RecallMyCar

2000 Kia Sportage Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2000 Kia Sportage, and owners have filed 304 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
304
owner complaints to NHTSA
23 / 7
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–19
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2000 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 04V305000 Reported 251,594 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    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.

  2. Electrical system

    NHTSA 00V205000 Reported 66,482 vehicles potentially affected KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: sport utility vehicle. These vehicles were distributed with owners manuals with an incorrect jump start diagram. The written instructions for jump starting are accurate. However, the diagram depicts the jumper cables attached to the wrong polarity terminals. If the diagram were followed without reference to the…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive label with the correct illustration to permanently affix to their respective owners manuals.

304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2000 Kia Sportage have filed 304 complaints with NHTSA; 23 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 17 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 73,087 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 44 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Fuel tank leaking gas i believe the fuel tank is no good anymore i purchase a vehicle fill up the tank and start to leak gas i thought it was a gasket so gasket was placed and it's still leaking”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 6, 2020 · Fuel/propulsion system

“Noticed a strong gas smell, looked under car and noticed gas dripping from under car. Upon further looking i noticed the gas tank protective plate is rotting out which makes me believe the gas tank is”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 12, 2017 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2000 Kia Sportage (Sportage 2WD, Sportage 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–19 mpg
City / Highway16–18 / 20–21
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
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 2000 Kia Sportage

How do I know if my 2000 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2000 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 00V205000).

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.