1999 Ford Explorer vs 1999 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Ford Explorer | 1999 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,348 | 284 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 412 | 13 |
| Investigations | 6 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 115 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 44 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–18 | 19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,350 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 370 | 9 |
| Visibility | 216 | 27 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 100 | 79 |
| Power Train | 115 | 57 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 148 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 92 | 41 |
| Air Bags | 97 | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 64 | 44 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 63 | 52 |
| Vibration / shaking | 41 | 11 |
| Airbag warning light | 39 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 22 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 20 | 6 |
| Electrical failures | 16 | 11 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 8 |
| Brake problems | 10 | 0 |
1999 Ford Explorer
1999 Kia Sportage
Compare all Ford Explorer 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.