Total Complaints
8 filings
KIA KIA · model year
1998 KIA KIA
8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998KIAKIA carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 KIA is air bags with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 18 investigation files overlapping the 1998 KIA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
8
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040224CrashAIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR
Mileage: 99,500
20040224CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE. ONCE HIT A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK *MR
Mileage: 99,500
20010718SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING!
20010718PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES, THE LAST TIME I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, MOST OF THE WIRE HARNESS IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS CONCERNING THESE CARS ON THE INTERNET FOR GOD'S SAKE WON'T SOME ONE DO SOMETHING!
19991129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CAR HAD 15000 MILES WHEN CONSUMER PUCHASED IT. AT 21000 MILES NEEDED BRAKES. AT 33000 MILES NEEDED BRAKES AND ROTORS. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THE BOOK CALLS FOR A CHANGE EVERY 33000 MILES. *AK
19990216AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES.
19990216VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES DO NOT CLEAR WINDSHIELD PROPERLY DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.
19990216VISIBILITY
RUBBER MOLDINGS AROUND WINDOWS FAILED.
Compare 1998KIAKIA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 KIA KIA have?▼
The 1998 KIA KIA has 8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 KIA KIA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 KIA KIA is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1998 KIA KIA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.