1996 Kia Sportage vs 1998 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Kia Sportage | 1998 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 57 | 303 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 8 | 12 |
| Investigations | 2 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 19 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–19 | 19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Sportage | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 79 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 70 |
| Power Train | 11 | 63 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 47 |
| Structure | 3 | 26 |
| Suspension | 3 | 26 |
| Visibility | 2 | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 16 |
| Stalling | 0 | 49 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 18 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 5 |
1996 Kia Sportage
1998 Kia Sportage
Compare all Kia Sportage vs Kia Sportage years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.