MYRModel Year Report

1998 Kia Sportage

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1998 Kia Sportage
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Kia Sportage Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1998 highlighted. 1995: 56 complaints 1995 1996: 57 complaints 1997: 181 complaints 1998: 303 complaints 1998 1999: 284 complaints 1999 2000: 304 complaints 2001: 228 complaints 2002: 234 complaints 2003: 4 complaints 2003 2005: 68 complaints 2006: 111 complaints 2007: 77 complaints 2008: 98 complaints 2008 2009: 80 complaints 2010: 20 complaints 2011: 181 complaints 2012: 392 complaints 2012 2013: 380 complaints 2014: 122 complaints 2015: 146 complaints 2016: 130 complaints 2016 2017: 394 complaints 2018: 158 complaints 2019: 68 complaints 2020: 153 complaints 2020 2021: 46 complaints 2022: 42 complaints 2023: 182 complaints 2024: 64 complaints 2024 2025: 49 complaints 2026: 19 complaints 2026
1998: 303 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
199556
199657
1997181
1998303
1999284
2000304
2001228
2002234
20034
200568
2006111
200777
200898
200980
201020
2011181
2012392
2013380
2014122
2015146
2016130
2017394
2018158
201968
2020153
202146
202242
2023182
202464
202549
202619

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 15%

15% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 46 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7%

7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 21 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE
POWER TRAIN 6%

6% of complaints: power train — 18 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%

5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 15 distinct reports on file.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 5%

5% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 15 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 1998 — complaint volume: 303
R 19981019 — service brakes, hydraulic

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITHOUT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING.

Campaign 98V222000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19990506 — PE (closed 19991021)

WINDSHIELD WIPER

I 20000113 — PE (closed 20000629)

TURN SIGNAL, TRAFFIC SAFETY HAZARD

R 20000125 — electrical system

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.

Campaign 99V325000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20000629 — EA (closed 20020729)

TURN SIGHAL

I 20020617 — PE (closed 20020920)

SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION

I 20021018 — RQ (closed 20030902)

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

R 20021220 — seat belts

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD

Campaign 02V216000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060509 — EA (closed 20071130)

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1998 Kia Sportage — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (46 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes, hydraulic issues (21 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (18 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 98V222000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 99V325000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 02V216000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 2021 ▲ 2025

WORST YEARS

■ 2017 ■ 2012 ■ 2013

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1998 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Kia Sportage is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Kia Sportage?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, accounting for 15% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1998 Kia Sportage have?

5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.