Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Kia Sportage, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 60 | 18% |
| Service brakes | 27 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 8% |
| Power train | 22 | 7% |
| Structure | 21 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 6% |
| Visibility | 16 | 5% |
| Air bags | 13 | 4% |
| Suspension | 11 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
FUEL TANK LEAKING GAS I BELIEVE THE FUEL TANK IS NO GOOD ANYMORE I PURCHASE A VEHICLE FILL UP THE TANK AND START TO LEAK GAS I THOUGHT IT WAS A GASKET SO GASKET WAS PLACED AND IT'S STILL LEAKING
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL, LOOKED UNDER CAR AND NOTICED GAS DRIPPING FROM UNDER CAR. UPON FURTHER LOOKING I NOTICED THE GAS TANK PROTECTIVE PLATE IS ROTTING OUT WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THE GAS TANK IS TOO.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NO AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL, BRAKES GOES DOWN TO FLOOR, OXYGEN SENSOR BAD IN BANK ONE, POPPING IN TIRES. MY FRAME CAN BREAK FROM CAR AT ANY TIME, DEALER KNEW I HAD KIDS, WE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT RIDING IN THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
2000 KIA SPORTAGE RECALL - HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE FAN BLADE DETACHED AND WENT THROUGH T
NHTSA complaint: Engine
2000 KIA SPORTAGE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, RIGHT FRAME HAS A HUGE HOLE, MY CHILD IS AT RISK CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ALSO LOCKS DON'T WORK, BATTERY DIES, SEATBELTS SUCK, RADIO GOES OFF ...
NHTSA complaint: Steering
FUEL TANK/PAN RUSTED OUT. STRONG GAS ODOR. RECALL FOUND ONLINE. NEITHER DEALER NOR KIA WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE. RECEIVING NUMEROUS MISFIRE MESSAGES AND HAVE CHANGED PLUGS, COILS, AND WIRES. MISFIRE CODE STATES FUEL/AIR RATIO I
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL GUARD WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE O
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2000 Kia Sportage. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
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.
Risk: THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 83 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 79 | good |
| Performance | 55 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 326 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 60 of them (18%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.