The 1996 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 213,892 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS02V2160002002-08-16189,706 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.
Consequence
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, SECURITY FROM UNWANTED INTRUSION INTO THE VEHICLE IS LOST.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY COULD BIND OR STICK DURING OPERATION.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR TO HOLD THE THROTTLE PARTIALLY OPEN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
1crashes4injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
9
8crashes19injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
8
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
3
1crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
3
2injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
3injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
1fires
Total complaints98
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“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”
“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…”
“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”
“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”
“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…”
“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…”
“While driving 65 mph rear driver wheel and wheel assembly fell off. No accident, and no injuries.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…
InvestigationEA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…
InvestigationEA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…
InvestigationPE02051 Opened 2002-06-17 · closed 2002-09-20
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 25, 2002, KIA ADVISED NHTSA THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY KIA HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA AT THIS TIME.THE SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Kia Sportage as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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