1998 Kia Sportage Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · data through 07/14/2026

47Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints

15.5%Of all 303 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE47 · 15.5%

Unspecified / other24 · 7.9%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS21 · 6.9%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT18 · 5.9%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE16 · 5.3%

Share of the 303 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Kia Sportage overview page.

What owners report

“WHEN DRIVING ENGINE STALLS. MOST OF THE TIME IT STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. ALSO, THE ENGINE STUTTERS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE…”NHTSA complaint 851765 — filed 10/26/1999

“WHEN STOPPED THE ENGINE IDLES ROUGH AND IF ON AN INCLINE, IT IS AS THOUGH IT WILL STALL BEFORE IT KICKS IN AND GOES. ALSO…”NHTSA complaint 711443 — filed 09/16/1999

“WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND THE ENGINE WASN'T RUNNING PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER'S SHOP FOR…”NHTSA complaint 844529 — filed 08/06/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Kia Sportage have engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline is the most-reported problem area on the 1998 Kia Sportage: 47 of 303 complaints on file (15.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1998 Kia Sportage have in total?

303 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.