Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Kia Sportage, and it carries 2 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 | 44 | 19% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 24 | 10% |
| Air bags | 16 | 7% |
| Structure | 14 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 6% |
| Power train | 10 | 4% |
| Visibility | 9 | 4% |
| Suspension | 8 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT DEALER STARTED NOTICING A SMELL OF GAS THOUGH WAS. BECAUSE JUST PUT GAS IN .THEN WHEN TURNED ON HEAT SMELL WOULD GET WORSE ! A FEW DAYS AGO WENT TO FILL GAS AND A LOT GAS OVER.FI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES FROM AN ELDERLY COUPLE THAT HARDLY DROVE IT. NOW AT 21K MILES, THERE IS A GAS SMELL COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HAS A ROUGH IDLE AND GAS SPEWS OUT
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANI
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONT
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEEN...WHEN FILLING GAS TANK IT BEGINS TO SPEW OUT ONTO HIM . ARE THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK.ALSO A BAD SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE OF CAR,,,,PLEASE HELP THE PROBLEM....*JS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME JUST BEHIND THE REAR SUSPENSION RUSTS FROM WATER THROWN UP BY THE TIRES. WHILE THIS MIGHT NOT NORMALLY BE A DANGER UNLESS YOU WERE TOWING, ON THIS MODEL IT'S WHERE THE FRAME CONNECTS TO THE WHE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH CREATED FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOCATED THE LEAK UNDER THE FUEL TANK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, THEY SMELLED AN ODOR OF FUEL EVER SINCE THEY ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS OWNED BY ONE OWNER AND GARAGE KEPT. THE FUEL TANK AND BOTTOM PROTECTOR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2001 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.
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 235 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 44 of them (19%). There are 2 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 2001 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.