Total Complaints
98 filings
KIA SPORTAGE · model year
1996 KIA SPORTAGE
98 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996KIASPORTAGE carries 98 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 3 fires, 31 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 1996 SPORTAGE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 10 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (9) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (8). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1996 SPORTAGE. 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.
98
Complaints
13
Crashes
3
Fires
31
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
13 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 10 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20041223CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Mileage: 125,000
20031205SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK
Mileage: 79,000
20031007FireEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO . FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HER JACKET. THE FIRE BURNED PART OF THE DOOR PANEL. *JB
20030923SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 216 000 CONCERNING FRONT SEAT BELTS, BUT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT REPLACING THE REAR SEAT BELT UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY.*AK
Mileage: 45,000
20030825CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK
20030616SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
20030423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE VEHICLES HORN DID NOT BLOW LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
Mileage: 32
20030104SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT BELT FASTENER WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA, BUT THEY SAY THAT THIS ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT ABUSED THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A SEAT BELT FAIL (IN ANY OTHER CAR-- NOR HEARD OF THIS) BECAUSE IT COMES UNLATCHED. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS IT SEEMS I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT BELT FASTENER. TS
Mileage: 105,150
20021009SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT UPON LEANING FORWARD THE SET BELT LATCH CAME UNDONE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN MARCH. ANOTHER AUTO HIT CONSUMER PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A TREE. THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED AND CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER SUFFERED HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *JG
20020808CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DIDN'T HOLD. CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO WINDOW AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *YH
20020409ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
20020409FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
OIL TURNED TO A SLUGGY/ PASTY THICKNESS, ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. ALSO, HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
20011219AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE PARKED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE KEYS NOT IN IGNITION, THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INJURY ON HER FACE AND LEGS. *YD
20011120SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING, SEAT BELT DETACHES. WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKES HARDER THAN USUAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS DETACHING 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT LIST THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
20011120SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING, SEAT BELT DETACHES. WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HAS TO DEPRESS BRAKES HARDER THAN USUAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE BELTS DETACHING 2-3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER DID NOT LIST THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
20011115POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
THE CAR'S REAR LEFT TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LUG NUTS AND THE ASSEMBLY WHERE INTACT. FROM WHAT THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THE BALL BEARINGS MELTED CAUSING THE CASING WHERE THE BOLTS GO TO DETACH. I'M NOT A MECHANIC SO I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS BUT IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE BODY SHOP THAT'S WORKING ON THE CAR. I CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION IF YOU REQUEST IT. *AK
20011105WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH REAR DRIVER WHEEL AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. NO ACCIDENT, AND NO INJURIES.*AK
20010712ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS/ AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS AND NO ONE COULD LOCATE CAUSE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, IN INTERSECTIONS, AND GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS AND VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *SLC
20010402POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO VIBRATION AND NOISE. *JB
20010206CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HER VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. THERE WERE SLIGHT INJURIES. *AK
Compare 1996KIASPORTAGE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 KIA SPORTAGE have?▼
The 1996 KIA SPORTAGE has 98 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 3 fires, 31 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 KIA SPORTAGE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 KIA SPORTAGE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1996 KIA SPORTAGE 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.