Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1999 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/FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
- Consequence
- THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
KIA/ENGINE STALLING
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.
KIA/BRAKE PIPE CLEARANCE
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITHOUT AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING CAN CONTACT A HYDRAULIC BRAKE PIPE CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PIPE AND STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING.
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 (284)
284 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 284 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 79 | 27.8% |
| Power train | 57 | 20.1% |
| Service brakes | 44 | 15.5% |
| Electrical system | 41 | 14.4% |
| Fuel system | 37 | 13% |
| Structure | 29 | 10.2% |
| Visibility | 27 | 9.5% |
| Air bags | 23 | 8.1% |
| Suspension | 19 | 6.7% |
| Seat belts | 17 | 6% |
How 1999 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
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
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 · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1999 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
1999 Kia Sportage FAQ
How many recalls does the 1999 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 04V305000 (seat belt), 99V325000 (electrical), 98V222000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1999 Kia Sportage problems?
Owners filed 284 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (79), Power train (57), Service brakes (44) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1999 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 17 city, 21 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1999 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 1999 drew 284. 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.