Complaints
558
Crashes
31
Fires
7
Injuries
19
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Kia Sportage Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#147 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Crash-related:2
#221 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#318 complaints
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Kia Sportage.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 47 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 21 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 18 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 16 | — | — | 51,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 | 3 | — | 73,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 14 | 2 | — | 5,500 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 13 | — | — | 28,450 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 12 | — | 1 | 104,806 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 11 | 1 | — | 5,900 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Hubs | 9 | 2 | — | 79,238 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | 175,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 | 7 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 7 | — | — | 88,500 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 7 | — | — | 83,358 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | — | — | 80,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 6 | — | 2 | 56,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 6 | — | — | 122,500 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 5 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
47
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
21
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
51,000
Automatic Transmission
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
5,500
Structure:Body:Door
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
28,450
Electrical Faults
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
104,806
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
5,900
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Hubs
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,238
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
175,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,500
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83,358
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Electrical System:Wiring
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
56,000
Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
122,500
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Suspension:Front
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Kia Sportage. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Kia Sportage Years
1998 Kia Sportage — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Kia Sportage reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Kia Sportage has 558 NHTSA complaints, 31 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 47 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Kia Sportage?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (47 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components (21 complaints); Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift (18 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Kia Sportage?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,442 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Kia Sportage include 31 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 19 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Kia Sportage as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Kia Sportage?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Kia Sportage reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Kia Sportage
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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