Complaints
493
Crashes
43
Fires
6
Injuries
21
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1999 Kia Sportage Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#142 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Crash-related:4
#219 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
Avg mileage:33,456 mi
#316 complaints
Gasoline Fuel System
Avg mileage:108,938 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1999 Kia Sportage.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 42 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 19 | — | — | 33,456 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 16 | — | — | 108,938 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 16 | — | — | 189,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | 1 | — | 111,386 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 12 | 10 | — | 37,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 12 | — | — | 68,115 mi | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 12 | 4 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 12 | — | 1 | — | |
| Airbags | 11 | 3 | — | 157,000 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 11 | 1 | — | 61,330 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 11 | — | — | 61,426 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 10 | — | — | 102,400 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 9 | — | — | 28,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Axle Hubs | 8 | — | — | 59,750 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 8 | 1 | — | 81,667 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 8 | 4 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 6 | 1 | — | 40,000 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 6 | — | — | 247,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 6 | — | — | 63,559 mi | |
| Body Structure | 6 | — | — | 121,771 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 | — | 2 | 65,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 36,000 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | 1 | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
42
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,456
Gasoline Fuel System
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
108,938
Automatic Transmission
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
189,000
Electrical Faults
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
111,386
Air Bags:Frontal
12
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,000
Electrical System:Wiring
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,115
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
11
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
157,000
Engine & Cooling
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,330
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,426
Structure:Frame And Members
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,400
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
28,000
Power Train:Axle Hubs
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
59,750
Suspension Failures
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
81,667
Suspension:Front
8
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,000
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
247,000
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,559
Body Structure
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,771
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
65,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
36,000
Structure:Body:Door
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1999 Kia Sportage. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Kia Sportage Years
1999 Kia Sportage — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1999 Kia Sportage reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1999 Kia Sportage has 493 NHTSA complaints, 43 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 42 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1999 Kia Sportage?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (42 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System (19 complaints, avg 33,456 mi); Gasoline Fuel System (16 complaints, avg 108,938 mi). 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 1999 Kia Sportage?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 89,252 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1999 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Kia Sportage include 43 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 21 injuries, and 1 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 1999 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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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