1998 Kia Sportage 4x4 2.0

Summary:

Low budget/high maintenance piece of crap

Faults:

The list of problems, known, reported, and otherwise is just huge. The most concerning is the need to re-tighten the front hubs continually. The dealer informed me that this "tightening" is a routine maintenance, and must be completed every 10,000 miles or so to prevent the wheel from falling off. As I change my own oil, I had no knowledge of the need to re-tighten the wheels, and guess what, "The wheel nearly fell off!".

Damage to nearly every component in the front hub assembly and brakes, axle splines, everything. What kind of car requires the wheels to be routinely tightened to prevent them from falling off!

Four wheel drive did not work for 2 years. 2 dealers were unable to diagnose. New 4x4 hubs replaced.

Steering replaced @ 2 weeks from new.

Electric mirrors both broken.

Bug shield snap on clips lost and bug shield rubbed off paint.

The tire rack on the back now droops and needs to be lifted to catch onto the hatch latch.

The rotors required replacement at 45,000 miles despite good brake pads.

The tire wore terribly uneven despite an alignment.

The radio picks up nothing, compared to other cars, it has horrible reception.

Except for these items, the vehicle is perfect.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th July, 2001

18th Aug 2001, 09:55

I too have a piece of crap Sportage and everyone that I get a chance to talk to says the same thing.

Always replacing the front brakes, is slow as you can get, and is no longer safe to drive.

The starter had to be changed and cat converter twice also. Transmission still doesn't shift right after bringing it back to the dealer many times.

Would never buy another KIA product every again!!!

30th Sep 2008, 08:26

We didn't get these kinds of problems with our Sportage.

Our radio works fine, except the CD changer that can't read anything.

And the fog light fell off that kinda sucked.

The brakes had a problem for a long time which gave low fuel economy but was fixed when the front brakes got replaced.

Only real problem now is the fuel economy and the paint looks like the mini SUV already experienced a car crash.

Other than that its awesome.

1998 Kia Sportage 2.0

Summary:

A great little SUV at a great price!!!

Faults:

Radiator replaced under warranty at around 30,000 miles.

Recalls on a wiring harness of some sort, and on the automatic hubs, dealer fixed and let us have a loaner!!!

Paint coming off of bumper in places, dealer said to have it done at a local body shop (we live 150 miles from him) and have it billed to him.

A vacuum line came loose in the 4WD, dealer fixed under warranty.

Wire came loose on starter at 40000 miles, I fixed.

General Comments:

Really a great little SUV, very dependable and Incredible Kia in Bilings Montana have been great to work with. It has been very dependable for me and I am very surprised how many bad reviews I have seen here.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th July, 2001

3rd Aug 2001, 18:22

You were lucky to get a good dealer. My dealer will not give us a loaner car, with all the problems we have had, they refuse to help us in any way. Sounds like you have had a few problems. You are so lucky. I am still paying on the piece of junk. Never again.

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1998 Kia Sportage 4X4 4 cylinder

Faults:

Power mirror cracked when adjusted, left turn signal relay, recall on hub seals, tachometer went out, service department was terrible because there are relatively few mechanics familiar with Kia.

General Comments:

If you are looking for an inexpensive SUV it's perfect, but if you want something that performs keep looking.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd October, 1999