Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving uphill in one inch of snow the axel hubs on the front of vehicle did not engage causing the loss of control of the steering, sliding sideways and backwards to a stop. The parts replaced were as follows: axel hub seals, axel bearings, upper ball joint, vacuum line and realignment of front end.
First time I brought the car back was because the engine light went on and I had a oil leakage in the engine. Car started to shake even after it was hot and made a weird noise in the engine. The motor rr window was not working and the brakes were making some weird noise. Brought to the dealer to fix and he sent it to Kia for repair, the Kia crew found the front caliper frozen, but the customer denied to fix it. So I brought it to a specialist to check double check the car. They found the following defects and found the car unsafe (caliper rgt worn, frozen, caliper hardware worn, wheel cyl rgt- new/kit leaky, shoe hardware worn, c.v. Boot/joint rfo/rfi/lfo/lfi worn, coil springs front broken rr broken, ball joints/lower l worn). …
Rear frame rust/rot is incredibly excessive. Noticed today while checking tire pressure. Entire underside of frame is completely rusted through. Rear cross member in terrible shape. Visible deterioration happened quickly. Purchasing the car in 2012 there was no sign of rot on the frame. Now I feel uncomfortable driving the car, or selling it to someone else for that matter. As a mechanical engineer, the integrity of the square tube frame is compromised to the point that safety in a rear end collision is in question, any kind of trailer load would be impossible and unsafe. Really a danger to the general public because it could fail at any time.
I purchased a leftover new 1998 Sportage 4x4 on 4/12/99. The vehicle was manufactured on 3/31/98. I brought my vehicle for autobody repairs on Thursday 5/13/99 with 592 miles on it. When I picked up my vehicle on moday 5/17/99 with 594 miles on it the lifters were making a horrible tapping noise. I was informed by the service manager that the noise was due to the vehicle being in storage for over a year and when purchased by myself that a new oil filter and oil change should have been done. After numerous attempts I finally got him to put it in writing and I now have the document as proof. My question is how does a lifter go bad at 594 miles and why didn't a large company such as Kia have the insight to provide better customer service upon purchase of a vehicle. I have acessed your complaint files for the 1998 Sportage and it printed 21 pages. Can all those consumers be wrong? …
After picking up daughter from the daycare consumer was driving down the street, travelling about 45mph, all of a sudden vehicle started swaying from left to right and lost control. Was able to maneuver and pulled over to side of road. Contacted the dealer, and had the vehicle towed.
While driving, 4 wheel drive will kick in intermittently on its own. Vehicle has been taken to dealer numerous times, cannot find cause. Consumer adds the catalyst had to be replaced. There is an oil leak and front end was serviced 3 times.
The 4- wheel drive fails to work properly. Vehicle also makes hideous noises & the steering wheel shakes very badly. Took the vehicle back to the dealer numerous times to solve the problem. Noises and vibrations are getting worse.
While driving 20 MPH and when applying the brakes a thumping noise was heard coming from the passenger side wheel.consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic replaced wheel bearing.
Consumer had recall for the rear axle and bearings remedied in 08/99. According to dealer's diagnostic, the components have failed again ,and could cause wheels to become detached from vehicle while driving.
Main concern is 4 wheel drive, could cause an accident if indicator lamp is on and 4 wheel drive is not engaging. Causing a false sense of security on hazardous roadways, causing loss of vehicle control.
Suspension complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Kia Sportage, 9% of the model year's 303 complaints. The component named most often is front › wheel bearing (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Kia Sportage suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1998 Kia Sportage, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Kia Sportage suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.