Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1996 Kia Sportage. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗KIA/SEAT BELT BUCKLE
- Summary
- 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.
KIA/REAR HATCH DOOR
- Summary
- 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.
KIA/FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL:PEDAL
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (57)
57 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 57 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 15 | 26.3% |
| Power train | 11 | 19.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 17.5% |
| Air bags | 9 | 15.8% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 12.3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 8.8% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.3% |
| Structure | 3 | 5.3% |
| Suspension | 3 | 5.3% |
How 1996 compares with other Sportage years
Best and worst Sportage years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 56 | 2 |
| 1996 | 57 | 3 |
| 1997 | 181 | 3 |
| 1998 | 303 | 3 |
| 1999 | 284 | 3 |
| 2000 | 304 | 2 |
| 2001 | 228 | 0 |
| 2002 | 234 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | 68 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicles
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1996 Sportage for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 Kia Sportage FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 02V216000 (seat belt), 97V234000 (latch), 96V131000 (vehicle speed control). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Kia Sportage problems?
Owners filed 57 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (15), Power train (11), Engine and engine cooling (10) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1996 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 17 city, 22 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1996 Sportage compare with other years?
Among the 1995–2005 Kia Sportage model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2000 the most (304). The 1996 drew 57. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.