Vehicle Data Hub

2001 Kia Sportage engine problems

50 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2001 Kia Sportage, which is 14% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 2nd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
50 14% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
35,000 miles 29 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 4
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2001 Kia Sportage Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 35,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 10 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 5 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 7 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 4 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 2 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 1 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 35,000 miles
Based on 29 complaints that include mileage. 76% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles10
20k to 40k miles5
40k to 60k miles7
60k to 80k miles4
80k to 100k miles2
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles1
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 29 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 35,000 miles, and 76% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

Have had recurrent problems with engine performance idle and running. Engine racing with rpm's to 3500 at stop sign. Have had to turn vehicle off to resolve problem. I was afraid that if I did not turn engine off, idle would have continued to race and "blow up." engine also has very rough idle/alternating with intermittent misfires most of the time... "bogging" down to almost stall /then racing to RPM of 1500-2500.

Reported at 33,356 miles, July 2003 CrashFire

For a period of 30-45 minutes after starting the vehicle gasoline and exhaust fumes entered the passenger's cabin. A company named green circle tested the vehicle, which tested positive for carbon monoxide. Passengers complained of headaches while in the vehicle, and driver sometimes became dizzy. Dealer replaced the catalytic converter twice, intake manifold once, and fuel injectors once. These repairs did not remedy the problem.

Reported at 9,930 miles, July 2001

Other problems reported for the 2001 Kia Sportage

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Kia models