1999 Kia Sportage Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1999 Kia Sportage, and owners have filed 284 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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3 safety recalls for the 1999 Kia Sportage
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
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 latched, when it is not.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front seat belt buckles. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners should contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.
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Electrical system: wiring
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.
Remedy: 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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, increase the clearance between the brake pipe and steering intermediate shaft coupling.
284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Kia Sportage have filed 284 complaints with NHTSA; 27 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,623 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 76 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 KIA sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted strong fuel fumes on the exterior and the interior. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the veh”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 28, 2015 · Electrical system
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 KIA sportage. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the transmission slipped gears without warning. The failure recurred sporadically. The vehicle was take”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 15, 2014 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Kia Sportage (Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17 / 21 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 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 year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Kia Sportage | 2 | 56 |
| 1996 Kia Sportage | 3 | 57 |
| 1997 Kia Sportage | 3 | 181 |
| 1998 Kia Sportage | 3 | 303 |
| 1999 Kia Sportage | 3 | 284 |
| 2000 Kia Sportage | 2 | 304 |
| 2001 Kia Sportage | 0 | 228 |
| 2002 Kia Sportage | 1 | 234 |
| 2003 Kia Sportage | 0 | 4 |
| 2005 Kia Sportage | 3 | 68 |
| 2006 Kia Sportage | 1 | 111 |
| 2007 Kia Sportage | 2 | 77 |
| 2008 Kia Sportage | 3 | 98 |
| 2009 Kia Sportage | 3 | 80 |
| 2010 Kia Sportage | 2 | 20 |
| 2011 Kia Sportage | 6 | 181 |
| 2012 Kia Sportage | 5 | 392 |
| 2013 Kia Sportage | 3 | 381 |
| 2014 Kia Sportage | 3 | 123 |
| 2015 Kia Sportage | 2 | 146 |
| 2016 Kia Sportage | 2 | 132 |
| 2017 Kia Sportage | 4 | 401 |
| 2018 Kia Sportage | 3 | 164 |
| 2019 Kia Sportage | 2 | 70 |
| 2020 Kia Sportage | 2 | 161 |
| 2021 Kia Sportage | 2 | 54 |
| 2022 Kia Sportage | 1 | 46 |
| 2023 Kia Sportage | 6 | 191 |
| 2024 Kia Sportage | 3 | 73 |
| 2025 Kia Sportage | 1 | 52 |
| 2026 Kia Sportage | 1 | 27 |
Checking a specific 1999 Kia Sportage
How do I know if my 1999 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 1999 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 04V305000).
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
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
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.