2000 Kia Sportage
The Verdict
The 2000 Kia Sportage has 321 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (129 complaints) and body (81 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 41/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Sportage, consider the 2003 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2003 has 98% fewer complaints
View the 2003 Kia Sportage dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 2
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 LATCH...
Risk
THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Reported Apr 10, 2026
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. H...
Risk
THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.
Remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
Reported Apr 10, 2026
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 81 | 42 | 39 | 129 | 30 |
| 2001 | 62 | 16 | 32 | 107 | 16 |
| 2002 | 50 | 16 | 24 | 133 | 14 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005 | 25 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 2006 | 22 | 9 | 51 | 26 | 3 |
| 2007 | 22 | 12 | 30 | 11 | 2 |
| 2008 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 7 |
| 2009 | 24 | 15 | 27 | 12 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 35 | 17 | 26 | 89 | 13 |
| 2012 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 332 | 10 |
| 2013 | 25 | 16 | 15 | 314 | 7 |
| 2014 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 74 | 1 |
| 2015 | 16 | 22 | 13 | 88 | 3 |
| 2016 | 14 | 29 | 15 | 63 | 3 |
| 2017 | 73 | 20 | 52 | 232 | 16 |
| 2018 | 32 | 9 | 19 | 90 | 8 |
| 2019 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 37 | 3 |
| 2020 | 45 | 12 | 13 | 83 | 1 |
| 2021 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 2 |
| 2022 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 0 |
| 2023 | 63 | 26 | 37 | 48 | 9 |
| 2024 | 34 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 3 |
| 2025 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Compare Against
See how the 2000 Kia Sportage stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
FUEL TANK LEAKING GAS I BELIEVE THE FUEL TANK IS NO GOOD ANYMORE I PURCHASE A VEHICLE FILL UP THE TANK AND START TO LEAK GAS I THOUGHT IT WAS A GASKET SO GASKET WAS PLACED AND IT'S STILL LEAKING
NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL, LOOKED UNDER CAR AND NOTICED GAS DRIPPING FROM UNDER CAR. UPON FURTHER LOOKING I NOTICED THE GAS TANK PROTECTIVE PLATE IS ROTTING OUT WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THE GAS TANK IS TOO.
NO AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL, BRAKES GOES DOWN TO FLOOR, OXYGEN SENSOR BAD IN BANK ONE, POPPING IN TIRES. MY FRAME CAN BREAK FROM CAR AT ANY TIME, DEALER KNEW I HAD KIDS, WE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT RIDING IN THIS CAR.
2000 KIA SPORTAGE RECALL - HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE FAN BLADE DETACHED AND WENT THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,477.
2000 KIA SPORTAGE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, RIGHT FRAME HAS A HUGE HOLE, MY CHILD IS AT RISK CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALSO LOCKS DON'T WORK, BATTERY DIES, SEATBELTS SUCK, RADIO GOES OFF ...
FRAME RUSTED
GAS TANK IS LEAKING GASOLINE. *TR
FUEL TANK/PAN RUSTED OUT. STRONG GAS ODOR. RECALL FOUND ONLINE. NEITHER DEALER NOR KIA WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE. RECEIVING NUMEROUS MISFIRE MESSAGES AND HAVE CHANGED PLUGS, COILS, AND WIRES. MISFIRE CODE STATES FUEL/AIR RATIO IS WRONG. THERE IS NO HISS WHEN OPENING GAS CAP AND NO PRESSURE REGISTERING FROM TANK. SAFETY AND FIRE ISSUE. WAS WARNED NOT TO DRIVE UNTIL FIXED DUE TO GAS LEAKAGE. VERY UPSET AT KIA FOR TELLING ME THAT RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY 2000 SPORTAGE, HOWEVER SHE STATED IT WAS FOR 1996-2002 SPORTAGES. WAS INFORMED I COULD PAY $92/HOUR FOR IT TO BE INSPECTED BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES. VERY DISTURBING, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY AND NOW I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL GUARD WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
THE STRUCTURE IS ROTTEN AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS AND CANNOT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR
THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. I NEED TO HAVE KIA TO REPLACE THIS TANK. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO KEEP DRIVING. I HAVE CHILDREN AND I AM CONCERN FOR THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS MY OWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,066.
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED FRONT BRAKE LINES. WHILE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT THE FRAME WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU IN MANY PLACES MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
ON APRIL 12, 2013 I GOT INTO MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE TO GO TO WORK. AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE CAR I HIT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO GET THE DEW OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD AND INSTEAD OF JUST GOING ONCE THEY WENT OFF EXTREMELY FAST WITH OUT STOPPING FOR ABOUT 45 SECONDS. ONCE I GOT THEM TURNED OFF I WENT UP THE ROAD AND TURNED TO HEAD TO WORK VIA THE BACK ROADS. I DROVE ABOUT 1 MILES WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING OFF AGAIN THEN A SECOND LATER I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND 2 OF MY AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED AND I FELT A THROBBING PAIN IN MY RIGHT SHIN. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND THE LOWER AIRBAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS THE ONLY CAR INVOLVED AND HAS A CLEAR CARFAX. THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON WAS SMOOTH AND I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE WHERE IT SITS. *TR
THE GAS TANK SHIELD IS RUSTING TO PIECES. NOTICED A PIECE HANGING DOWN AND CHECKED UNDER THE CAR. IT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *TR
THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 DAYS. MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR, DROVE IT ABOUT 1/4 - 1/2 MILE WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CONSOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND RAN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO SEE IF SHE COULD TELL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND COULD SEE FIRE THROUGH THE CRACK IN THE CONSOLE WHERE THE COVER OVER THE CONSOLE WAS JOINED TOGETHER. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A GASOLINE LEAK. SHE WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. HAD SHE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN TRAFFIC, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO. SHE AND OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE. HER POCKETBOOK HAD FALLEN ON THE FLOOR AND SHE REACHED OVER TO PICK IT UP AND THAT IS WHEN SHE SAW THE SMOKE. SHE HAD TIME TO GET OUT BEFORE THE CAR IMPLODED. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS GUTTED AND THE PAINT WAS BURNED OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE AND ROOF OF THE CAR. ALL THAT IS LEFT OF THE INSIDE IS SOOT, METAL AND CHARCOAL FROM FRONT TO REAR. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER ON DECEMBER 21, 2012. IT RAN GREAT, WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE HAD NO PROBLEMS OR WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I AM GOING TO NOTIFY KIA, BUT AM NOT VERY HOPEFUL OF ANY RESOLUTION WITHOUT SOME INTERVENTION FROM NHTSA. *TR
THE CHASSIS, AND THE AUTO BODY FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE DETERIORIZE AND COMPLETE HODEN I JUST TALK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC WHEN WAS FIND OUT. WE BELIEVE THAT IS MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS. *TR
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A SHOP TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR OF THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED OUT AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. ALSO THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT ONE OF THE SEAMS IN THE CORNER OF THE TANK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY PEOPLE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KIA SPORTAGE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL. IT'S ONLY A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF OTHER VEHICLES MUCH OLDER WITHOUT ALL OF THIS KIND OF RUST ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT WITH THE MATERIALS BEING USED. I SURELY HOPE THE NHTSA WILL MAKE KIA MOTORS RECALL THESE VEHICLES. BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
(1) NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD IS SEVERELY ROTTED OUT AND IS BARELY CONNECTED. (2) SMELL FUEL VAPORS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN THE VEHICLE. (3) FUEL TANK APPEARS TO BE RUSTING, AFRAID TO MESS WITH TANK IN FEAR OF DISTURBING THE RUST AND RUPTURING A HOLE IN TANK. (4) BRAKE LINES WERE SO SEVERELY RUSTED IN ONE AREA THAT IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE LINE AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING AND REQUIRED THE PROMPT ACTION FOR REPAIR. OTHER BRAKE LINES LOOK LIKE THEY MAY FAIL IN NEAR FUTURE. (5) STEEL PORTION OF POWER STEERING LINE RUSTED OUT AND BLEW FLUID EVERYWHERE PREVENTING THE ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. (6) THE FRAME HAS HEAVY RUST SCALE AND APPEARS TO BE ROTTING IN SEVERAL PLACE. (7) PAINT IS STARTING TO BUBBLE WHICH IS INDICATING BODY IS RUSTING UNDER PAINT JOB. THIS IS A 12 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH VERY BAD ROTTING OF METAL FROM SALT CORROSION. HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH RUST ON 20+ OLD VEHICLES THAT ARE IN THE SAME NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE US. *TR
321 total