had to replace the muffler twice within a year and a half of owning the car.

The wiring is screwed up and comes unhooked from the starter.

The seats are very uncomfortable for long drives.

I have to take the battery out to change the oil filter.

I am a poor college student who can't afford to keep fixing my car. I owned a Toyota Celica before I was forced to buy my Sportage. My Celica overall was a way better car than my Kia. The only reason I got rid of my Celica was because I smashed it into a ditch while trying to avoid a deer. So it was totaled.

I needed a car for school, and the Kia was for sale and in my price range. So I purchased it for 2400 and probably have spent at least 4000 in repairs in the last year and half since I bought the car.

I recently had new muffler put on, and the day after, it started making a new random noise. Save your money and time, and don't buy a Kia.

Though this car has been nothing but trouble, there are some good things about it. Four wheel drive in the winter through deep snow is a plus.

When there isn't anything wrong with the car (but there usually is) it drives nice.

I was T-boned, and the car that hit me barely left a mark on my car, which was amazing.