1999 Kia Sportage

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

1999 Kia Sportage
BUILT 2026-09-02

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

1999: 284 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1995	56
1996	57
1997	181
1998	303
1999	284
2000	304
2001	228
2002	234
2003	4
2005	68
2006	111
2007	77
2008	98
2009	80
2010	20
2011	181
2012	392
2013	380
2014	122
2015	146
2016	130
2017	399
2018	162
2019	69
2020	159
2021	50
2022	45
2023	186
2024	68
2025	49
2026	26

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 32%

32% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 90 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing gasoline and exhaust system.

CRASH INJURY

POWER TRAIN 21%

21% of complaints: power train — 61 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and column shift.

FIRE

SERVICE BRAKES 17%

17% of complaints: service brakes — 47 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH INJURY DEATH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%

15% of complaints: electrical system — 43 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing wiring and interior/under dash.

CRASH FIRE

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 12%

12% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 35 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing tank assembly and delivery.

SAFETY TIMELINE

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

▮ 1999 — complaint volume: 284

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 20020109 — PE (closed 20020807)

WINDSHIELD WIPER

I 20021018 — RQ (closed 20030902)

ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL

I 20031014 — RQ (closed 20040227)

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION

I 20040227 — EA (closed 20040726)

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION

R 20040816 — seat belts

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED,

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Campaign 04V305000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060104 — PE (closed 20060509)

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

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

1999 Kia Sportage — pre-purchase inspection

Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (90 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for power train issues (61 reports on file for this year).
Test/inspect for service brakes issues (47 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 04V305000 (seat belts) has been completed.
Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2022 ▲ 2025 ▲ 2021

WORST YEARS

■ 2017 ■ 2012 ■ 2013

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1999 Kia Sportage reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Kia Sportage is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Kia Sportage?

The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 32% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1999 Kia Sportage have?

5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.