1999 Kia Sportage 2dr EX from North America - Comments

I own a 2005 Kia Sportage. I think it's great on gas but that's about it. I started having minor problems with it after a year such as replacing the blower motor, replacing the rear wiper motor (which still only works sporadically), cruise control not working, etc. In 2007, the front axle shaft (?) broke... found out the service at the Kia dealership is terrible, saying they have the parts, going in and parts are now missing. In December (2008) after starting the vehicle, this red fluid starts pouring out behind the front driver wheel, yup it was the steering fluid and now my husband just came in to tell me that the radiator fluid has all leaked out because there is a puddle of green fluid under my vehicle. Arghhh, it never ends! I will never buy another Kia...

I have a Kia Sportage 2000 Manual 4X4.

I start it in the morning, it will run about 6 klms, then the engine will cut out. It won't start for about 3 min, then when it does it will go for about 500 meters then cut out. If I leave it for 10 minute, it will run about 5 klms again, then start doing the same thing.

I have replaced the crank angle sensor "Fault code", but still doing the same thing. Has anyone had this issue? Can anyone help? Thanks 0488085449.

I bought my 1999 Kia Sportage about 3 months ago. 110,000 miles. It starts first time every time, I get about 28mpg, but do mostly highway at 60mph. It's fairly quiet. Best part is I have no monthly payment.

I had new front brakes fitted for $75, main engine seal replaced for $175... etc. The problems I have are - the engine light comes on whenever. If I open the fuel cap and put it back on, after 2 miles the lights goes off! There's a (faint) rattling sound from the engine but its drives OK.

I think it's an OK little car if driven carefully. Its been windy here and it's been OK on the road. I wouldn't let my daughter drive this though. I'm saving for a new car... maybe a Kia Soul as they get great reviews.

Man I wish I had read the reviews before I bought my 1999 Kia Sportage 2 dr automatic 2 WD.

I paid 1,600.00, and going in I knew I would need a few things. Well lets see what a few things are.

A set of new tires, new brakes all around, two new rotors, 2 new drums, 10 new lug nuts/studs.

New top, set of new seatbelts for front seats, new timing belt, new water pump, new radiator, new alternator, new battery, new blower motor, new front grill clips.

2 new headlight bulbs, new muffler and tail pipe, new air cleaner, new air cleaner box, new air temperature sensor, new mass air flow sensor and new oil and filter change, and 2 new door dome/beeper switches (so the interior light comes on when ya open the door).

And still the hold light flashes, the check engine light remains on and the air bag light is flashing a knee air bag code. Using my code reader it says I need a turbine speed input sensor (for the transmission).

I'm getting 19.6 miles to the gallon on the hwy, and don't ever think of driving this in the city; a hummer would get better mileage.

I call the dealer and he says well you don't have the 30 thousand dollar code tester we have, so bring it in and we will read the codes for ya. (that's 99 bucks) and OMG would you believe my 87 dollar code reader said the same thing.

As for the air bag light, well he says I probably need a new kneebag (YA THINK, You don't say... REALLY???) and by changing that the check engine light may go out. But then I still need to change the speed sensor; that will no doubt fix the hold light problem. However they may have to do more diagnostics to know for sure and that is billed hourly.

Then he said... ya readyfor this??? "PERHAPS YOU SHOULD JUST BUY A NEW KIA". I looked him straight in the face and said "I would rather put a gun to my head and squeeze the trigger than buy another KIA. Are you out of yer ever living mind???" And I left in exactly the same place I was before I went there; only 106.00 more wasted on the piece of dung it has turned out to be.

I have a 2000 Kia Sportage. Been nothing but problems.

A year or more ago, I had a timing belt break. Took it in and replaced.

Then a couple months ago, a clanking noise in the timing case. Water pump and tension rod replaced. After I left, loss of power.

A couple of days later, problems started. Changed fuel pump, coils, wires, spark plugs.

Oh yeah, when I got it back from the mechanic for the water pump, all the belts came off, they put them back on. It has not ran in months. It starts, but try and take off and it dies and won't start back up. Look under the hood and 1 of the belts is shredded to heck, the crankshaft pulley is wobbling. Crankshaft? I've put $1200. into it in the last 6 months and it won't run.

Don't BUY A KIA!!!

2002 Kia Sportage.

Dealer would not fix front wheel drive hubs on warranty. Went to another dealer, he said he would reseal vacuum hubs for $600.00.

I said what about the warranty on two year old vehicle with 18,000 kilometers on it. He said he did not think Kia would pay the warranty bill.

The second dealer did a service check that required the rear drums to be removed for a brake lining inspection. The next day the brakes jammed up on my wife, then started to grind. Took it back and they replaced the brake shoes. Within two days the brakes started to grind again. Took it back and I watched when they took drums off; LH rear OK, RH rear drum ground up and shoes destroyed. Adjuster parts were in the drum. I asked them to have a journeyman mechanic repair the brakes, not an apprentice. After that the brakes were OK.

I am ordering worn hubs to fix the 4 wheel drive problem, and no longer answer any mail from KIA asking me to come in and see their new models and see their service centre.