2001 Kia Sportage: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 354 complaints
354
Total Complaints
48,595mi
Median Mileage
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Top Issue
31
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

20,000 25th Percentile
48,595 Median Mileage
80,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
13
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
13
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
9

Severity Assessment

31
Crashes
7
Fires
25
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND BRAKES APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE. BUT, AS THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP PEDAL WAS HARD, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN REAR. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK"
"1. VEHICLE ROCKS SIDE-TO-SIDE WHEN MAKING TURNS. 2. VEHICLE HAS EXTRA PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. 3. VEHICLE MOVES(SLIDES) RIGHT OF THE ROADWHILE DRIVING. 4. FRONT LEFT-SIDE OF VEHICLE SHAKES(UNTIL YOU CAN LOOK OUT FRONT WINDOW WITHOUT HAVING A HEADACHE)AT 10-60MPH. 5. VEHICLE 'S BODY BOUNCE FOR..."
"VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO RIGHT. BRAND NEW VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN IN AT 20-30 MILES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT END. ALL WORK WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28