1999 KIA Sportage: common problems

Owners of the 1999 KIA Sportage filed 284 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 284
involving a crash: 27

KIA Sportage 1999: 3D model with the “Engine and cooling” area highlighted — the most complained-about component — Yellow marks the “Engine and cooling” area, the component owners complain about most for this year. Illustrative only. 3D model: xnova360, CC Attribution.

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 28% of all complaints
2 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
6 Structure 10% of all complaints
7 Visibility 10% of all complaints
8 Air bags 8% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine and cooling: 79 complaints (28% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Powertrain: 57 complaints (20% of all).
Service brakes: 44 complaints (15% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 41 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel system: 37 complaints (13% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: RWD, AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 284 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

stalls while driving46 · 16%
rust, corrosion25 · 9%
fuel system, fuel smell19 · 7%
seat belts18 · 6%
warning lights, check engine17 · 6%
knocking, grinding or other noise14 · 5%
windows, sunroof14 · 5%
vibration11 · 4%
A/C or heater10 · 4%
airbags did not deploy8 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine and cooling	79	6
Powertrain	57	0
Service brakes	44	5
Electrical system	41	1
Fuel system	37	0
Structure	29	1
Visibility	27	0
Air bags	23	13
Suspension	19	6
Seat belts	17	3
Equipment	11	1
Vehicle speed control	11	1
Steering	10	1
Tires	9	3

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

At times the brakes vibrate. This car has had a new cloth top, new air conditioning 2x, 5 catalytic converters, new carpet from the air leaking and molding, new seat covers as they ripped, new brakes, rotors, pads several items I have lost count, the check engine light comes on, the car has been re-wired, at times the…
Engine and cooling · crash · 2006-08-27 · NHTSA complaint #10166674
The replacement tires I had purchased at sears, ameritrac suv tires p20575r15 the right front tire blew out a hole the size of a fist on the front side of the tire both my son and husband heard the bang.
Tires · crash · 2005-11-06 · NHTSA complaint #10141869
Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. Due to a previous incident vehicle was in cruise control mode. However, vehicle accelerated, and took off on its own. Consumer had to slam on brakes to stop the vehicle.
Air bags · crash · 2005-03-15 · NHTSA complaint #10115171
Vehicle collided with a guard rail and air bags failed to deploy. On a separate occasion, the consumer had a falt tire, and when she removed the spare tire, the door and gate would not close.
Structure · crash · 2004-04-23 · NHTSA complaint #10068575
This suv has been nothing but problems from day one, with everything from the ac to the 4 wheel drive needing repaired twice in one day, to the most serious problem happening on 8-19-02 when my right rear anti sway bar bracket breaks away from where it was welded on the frame in the factory ( the org.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2004-04-22 · NHTSA complaint #10069532
Upon impact, both frontal air bags failed to deploy. Also, vehicle came equipped with knee bolsters underneath the steering column. As a result the driver sustained back injuries, and vehicle was totaled.
Air bags · crash · 2003-10-21 · NHTSA complaint #10044358
The right rear sway bar broke, which caused vehicle to lose control, which resulted in a collision.
Suspension · crash · 2003-03-03 · NHTSA complaint #10007267
The driver's seat belt did not retract resulting in consumer hitting front windshield.
Seat belts · crash · 2002-10-08 · NHTSA complaint #8020425

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19982
199922
200072
200150
200229
200321
200416
200515
200612
20079
20087
20097
201010
20114
20134
20144
20151

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 1,428 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 4% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Sportage has 144 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 284, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Questions and answers

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

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 284. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (16%), rust, corrosion (9%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 KIA Sportage?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1999 KIA Sportage from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1999 models

KIA Sephia 1999

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.