Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-50
My wife has a 2000 Kia sportage, 2WD. She bought it used in 2004. The car had 70,000 miles on it. Two months after she bought it, the muffler broke off, due to rust. Took it back to the dealer, they fixed it. Then the master cylinder had to be replaced because it was leaking. Then the check engine light kept coming on, took it back to the dealer, they couldn't quite figure out what ti was. First they replaced the fuel filter and reset the code. I drove the car and two hours later, the light came back on. Took it back 3X, needless to say it's 2007 and the light is still on.
My driver side power window doesn't work. The car's top speed now going uphill is a mere 35mph (Max). This car is more problem than it is worth. Now It needs a new Catalytic converter, It has two. Kia wants $550.00 for one and $999.00 for the other. You have got to be kidding me???
I owned a 1995 Kia Sportage 4WD. It treated me great because I kept up on normal maintenance. I mean the timing belt went out on it right after I bought it, which I was planning on replacing anyways, but besides that a great car. I went to Mexico and all along the west coast in my car, not to mention I put on about 60,000 miles on it in just a year commuting. It got me to where I wanted to go and back every time with no trouble, with the ease of 4x4 for my dirt desert roads to the jammed parking lot at the mall. I loved my Kia Sportage. I'm thinking of buying another one, newer this time around.
I bought my 2000 KIA 2wd Sportage convertible used in 2002. It had 27K on it with regular maintenance, & having kept that up religiously, I have had NO problems; normal wear & tear req brake pads. Otherwise I LOVE THIS CAR!
Last week I just bought Kia Sportage 4x4 MY2000 with 50,000 miles on it. I paid $3500 so I think I got a decent deal. So far so good. Just replaced rear window motor assembly, but that is a known problem with this model. I need to replace front windshield due to crack in it, but that was factored into the price that I paid for the vehicle. It is a 5 speed. I think I may have to replace brake pads and rotors soon since there is pulsating and a grinding noise. This vehicle is louder than a car and has the suspension of a truck, but I kind of like it. Time will tell though.
I lost My Two Daughters to a Kia on August 14th, 2007 I wish I could go into detail so that those of you that love the stupid things will wake up! There was No Way possible to Save Them it went up in flames 20 seconds or less! If the man that pulled me away didn't I wouldn't be here to warn all of you! Afterward I found out it was due to the "origional" muffler, and I had no warnings other than My Babies waking up and screaming! It had passed inspection two weeks prior yet I found out there was no heat shield on it and that is why I had no warnings! If you have "Little Ones" you might want to reconsider keeping them! Sincerely Heart Broken Mom, Melissa Johns In Loving Memory of My Daughters Izzybella (was only 18 months) and Sinaya (was only 3 weeks and a day)!
I was very saddened to read of the loss of two young lives in the previous comment. There is no excuse for poor work, but that seems to be were we are in this world now and it is costing us dearly. I too have a used Kia 97 4x4 and have been suspect of it's quality. I am reminded of the middle 70s and the Datsun and Fiat lines. Quick to make, quick to break. As of now the Kia will not idle smooth and there is no holding rpm between 1000 and 2000. It will drop to 800 or jump to 2500+. I am a fair mechanic, but this car is fighting me every step. Possibly it is the TPS and the IAC. Fuel injectors will be next. I will soon replace all unless someone has a idea.
I have a 1998 Kia sportage 4x4 I bought almost a year ago. the only problem I had with it was that the air conditioner didn't work come summer, but when I bought it the air did work oh well no biggie there. My air bag light came on after summer, but told it needs a new sensor cost more than it worth and for passenger side anyways. now it is Jan and I was having no problems until I left my home and left a light the truck dropped into 4L I can only go max 25mph and the check engine light has come on. I took it to auto zone to have the light tested and it says it is the camshaft position sensor, but my mechanic friend says it is my transfer case on my 4x4. I didn't pay much for it got a good deal so for the year I had it I did get my moneys worth out of it I put on over 13,000 miles in 10 months. I am just getting rid of it cause I am not going to keep replacing parts on it I can't afford to do that as I am a single mother. But I did like my truck if I knew I would not have any problems with one I would buy it again. I am just looking for a vehicle to get me from A to B now I will worry about another 4X4 Later A friend of mine has a 2007 Kia sportage and so far I haven't heard a bad word about the truck So maybe Kia did figure out their problems and fixed them.
Thank you to everyone who posted. I was considering purchasing a used 2002 KIA Sportage EX, and had my eye on a couple of them that were reasonably priced for the km's they had on them (I live in Ontario, Canada). I'm going to delay purchasing because of this thread! I once had leased a 2002 KIA Sportage not very long ago, and had to part with it for financial reasons. But during the time I had it, I did not: a) find my experience with the dealership from whom I bought it to be exceptional as to do business with them again; and b) I also experienced some common mechanical problems with mine that I read about in here. After careful consideration, I was going to go shopping for another used 2002 KIA Sportage, but I think that I've changed my mind. It's not worth the headache, and sounds like these vehicles will certainly empty my wallet very quickly!
CL
Toronto
I bought a 99 Kia Sportage convertible off the lot brand new with 90 miles on it. That was 9 years ago.
I have had some problems including the airbag light not going off, replaced the brakes, had a new timing belt, and recently a mass air flow sensor and a loose ground wire to the electric system that didn't let the car start at all.
I've been in accidents and had body work done on it, and the convertible top is coming apart at the seams literally, and with almost 140000 I still LOVE my Kia!!! Maybe it's just that it's a 99 and most of these were about 2000 models.
I bought a used 2000 Kia Sportage back in May of 2008. Since then I haven't had too many problems, except for the heat shield rattles very loudly and makes the car sound horrible.
Also, the car has no power; big diesel trucks drive on the highway next to our house, and when I pull out on to the highway the truck can be a mile away and I am scared it's going to hit me, because the car does not accelerate fast enough.
I really like Kia, my mom owns a Kia Sorento and it's awesome!!! But I am not having such a good time with my Kia.
Wish I would have taken a little bit more time to look around and see what was on the market!!!
My husband and I bought a 2000 Kia Sportage and we LOVE it! We have had the best luck with it all these years. Now it is 8 years old and it is just starting to give us problems. Not bad for an 8 yr old car! Our check engine light keeps going on which is a bit frustrating and we have had it looked at by a couple of mechanics and they can't seem to find the problem. So we are driving it until it won't drive anymore. We had a Kia Sephia and loved that car too. We had great luck with both cars and all we needed to do it get the oil changed!
I have a '99 Kia Sportage 2 door convertible that I purchased new. It's a northern truck, Maryland. This car has always been rock solid and fun to drive. The greatest number of problems that people have with these vehicles is that there are a number of dealers that are not giving competent service to their customers. As far as the 4 wheel drive, the stock automatic hubs are junk, this is not just a Kia problem, $130 Warn manual hubs and you will have traction like you would not believe. Simple enough to install yourself, just undo the allen bolts around the end pull it out put in the new... don't even have to jack up the truck. Repairs so far...1 starter 1 set of brakes 1 muffler 1 catalytic converter replaced on recall 1 timing belt and water pump 1 clutch 1 rear replaced under warranty and Kia just replaced my gas tank on recall 3 months ago. It sound like a lot until you relize this is over 9 years, I just ordered a new top, 9 years is fantastic for a top that has been on and off as much as this one. I don't have a lot of miles 55,000, but these are hard miles, I don't drive gentle and I've used this thing to haul a trailer to the dump and such, 3,700# of scrap metal one time. 9 years of abuse and love... one of the best vehicles I've ever owned in 38 years of driving. The only reason I would not buy a new sportage is that they made them automatic only.
Hi, my name is Bob from Malaysia.
Just bought a Kia Sportage 2000, in Malaysia they only have one model (hard top, 4 door,4X4, no airbags).
This past month I have changed the timing belt, water pump (necessary since I bought it second hand). It had done 93,000km when I got it.
Anyway, my problem is that the car won't start at times, the mechanic has had the immobilizer re-set with an computer; he says there's a chip in the key itself, the problem seems fixed, anyway, after reading your comments, all I can say is GOD HELP ME!!!
My daughter bought a 2000 KIA Sportage EX in May, 2008 with 70,000 miles on it. It ran very well until December, when the temperatures dropped very low. For the past 2 months it has failed to start right up, but takes turning the engine over and over and over. We have run the battery down at times. The mechanic had it for the past 6 weeks. After they repaired the TPS wiring, they said the computer indicated nothing wrong. They also checked the intake air controller. Then they tried a new crank sensor, and finally a new electronic fuel injector relay. Nothing solved the problem. They gave up and told me to pick the car up. I am going to try another mechanic, but I am afraid the comment by the last one might stand: there must be a gremlin in there.
For the last comment that was left on here. Put a block heater on the car. It's nothing wrong with the car... but when the weather is that cold, it won't start, any car won't, it's logic. Put a block heater on, plug it in, then no problems, it will start right up every time.