RecallMyCar

1996 Kia Sportage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1996 Kia Sportage, and owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
57
owner complaints to NHTSA
12 / 3
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–19
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 1996 Kia Sportage

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Buckle assembly (seat belts)

    NHTSA 02V216000 Reported 189,706 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.

    Remedy: 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 contact KIA at…

  2. Lock (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 97V234000 Reported 23,493 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A microswitch on the rear hatch lock cylinder can malfunction causing the power door locks to unlock inadvertently.

    Remedy: Dealers will modify the rear hatch door unlock circuit.

  3. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 96V131000 Reported 693 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    The accelerator pedal assembly could bind or stick during operation.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly.

57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Kia Sportage have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 27 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,836 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 14 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Consumer was traveling at 25 MPH in foggy conditions when suddenly she lost sight of the road and proceeded to strike a tree head on. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy.*ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 23, 2004 · Air bags

“The rear seat belt on the passenger's side will not release. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 5, 2003 · Seat belts

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Kia Sportage (Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–19 mpg
City / Highway16–17 / 20–22
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Kia Sportage model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Sportage model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Kia Sportage256
1996 Kia Sportage357
1997 Kia Sportage3181
1998 Kia Sportage3303
1999 Kia Sportage3284
2000 Kia Sportage2304
2001 Kia Sportage0228
2002 Kia Sportage1234
2003 Kia Sportage04
2005 Kia Sportage368
2006 Kia Sportage1111
2007 Kia Sportage277
2008 Kia Sportage398
2009 Kia Sportage380
2010 Kia Sportage220
2011 Kia Sportage6181
2012 Kia Sportage5392
2013 Kia Sportage3381
2014 Kia Sportage3123
2015 Kia Sportage2146
2016 Kia Sportage2132
2017 Kia Sportage4401
2018 Kia Sportage3164
2019 Kia Sportage270
2020 Kia Sportage2161
2021 Kia Sportage254
2022 Kia Sportage146
2023 Kia Sportage6191
2024 Kia Sportage373
2025 Kia Sportage152
2026 Kia Sportage127

Checking a specific 1996 Kia Sportage

How do I know if my 1996 Kia Sportage has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1996 Kia Sportage; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V216000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kia models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.