1996 Model Year

Kia Sportage

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
57
Recalls
1
Crashes
12
Severe
29

Active Recalls

Manufacturer safety recalls

96V131000 Jul 1996

Other

No consequence data available

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

Air Bags Crash
Dec 2004

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, A...

Seat Belts
Sep 2003

RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 216 000 CONCERNING FRONT SEAT BELTS, BUT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT REPLACING THE REAR SEAT BELT...

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Crash
Aug 2003

WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK,...

EQUIPMENT Fire
Jul 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO . FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HER JACKET. THE...

Suspension
Jun 2003

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE TH...

Seat Belts
May 2003

THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK

Electrical System
Apr 2003

THE VEHICLES HORN DID NOT BLOW LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM

Seat Belts
Apr 2003

THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT FASTENER WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA, BUT THEY SAY THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT ABUSED TH...

Seat Belts
Sep 2002

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON LEANING FORWARD THE SET BELT LATCH CAME UNDONE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS I...

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Sep 2002

OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTH...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 4, 2026

Summary

The 1996 Kia Sportage has 57 complaints and 1 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. 12 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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