22nd Sep 2007, 12:33

I have a 2001 kia sportage 4wd.. it has 54,000 miles on it. I've taken care of it as required.. but.. just what does the 'bumper to bumper, 100,000 mile warranty' cover? I'm reading about some nightmare experiences here - just wondered, just in case. Where can I get that information?

My worst experiences were replacing a tire at 2,000 miles (it was not covered - they said I ran over something, but I didn't) and having to replace brakes/alignment at 18K miles (they said it was not covered and was a typical time to replace them). BUT, I did get a free cup holder when it broke. And, they replaced my rear view mirror when it fell off.

19th Nov 2007, 13:16

I have a 2001 Kia Sportage and I got the car in 2004 my mom gave it to me as a graduation present. When I first got the car it ran fine and just recently the car is driving like it is a piece of junk. every time the car breaks I have gotten it fixed or my mom gets it fixed, in the last 3 months I have had 2 tune-ups, a new fuel pump and a fuel injector and a fuel filter and it still doesn't run well. when I was driving back to school one weekend from visiting my mom the car almost cut off on me on the interstate. but I finally made it home about 1 hour later. Now if you try to drive the car it won't go over 20 mph and it shakes so bad. I hate that car. I just wish my mom would have picked out another car for me.

26th Nov 2007, 17:02

I bought a 2001 KIA Sport-age 4x4 in July of this year.

I just started having problem with it. At first it started missing, then the engine light come on.

The dealer said, it's a spark plug, but I had just changed them.

They said the code said, misfire plug 4, so they put in new spark plug and a new air filter and away I went.

Well...that lasted till I got home.

Light back on again and misfiring worse.

Back to the Dealer, this time they say its the connector underneath the plugs. Supposedly it was corroded. Again, they said its all fixed.

Picked it up and again it lasted 2 km.

Misfiring like crazy again, back to dealer.

Well, now they say its the fuel pump, they changed that, got it back and guess what, lights on again and missing. All of theses times it went to Dealer I payed them.

So... I was angry and told them I had enough of their crap and that I wanted it fixed. They just said they are trying the best they can!

So thinking they were ripping me off I told them that I was never bringing my car to them again!!!

Then I call a parts store and talk to a mechanic and he says," When you start having these problems such as mine that its usually the timing belt."

I have no idea if mines been done, as it was recently purchased. Bottom line after reading all these reviews and talking to the mechanic, the garage probally did not rip me off and now I am going to have to take it somewhere else, where they are not familar with this crazy S.U.V.

I called around to get a price on the timing belt and for the kit which includes a drive train it is 487.00 that's not including installation. So I believe I"m going to bite the bullet and go ahead and get it done. I CAN ONLY HOPE THIS IS THE END TO MY PROBLEM.

5th Mar 2008, 21:09

I'm having the same problem with my 98 Kia that a few comments back mentioned. I have a transmission leak and can't even get it a mile with out losing the entire 4 quarts. Its not under warranty and have had nothing, but problems with this piece of crap. a few weeks after I bought it I got an oil leak which I admit wasn't bad and only cost me $7 to replace a seal. then I had to replace the ball-joint and side arm which cost me about $150...still not bad. a few months ago the check engine light came on and I had it checked it. I was told I just needed new plugs and wires. this irritated me because when I bought it they told me it only had one previous owner and they kept up on the maintenance very well. I also just put new tires on it and I've owned it less than a year! I wish I would have read these comments about a year ago.

8th Apr 2008, 20:03

I have had the 2001 Sportage for 6 years now. It has performed well off-road, in the snow, in the desert and traveling across the United States (it is originally from Canada). Mine is a manual transmission, have never had issues with power. The check engine light was a pain in the butt, I ignored it as long as I could and then would take it in to get checked. Most fixes would last 100 miles or so and then it would come on again. Had the thermostat changed out and it has been 6000 miles and no check engine light.

Performing regular maintenance, no more than I would for any other car, has made sure this is a reliable and fun vehicle.

14th Jun 2008, 21:34

I bought Kia Sportage 2001. It has 102000 miles, but the check engine light came on after one week. I went to the mechanic; he said must be the oxygen sensor. I changed it and still the light is on, and he did not know why. He said you must go to the dealer after I spent $500.

3rd Jul 2008, 20:00

I bought my 2001 4x4 Sportage new in 2001. I haven't had an ounce of trouble other than the engine light issue, which, by the way has been fixed as of Oct. '07. It turns out that Kia installed the wrong thermostat (or sensor?) on all the 2001 models, which is why the engine light kept coming on.

I went through the same 'we don't know' or 'it's the gas cap not being tightened' for years. Still, there was never any mechanical problem with it and once they replaced the thermostat with the correct one, the light has not come on since.

The car has 60,000 miles on it. I drive about 50 miles a day to work now and this car has been excellent to me. The 4WD is great in the New England snow.

To keep the warranty good, I had the 30,000 and the 50,000 mile checkups done. I just replaced the tires six months ago and the brakes at the same time. I go up and down a mountain, so that was pretty normal that the brakes needed replacing after six years, I would think!

Would I buy another? In a minute! I love the way the new ones look, but I'm not needing a car, so no reason to get one.