1998 KIA Sportage Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sportage years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 303 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 KIA Sportage. That ranks 5th out of 31 Sportage model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (79 complaints, 26%), typically at around 58,000 miles. Complaints mention 19 crashes, 6 fires, 9 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
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- 303owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 19complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 KIA Sportage problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 79 | 26% | 58,000 | “engine stalling” (11%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 70 | 23% | 73,000 | “applying brakes” (11%) | — |
| Power Train problems | 63 | 21% | 86,838 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 47 | 16% | 75,613 | — | — |
| Visibility | 27 | 9% | 28,450 | — | — |
| Structure | 26 | 9% | 122,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 26 | 9% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 24 | 8% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 19 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 6% | 84,459 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 6% | 5,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 13 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 4% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 3% | 5,900 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3% | 88,088 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 2% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 2% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 KIA Sportage recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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 contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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 them and resulting in a loss of circuit continuity.
Risk: This condition can cause engine stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition can cause a loss of rear brake increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, increase the clearance between the brake pipe and steering intermediate shaft coupling.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel tank leakage (EA06007) — opened May 9, 2006, closed Nov 30, 2007.
- Engine stalling post-recall (RQ02013) — opened Oct 18, 2002, closed Sep 2, 2003, led to recall 99V325000.
- Safety belt buckle malfunction (PE02051) — opened Jun 17, 2002, closed Sep 20, 2002, led to recall 02V216000.
- Turn sighal (EA00018) — opened Jun 29, 2000, closed Jul 29, 2002, led to recall 02V207000.
- Turn signal, traffic safety hazard (PE00004) — opened Jan 13, 2000, closed Jun 29, 2000.
- Windshield wiper (PE99033) — opened May 6, 1999, closed Oct 21, 1999, led to recall 99V271000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Right rear frame rusted through completely stablizer rusted off frame
My steering column doesn't lock when i turn off the engine. It has also started failing to start but when we jumpstart it it responds immediately. I have learned; that sometimes if i rock it or push it a few feet it will start right up too. It acts almost like a vapor lock because the engine is…
Rear frame rust/rot is incredibly excessive. Noticed today while checking tire pressure. Entire underside of frame is completely rusted through. Rear cross member in terrible shape. Visible deterioration happened quickly. Purchasing the car in 2012 there was no sign of rot on the frame. Now i feel…
I cannot fasten my seatbelt because it will not extend. I went to power kia in salem, or and they will not repair it unless i pay for repairs. Seeing how this is a product defect causing a safety issue, i feel the manufacture should be responsible for this, especially because it is the law to…
Driver and passenger scalded with boiling radiator fluid with foot on pedal, had to keep foot on petal to get off road on may 30, 2013, at approx. 4:30 pm edt, i was driving my 1998 kia sportage on the garden state parkway north, just after entering the highway at exit 98 in wall, nj. The air…
Other KIA Sportage years
← 1997 Sportage · 1999 Sportage →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Sportage | 27 | 1 |
| 2025 Sportage | 54 | 1 |
| 2024 Sportage | 73 | 3 |
| 2023 Sportage | 192 | 6 |
| 2022 Sportage | 46 | 1 |
| 2021 Sportage | 54 | 2 |
| 2020 Sportage | 162 | 2 |
| 2019 Sportage | 70 | 2 |
| 2018 Sportage | 164 | 3 |
| 2017 Sportage | 401 | 4 |
| 2016 Sportage | 134 | 2 |
| 2015 Sportage | 146 | 2 |
| 2014 Sportage | 124 | 3 |
| 2013 Sportage | 381 | 3 |
| 2012 Sportage | 392 | 5 |
| 2011 Sportage | 181 | 6 |
| 2010 Sportage | 20 | 2 |
| 2009 Sportage | 80 | 3 |
| 2008 Sportage | 98 | 3 |
| 2007 Sportage | 77 | 2 |
| 2006 Sportage | 111 | 1 |
| 2005 Sportage | 68 | 3 |
| 2003 Sportage | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 Sportage | 234 | 1 |
| 2001 Sportage | 228 | 0 |
| 2000 Sportage | 304 | 2 |
| 1999 Sportage | 284 | 3 |
| 1998 | 303 | 3 |
| 1997 Sportage | 181 | 3 |
| 1996 Sportage | 57 | 3 |
| 1995 Sportage | 56 | 2 |
See all KIA Sportage problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 KIA Sportage?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 79 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 KIA Sportage?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 KIA Sportage a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sportage model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.