Faults:

Tiny small problems, less than 100 to fix! No big deal!

I even got my car off craigslist, and came to find out my car was crashed!!! And it's not even that messed up!

General Comments:

I love my car.

Small SUV, great on gas and amazing on trips.

4 wheel drive works great.

I'm a medical courier, driving all over the place, and my KIA still has never let me down.

This is a great car to own!!

Faults:

Within the first 3 weeks, I had to have the radiator, thermostat, and water hose replaced.

2 months later, the brakes, rotors, and brake fluid ejectors had to be replaced.

A week later, the front idler had to be replaced.

A few months later, the starter had to be replaced.

I have had the water hose replaced at least 4 times.

There have been at least 3 of the hoses replaced in the car multiple times.

The horn went out, even though I put in a new fuse.

There has been at least 3 separate leaks, and there is still one that the mechanic cannot seem to find.

The A/C does not work.

I WILL NEVER buy another Kia again!!

General Comments:

My parents bought this car for me as my first car for 1,500.00. I cannot wait until I have enough money to buy another car! I have put double the amount they paid for it in this car for nothing!!

Faults:

Have had this SUV since new. Have had the average number of setbacks with it, just like any other make. The vehicle is not really the problem; it is man-made and will have faults. If you don't have an honest mechanic, then you're just out of luck. I had one mechanic the first 4 years of ownership, and my Kia was just fine.

When he retired, I went to the dealer where I purchased the car and all hell broke loose since then (even though it was still under warranty). The gas tank leaked and it took them 2 weeks to fix the car. I had to get the fuel pump over-nighted to get the job done because they forgot to order it. The rear main seal leaked at 99,000 miles (still under warranty) and they refused to fix it. One month later, I got Kia Motors to OK the job under warranty. The dealer told me it needed a new engine twice. The first time, I gave it a tune-up and it ran great. I went to the dealer and gave them the ignition coil that was fried. They supposedly gave it a tune up 10 months prior. Well the car has run great since.

Now I have a P-Code (P1693) which pops up all the time. I went back to the dealer (yes, same one) and they said it needs a new engine... I walked out and am convinced that it's not the car, it's the mechanics and their knowledge. I still have the P-Code, but it runs great; 5 different mechanics and no same answer. Waiting to hear from Kia Motors as to how this can be fixed.

General Comments:

Car handles fine for a small truck. Unlike many of the other SUVs, you get a truck with the Sportage. Others are just raised-up luxury station wagons that sit on a car frame.

Faults:

Hmmm, let's see. So far, just this winter, the 4x4 mode did not work; not sure if it was bought like that. As I am a college student, my father bought it for me.

One snowing night, I shifted to 4x4, I think it was fine. Days after, my dad says not to shift it because it does not work, and has not been working (maybe I had the last run :/..)

Bad if the 4x4 does not work; the vehicle is light and high; bad handling.. The worst situation happened when driving on the highway; it was not snowing bad, and my father, sister and baby were in the car! The car literally did 360's all over the highway, even crossing lanes into opposite direction. Luckily no traffic was coming.

Muffler sounding.

Rims get dirty so quick; from the brakes I'm guessing.

General Comments:

Seats are alright; not the best to sleep in.

Windows, mostly in the back, sound like they are still open when fully closed at high speeds.

Cup holder is in a bad spot... right in front of the A/C. The drink will either melt or get a little cold, not to mention it's blocking your A/C.

People get surprised when told it's a 4 cylinder. Getting on highway can be a headache, as it's slow getting up to speed, especially on a hill... Best it has done on the highway hill is 65-70 top, with the pedal to the metal, almost killing itself to go faster with traffic going around me, although the fastest I've gone is about 105 in it.

Handling is bad especially when turning; can hear the tires rubbing for nothing.

Brakes are good, never had problems with them.

Gas... not sure, I seem to waste it like nothing, in even one day. My dad says it is good on gas, but only when he drives it...

Hate the exposure of the trunk, everything you have on your trunk can be seen like if it were in your front seats, assuming they aren't tinted.

I don't like the fact that I have to slam the trunk lid for it to close.

Other than all this, it has satisfied me as a vehicle to get me where I want to go, so it's not bad.

Speakers are great; I think they are loud. I would not have expected this from this little SUV.

Have not had any engine problems ever, or transmission shifting, other than the 4x4.