DEFECTFILE
Vehicles / Kia / Sportage / 2001

2001 Kia Sportage

228 federal complaints (354 component records) · 0 recall campaigns on file · 2 federal investigations · 13 service bulletins · 1 Canadian recall
See all 31 model years of the Kia Sportage →
Engine
2.0L 4-cyl
Fuel
Regular
Drive
RWD
EPA economy
16 city / 20 hwy
Federal complaints
228
Recall campaigns
0
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Fuel system
64
Engine & cooling
56
Brakes
27
Electrical system
25
Body & structure
24
Power train
23
Air bags
21
Suspension
20
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 40 complaints01 years old: 24 complaints2 years old: 25 complaints3 years old: 20 complaints4 years old: 14 complaints5 years old: 12 complaints56 years old: 17 complaints7 years old: 7 complaints8 years old: 9 complaints9 years old: 19 complaints10 years old: 12 complaints1011 years old: 3 complaints12 years old: 3 complaints13 years old: 7 complaints14 years old: 1 complaints15 years old: 1 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 1 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 215 of 228 complaints with a usable failure date.

Odometer when the failure occurred

0,000 - 20,000 miles: 14 complaints020,000 - 40,000 miles: 21 complaints40,000 - 60,000 miles: 17 complaints40k60,000 - 80,000 miles: 27 complaints80,000 - 100,000 miles: 17 complaints80k100,000 - 120,000 miles: 8 complaints120,000 - 140,000 miles: 9 complaints120k140,000 - 160,000 miles: 4 complaints160,000 - 180,000 miles: 4 complaints160k180,000 - 200,000 miles: 2 complaints200,000+ miles: 0 complaints200k+
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 123 of 228 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Fuel system

64 complaint records
"GAS TANK LEAK. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW BUT NO HELP FROM KIA OR THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ! *TR..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse fuel system parts in the directory →

Engine & cooling

56 complaint records4 fire reports2 crash reports
"THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WAS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP. *JG. *JG..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →

Brakes

27 complaint records1 fire report3 crash reports
"WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NM..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA06007
opened May 2006
closed Nov 2007Fuel System, GasolineFUEL TANK LEAKAGE
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES...
RQ03007
opened Oct 2003
closed Feb 2004Seat BeltsSEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION - led to recall 04V305000
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO.

Transport Canada recalls

Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.

RecallSystemUnits (CA)Summary
2005064
2005-03-17
Fuel System8,749Certain vehicles may develop fuel leaks at the fuel pump outlet spigot located on top of the fuel pump cover plate. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
TSB_BOD055_R1
Sep 2021
StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.
TSB_ELE220_R1
Feb 2021
EquipmentTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: FRONT CAMERA OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SA449) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area.
PS539
Mar 2018
Engine And Engine CoolingPITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
TSB-GEN085R1
Jan 2017
Equipment Adaptive/MobilityTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.?
TSB-GEN085
Nov 2016
Equipment Adaptive/MobilityTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?.
Show 8 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
PS443
Apr 2016
Equipment Adaptive/MobilityTSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides information regarding the use of USB ports and 12V power outlets to connect/charge mobile phones.
KT-2008082201
Aug 2008
Parking BrakeKIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE
76
Jan 2004
Fuel SystemFUEL PUMP RELAYS & EMISSIONS FAILURES. KIA TECHNICIAN TIMES. *TT
42
May 2001
Service BrakesINFORMATION REGARDING ABS SYSTEM VENDOR CHANGE. *ET
007R
Mar 2001
Power TrainTHIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON A CHANGE TO THE SPORTAGE 4WD HUB SEALS. *TT
43
Jan 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSUBJECT REGARDING THERMOSTAT MONITORING UPDATE. *TT
45
Jan 2001
VisibilitySUBJECT ON SPORTAGE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. *ET
011200
Dec 2000
Fuel SystemINFORMATION ON THE ONBOARD REFUELING VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) SYSTEM. *TT

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Smell for fuel and watch the first restart when hot.Hard starting when warm, hesitation under load, or any fuel odor near the tank or engine bay match this vehicle's fuel-system cluster. Check the recall table for fuel pump campaigns.
  2. Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
  3. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  4. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Kia Sportage →