1999 Kia Sportage review from North America
"Stay away... buy a bicycle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rusted out exhaust.
Brakes went bad shortly after purchase. Have replaced and still make noise.
Aluminum rims tarnished and rust.
CD player skips on occasion.
Window seals leaked. Had them replaced. Leaked again. One window doesn't fully close.
Uneven tire wear.
Cheap paint job.
False top is constantly coming undone.
Uses coolant constantly.
Has had 5 factory recalls! Needs a few more.
General comments?
There is a reason these things come with a 100000 mile warranty. The piece of crap has been in the shop more than on the road. The brakes are the worst. I've had them checked several times. Noisy and extreme brake dust makes the rims look black always. I was told by the dealer that Kia's just "do that". Needs to be recalled, but hasn't yet. Would like to trade it in, but Kia's have NO resale/trade-in value with good reason. Now I have to drive this thing until the wheels fall off... which should be next week.
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| 1998 - Sportage Extended warranty A poorly-built car, even for the low price tag |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 4 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 25 miles |
| Most recent distance | 45000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Lumina |
| Date of Entry | 11th September, 2002 |