1998 Kia Sportage Problems, Recalls & Reliability
558 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Kia Sportage, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 81/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1998 Kia Sportage sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1995, 2005, 2019, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 1998 sits among all Sportage years
What owners report
“Problems with the vehicle causing engine light to illuminate, serviced vehicle due to failure. Yh”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
“This is the third time i have had brake problems and the vehicle has only 8300 miles on it. The first time the brake light was on and they change the eng brake solenoid. The seconed time the master cylinder failed and all four brakes parcially locked up. This time i was donig 68 on the highway and…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
“Four wheel drive failed, while waiting for replacement parts vehicle experienced violent vibration and breakage of the axle while driving 60-65 mph.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
“Engine idles too high, correction of wiring harness to throttle position did not rectify high idle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
“The consumer has been experiencing problems with engine valves . Engine check light continues to stay illuminated. The consumer stated vehicle has been serviced for the same problem 4 times.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
“All four windows get stuck, doors lock and unlock by themselves, vehicle is trying to shift into 4x4 while vehicle is in motion, air conditioner works 1 out of 4 times, latch opens on back of vehicle while in motion. Black tarry dust on front tires.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1998 Sportage
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 52 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 56,000 and 92,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Fix: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITHOUT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 99V325000.
Led to recall campaign 02V216000.
Led to recall campaign 02V207000.
Led to recall campaign 99V271000.
Technical service bulletins
12 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 1998 Kia Sportage. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Sportage TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Kia Sportage reliable?
The 1998 Kia Sportage drew 558 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 81/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 1998 Kia Sportage problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Kia Sportage are engine (93 complaints), brakes & stability (82), and transmission & drivetrain (71).
At what mileage do 1998 Kia Sportage problems show up?
Owners most often report 1998 Kia Sportage problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 56,000 and 92,000 miles.
Does the 1998 Kia Sportage have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 1998 Kia Sportage. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.