Kia · Sportage · 2001
2
Recalls
228
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2001 Kia Sportage has 2 recalls and 228 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: fuel system, gasoline (44 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
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.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
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.
I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT DEALER STARTED NOTICING A SMELL OF GAS THOUGH WAS. BECAUSE JUST PUT GAS IN .THEN WHEN TURNED ON HEAT SMELL WOULD GET WORSE ! A FEW DAYS AGO WENT TO FILL GAS AND A LOT GAS OVER.FILLED ONTO GROUND NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE SMELL GAS SO STRONG INSIDE CAR ITS. ACTUALLY UPSET MY STOMACH WHEN DRIVING THE. AT AND AFRAID GOING START FIRE ! ALSO LEAKAGE ON GROUND WHEN PARKED . I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH SAME PROBLEM !! IT'S A 2001 KIA. ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT THINK SHOULD BE COVER. FROM COMPANY SINCE NOT ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM .
BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES FROM AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT HARDLY DROVE IT. NOW AT 21K MILES, THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND GAS SPEWS OUT OF TANK WHILE I'M PUMPING GAS. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO FALL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS TWICE ALREADY. ALSO, THE DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES THINKING IT WILL LAST FOR AWHILE, BUT I'VE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ ;UPDATED VIN INVALID 4/25/18*JB *TR
JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEEN...WHEN FILLING GAS TANK IT BEGINS TO SPEW OUT ONTO HIM . ARE THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK.ALSO A BAD SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE OF CAR,,,,PLEASE HELP THE PROBLEM....*JS
THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTS FROM WATER THROWN UP BY THE TIRES. WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT NORMALLY BE A DANGER UNLESS YOU WERE TOWING, ON THIS MODEL IT'S WHERE THE FRAME CONNECTS TO THE WHEELS BELOW TO STABILIZE THE FRAME OVER THE SUSPENSION, WITHOUT THIS SUPPORT IT RELEASES THE BACK SUSPENSION AND ALLOWS THE CAR TO EASILY ROCK BACK AND FORTH INTO THE WHEELS. I COULD SEE SHINY SPOTS ON THE SHOCKS FROM TIRE RUB WHERE THE PAINT WAS RUBBED OFF, NO CURRENT SIGN OF TIRE DAMAGE. I FEEL THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SHOCKS, SPRINGS OR OTHER METAL BODY OR FRAME PART COULD WEAR OR POSSIBLY IF SHARP PUNCTURE A TIRE ON EITHER SIDE WHEN CORNERING. THIS PROBLEM CAN EASILY BE SEEN BY SWINGING THE SPARE TIRE OUT OF IT'S CLOSED POSITION TO OPEN THE TAILGATE, WHEN THE TIRE REACHES THE END OF IT'S ARM THE WHOLE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE OVER, THE RUSTED FRAME BELOW WILL BEND. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH CREATED FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOCATED THE LEAK UNDER THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
THE CAR KEEPS STALLING JUST QUITS WHEN I SLOW DOWN. I HAD TWO MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT. FILLED THE TANK WITH NEW GAS, AND NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE ELECTRICAL CHECK. IT IS A MYSTERY WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL THE CAR AND GIVE SOMEONE ELSE THIS PROBLEM.
JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, THEY SMELLED AN ODOR OF FUEL EVER SINCE THEY ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS OWNED BY ONE OWNER AND GARAGE KEPT. THE FUEL TANK AND BOTTOM PROTECTOR WAS ROTTED AWAY AND IN DANGEROUS LEAKING CONDITION. KIA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALL AND THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE ROT IN THIS TANK DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT WARRANTS A LOOK FROM THE NHTSA INTO THIS. A MANUFACTURER SUCH AS KIA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL AN INFERIOR SAFETY HAZARD TO THE CITIZENS OF THE USA. THERE WERE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THIS PROBLEM A FULL 7 YEARS AGO AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS IS AN INSULT TO PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH MOTORING SAFETY, WE SHOULD EXPECT BETTER FROM BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THIS ONE. IT'S NOT A MILEAGE ISSUE, THE 1999/2000 SPORTAGES WERE RUSTING OUT WITH ONLY A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE AND IT IS DUE TO INFERIOR MATERIALS THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER THAT USES THEM. *TR
I JUST TRIED TO GET MY KIA SPORTAGE INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES THE FRAME IS RUSTED RIGHT OUT AND I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE DRIVING IT. I JUST LOOKED ONLINE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS FINE OTHERWISE. IF THERE IS NO RECALL I AM GOING TO BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. *TR
WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL GOING 30MPH, I REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP SOMETHING OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR( I WAS THE PASSENGER), WHEN I HEARD A SOUND LIKE BREAKING GLASS. WE THOUGHT WE HAD RUN OVER A GLASS OBJECT BUT WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK BACK THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. I DID NOTICE THAT MY SEATBELT WAS NO LONGER RESTRAINING ME. THE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE KEPT ME SAFE, THE SEATBELT, HAD COME COMPLETELY OUT OF ITS COMPARTMENT. I KNOW THAT IF WE HAD BEEN IN A WRECK I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
I WAS HEARING A CLUNK EVERY TIME I STARTED GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AND GOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR TO NOTICE THE FRAME CROSSMEMBER WAS TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. IT IS THE FRAME CROSSBAR THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE SUPPORT TO THE FRAME. THE AFFECTED FRAME CROSS MEMBER GOES UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK AND WOULD REQUIRE 2 DAYS LABOR TO FIX AT MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. TO REMOVE THE GAS TANK IS ONE PROJECT AND TO HAVE A NEW WELDED SUPPORT BAR IS ANOTHER PROJECT AND WILL COST ALOT TO FIX. I CALLED KIA FOR POSSIBLE RECALLS AND THEY SAID "OH ITS OUT OF WARRANTY" GOODLUCK WITH THAT!!! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
I HAVE A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 84,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON PUBLIC ROADS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED HER THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE FRONT PARKING LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHERE THE WIRES ARE MOUNTED CLOSE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DASH BOARD COMPONENTS ARE NOT READING/MOVING NEITHER IS THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT AND OVERDRIVE. I'VE LEARNED THROUGH BLOG POSTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TRENDSETTER SE TIRES SIZE 205/75R15, DOT NUMBER U9ULC2T2811. A FRIEND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE. THE TIRE SHREDDED INTO PIECES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWAY AS THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE HE INSTALLED A SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BRAND NEW AND RECENTLY PURCHASED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTACT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS 3,562. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,238. UPDATED 12/29/11 *BF UPDATED 03/16/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED A DIFFICULT TIME STEERING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRACK BAR, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE REAR AXLE, WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500. AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,600. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ UPDATED 01/10/12
STABILIZER CONNECTED TO THE CHASIS ROTTED FROM THE FRAME AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE WHERE THE BRAKE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO FIND THIS OUT. CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN CURRENT CONDITION AS IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T GOING FAST AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. PEOPLE SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO HAVE THIS CHECKED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2001 Kia Sportage has 2 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 228 owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Kia Sportage.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2001 Kia Sportage.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2001 Kia Sportage are fuel system, gasoline (44 reports), engine and engine cooling (21 reports), air bags (15 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 2 recalls on record for the 2001 Kia Sportage. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.