general problems of the 1998 Kia Motor Sportage

Right rear frame rusted through completely stablizer rusted off frame.

My steering column doesn't lock when I turn off the engine. It has also started failing to start but when we jumpstart it it responds immediately. I have learned; that sometimes if I rock it or push it a few feet it will start right up too. It acts almost like a vapor lock because the engine is warm and just doesn't start after having set for an hour. Almost like a short or disconnect. Additionally the blower motor seems to have died too. Heat/ac works, just doesn't distribute. I'm wondering if there's a recall on either of these since they seem to be electrical or wiring harness issues.

Rear frame rust/rot is incredibly excessive. Noticed today while checking tire pressure. Entire underside of frame is completely rusted through. Rear cross member in terrible shape. Visible deterioration happened quickly. Purchasing the car in 2012 there was no sign of rot on the frame. Now I feel uncomfortable driving the car, or selling it to someone else for that matter. As a mechanical engineer, the integrity of the square tube frame is compromised to the point that safety in a rear end collision is in question, any kind of trailer load would be impossible and unsafe. Really a danger to the general public because it could fail at any time.

Sway bar had broken off from half of the frame. It was found the frame has rotted most of the way through in the backend of vehicle on both sides. I was told the back end could break off from vehicle at any moment.

Safety recall.

I have not received the 3 most recent recalls for my vehicle from the manufacturer which gives me great concern in regards to myself and my passenger's safety. Please tell me what I need to do next to fix this.

Gas pump door, inside car release not working correctly. Major pain when trying to get gas. Has been an on going problem.

On going problem with a "check light" with the 1998 Sportage kia. Went to mechanics at pontiac and martin Mazda (when they took over) and all they did was unplug the battery and put it back in again. The check light come back on a day or two later. They never fix the problem. My feeling is there was a conspiracy by martin Mazda and nucar pontiac to delay actually fixing the problem. Being that my car was registered for three years, the state of delaware wouldn't catch it on the inspection report. I went for inspection and it failed because the "check light" was on and it produced certain codes.

Continuation part 4. . . On as they usually did when I started the vehicle. I took the vehicle back to the dealer 2 days later and found that the technician or "someone" disconnected my instrument panel in an attempt to stop the engine light from coming on and me coming back to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for another 2 days and so-called fixed the problem. As you know by now, the engine light came back on. By this time, I had filed with bbb and begged kia to take this problem back. At an arbitration hearing, the kia representative downplayed all of my return trips to the dealer by stating that the dealer did not report all of these problems to them and they were not aware of what was going on. All of that was a lie since kia was notified by certified letter of the problems and return trips. Well, the arbitrator sided with kia and stated that even though the vehicle presumably met the criteria for lemon law, she felt that the dealer should get one more chance to repair the vehicle. Since I did not like the arbitrators decision, I utilized one of the other options she offered and acted as if the hearing never happened. I drove with the engine light coming on and off for about 2 months until things got worse. The rear end started jingling louder than ever, the front end was grinding like never before, the vehicle would just take off on it's own, the transmission would become stuck in one gear or another without shifting, the windows were slow again, and the vehicle was shaking like a leaf. I took the vehicle back to the dealer and they kept it for another 7 consecutive days and when I picked my vehicle up, there was a hideous dent and scratch on my right front fender as if a cinder block had fell on it. The dealer tried to release the vehicle to me that way but I refused. The kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the fender. They kept the vehicle for another 3 days while they knocked out the dent and repainted the.

I am registering a complaint against Kia Motors, inc. Because of the tremendous amount of problems I have been having with my vehicle. I purchased a 1998 kia Sportage on January 17, 2000 and it had about 2600 miles on it. About 2 months later at 6683 miles, the engine light came on and since I was ready for an oil change anyway, I took the vehicle to the dealer to get it checked out. The dealer informed me that since the vehicle is still new and in its "breaking-in" stage, the light will go off in a few days. A few days later, the light did go off but the vehicle just didn't feel right. A few weeks later, the engine light came on again and I was again advised the dealer that it will go off by itself, this time I didn't take their word and insisted that the vehicle be checked out. The dealer then found that a sensor was out. The replaced the sensor and the light went out. A few weeks later, the engine light came on again and I also received a recall notice for a catalytic converter concern. So I took the vehicle to the dealer for both problems and was told that the engine light was related to the recall and both will be taken care of. Needless to say, they weren't. The same day I picked up my vehicle from the dealer, while driving out of the parking lot, the engine light came back on. I immediately made a u-turn went back into the service drive. I was advised that the sensor was out again and the part as not in. I waited for about 4 weeks until the part came in all while driving with the engine light on. The dealer replaced the sensor again and of course, the engine light came back on. At this time, I was about to go insane about this nagging problem that either the dealer could not fix or the vehicle could not be fixed. I did not take the vehicle back to the dealer for because I had just started a new job and could not afford to take time off of work to take the vehicle to the dealer or incur anymore rental costs. I then checked the NHTSA website for recalls or ser*.

While periodically driving 5mph or less vehicle would automatically shutoff. Engine check light came on first, than it shutoff. Consumer has taken vehicle to dealer, and was not able to find cause or remedy. Since the first incident, vehicle has shutdown 5 more times.

The car has been the shop more than it has been out. The dealership's service deptartment has informed me, that since they can not duplicate the problem I have discribed to them,they can't fix the car. When I pick the car back up from the service deptartment, the problem continues for me. Time after time, the service dept. Is informed of this problem and as of this date 2/27/00 the car is still at the dealership unfixed. No safety defect listed within summary.

Engine check light on and fluttering when starting- dicovered O2 sensor was bad- replaced.

While driving at 55 mph to 70 mph engine check light came on. Vehicle shut down, causing loss of power. Also, when putting vehicle into reverse, vehicle shut down. Consumer almost hit another vehicle due to brakes failing. Consumer had to use the emergency brake to stop vehicle.

When driving at any speed engine check light kept coming on, and the engine wasn't running properly. Consumer had vehicle into the dealer's shop for repairs seven or eight tims, and dealer still can't determine the cause of the problem.

There are many of problems with this vehicle as of today ther are only 1700 mile on the vehicleas where mor than 1/2 those miles are from going back and forth to the service dept as it is an 80 mile trip to the service dept. As for kia they are totally ignorant as they do not ever return any of my phone calls. This suvis a lemon if I ever saw one . You would thin. No safet defect (s) listed in the summary.

Engine check light came on and the vehicle stalled out. Smelled a burning smell, dealer contacted, and attributed the problem to faulty wiring, under warrany, repair work done.

The entire car should be recalled. Kia does little to assist with cars that have cronic problems. No safety defect listed within summary.

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.

No summary.

While driving the vehicle will stall unexpectedly which almost caused an accident. Also, engine check light will be on. Vehicle has been to dealer 4 times. Cause unknown. Dealer cannot determine problem. Please provide details.

The engine check light comes on and won't go off. When the car is turned off can smell something burning. Dealer can't find problem.

Engine light failed.

When coming to a stop and starting again the engine cuts off. Sometimes when gas is applied vehicle has a delayed start. Also engine check light comes on. Dealer can't find the problem.