21st May 2004, 13:37

This was truly an okay car all around except that the heater core went out with 60000 miles on it besides that it was a nice car.

24th Jan 2005, 17:15

The 1998 Kia Sportage is not worth the ink I signed the contract with.

Since we bought it two years ago, The shaft for 4 wheel drive has been replaced. The seals for the windows slip causing it to leak when it rains or whistle when you go above 45 mph. It does not go very good in the snow. It slips and slides all over the place. The heater core has been replaced. Now it is getting hot and over heated all of the time. Both mirrors have broken off this month due to the cold has made the plastic brittle. The check engine light will not ever go off. The plastic fake wood pops off when you hit a bump. All four hub covers have fallen off. The blower has quit. So you have no heat until it fully warms up. You have no brakes because the freeze up in the cold. You cannot drive it when it is cold out unless you wait 25 - 30 minutes for it to fully warm up.

This car is The worst!!And it is under 75000 miles! :O (

25th Feb 2005, 15:07

I'm so glad I came here first! I was just ready to get a 1998 KIA listed in the local paper. I was going to trade in my MORE than reliable 1999 Pontiac Sunfire, which I've never had to put any money into, just to get an inexpensive 4x4. But in after listening to you all, it seems it would be VERY expensive in the long run. Thanks!

18th Jun 2005, 06:59

To the above poster: Please have your attorney file an appeal. Then have him research the case of Cintron vs. Kia, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. This involved a 1996 Sportage that rolled over on the turnpike after taking evasive action. The vehicle rolled and even though the 19 year old girl was belted in, the roof collapsed and she was caught between the door and the asphalt. She died on the scene. Her mother was awarded millions in this case. I know the money won't restore your body, but it could make your life easier. Please continue your fight and I wish you the best of luck.

21st Nov 2005, 21:47

My 1998 Kia sportage now has 123,300 miles on it and doesn't use a drop of oil. I have driven the Baja with it as well as the interior of Mexico all the way to Guatamala. I live at 5000 feet in the Cascade mountain range of Oregon. I use the KIA to tow my boat and 6X6 Polaris. Both weigh in at about 1000 lbs. Thus far my only complaint has been with the 4 wheel drive. It has failed completely now. The second time. It doesn't like the snow.

3rd Mar 2006, 01:12

If your looking for a end all beat all 4X4, get a jeep Cherokee I have one and this is the first car I’ve ever had that I would actually buy another one. I’ve put almost 3 years and 40,000 miles on my jeep for $900!

Everyone told me a jeep was “nothing, but trouble”, WRONG!! When they tell me parts are expensive I always say “wouldn’t know, never needed any”!!

Don’t stray from a four cylinder either, that’s what I have!

Toyotas can’t even hold a candle to the reliability of this little jeep.

If your looking for Japanese quality, but want an American product buy a jeep Cherokee, you won’t be disappointed.

And a Kia is NOT a Jeep!!!

29th Sep 2007, 03:18

My KIA Sportage has done over 200,000 miles without ever going wrong. Other than normal service parts and consumables such as brake pads and tyres, I've never had to spend a single penny on it. Maybe the ones sold over here in the UK are built in a different factory to the US version, but I've got nothing, but praise for this little SUV.

My last car on the other hand was a Jeep Cherokee 4.0 ltd, which which developed a bad knocking noise from deep down in the bowels of the engine at just over 100k miles. At about the same time the exhaust started blowing, and the alternator packed up. The quote for the repairs was more than I paid for the car, so I scrapped it.

The Jeep and the KIA cost around the same to buy, by the way.

18th Feb 2009, 21:35

I have a 1999 KIA Sportage 4x4. Yes the 4 wheel drive didn't work, but I put a set of Warn hubs on it, it works fine. Cost about 120.00.