Model year record

2000 Kia Sportage

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 462 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V305000

Seat belts: front: buckle assembly

Component
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
251,594
Reported to NHTSA
2004-06-24
Owners notified
2004-08-16

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.

Safety risk

THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V205000

Electrical system

Component
Electrical system
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
66,482
Reported to NHTSA
2000-07-27
Owners notified
2000-09-07

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM WERE FOLLOWED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE RESULTING IMPROPER CONNECTIONS COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUPTURE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURES.

Safety risk

THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Fuel system, gasoline3381,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2273,565 mi
Electrical system1365,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1332,382 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls135,400 mi
Fuel/propulsion system12120,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)1250,000 mi
Structure: frame and members12115,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components11
Structure: body11101,066 mi
Unknown or other115,400 mi
Air bags: frontal10103,353 mi
Engine and engine cooling1086,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline10
Suspension1086,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump969,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission950,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine840,852 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings780,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift7
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc710,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads710,000 mi
Air bags6420 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor610,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition5
Electrical system: wiring549,150 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan563,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system57,576 mi
Power train: axle hubs517,493 mi
Suspension: front510,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting462,495 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump462,495 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip4
Steering4120,005 mi
Structure: body: door4
Suspension: front: wheel bearing410,000 mi
Tires486,000 mi
Vehicle speed control455,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer486,000 mi
Electrical system: horn382,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers3
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control3
Equipment310,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner3
Fuel system, gasoline: storage368,426 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch340,852 mi
Power train311,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly310,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft328,440 mi
Seat belts391,000 mi
Service brakes3152,033 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper310,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system3
Structure35,400 mi
Suspension: front: hub379,820 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery2
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood2
Engine265,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system242,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor2
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe272,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: auxillary tank253,953 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly2112,522 mi
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft2
Power train: manual transmission2118,125 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core2
Visibility: windshield2
Wheels250,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module16,738 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module110,000 mi
Child seat1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables186,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator19,914 mi
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: ignition: switch1
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys15,400 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual1
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer: LPG systems: tank valve/gauge1120,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery1113,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap1
Fuel system, other1120,000 mi
Interior lighting1
Latches/locks/linkages180,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical1
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch1
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft: seal128,440 mi
Power train: clutch assembly1
Power train: driveline162,500 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit1
Power train: manual transmission: column shift assembly1
Seat belts: front: anchorage155,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly158,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor1
Seat belts: rear/other142,000 mi
Seats1
Service brakes, air: antilock1
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder113,153 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections147,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate1
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields1
Suspension: front: macpherson strut1
Suspension: rear1
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire141,421 mi
Tires: tread/belt182,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control146,975 mi
Visibility1
Visibility/wiper1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility: glass, side/rear186,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: motor170,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor1

The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2001 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.