Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I notice there was something going on with the way I was turning the wheel of my car I took it to my garage and my mechanic told me to take the car home and call Kia the person that made car stated the whole frame was rotten out and crack it could not be repaired the car should of not been on the road when spoke to Kia they stated I needed to bring the car to the service center to look at it told them the same thing that my garage told them that the frame was crack and was unsafe to drive Kia corp made me paid them $100 dollars to look at it and there mechanic did not want to put it on lift because he felt that is was going to fall apart he even advise me not to drive the car out they said they could do nothing about it because the car had over 100,000 hundred thousand miles on it. …
(1) noticed that the fuel tank shield is severely rotted out and is barely connected. (2) smell fuel vapors periodically while in the vehicle. (3) fuel tank appears to be rusting, afraid to mess with tank in fear of disturbing the rust and rupturing a hole in tank. (4) brake lines were so severely rusted in one area that it blew a hole in the line and prevented the vehicle from stopping and required the prompt action for repair. Other brake lines look like they May fail in near future. (5) steel portion of power steering line rusted out and blew fluid everywhere preventing the ability to turn the wheel while driving. (6) the frame has heavy rust scale and appears to be rotting in several place. (7) paint is starting to bubble which is indicating body is rusting under paint job. This is a 12 year old vehicle with very bad rotting of metal from salt corrosion. …
I was told by a mechanic that worked on the brakes that the frame was rotted in the fall of 2009. I changed the exhaust myself in the fall of 2010 and saw the frame was rotted so bad that I could put my hand completely through several of the holes and noticed several cracks. In March of 2011 the center link for the rear axle broke free from the rotted frame and fell down on top of the drive shaft. I did 2 days worth of very creative welding to put it back together. In April of 2011 gas tank began to leak. Put car up on jack stands to remove gas tank and found the frame had broken above left rear coil spring, the cross member just in front of the rear bumper has a 3-4 inch gap (rotted through-no metal left) and the rear axle has shifted over about 4" causing the right rear tire to rub against the shock. …
I took my vehicle to a shop to get the oil changed and they noticed that the driver side rear of the frame is severely rusted out and needs replacement. Also the fuel tank is leaking at one of the seams in the corner of the tank. I have been told by people in the auto industry that this is a common problem with the Kia Sportage. I have also seen numerous reports on the internet as well. It's only a 12 year old vehicle. I have had plenty of other vehicles much older without all of this kind of rust issue. This is ridiculous. Obviously there is some kind of defect with the materials being used. I surely hope the NHTSA will make Kia motors recall these vehicles. Because it is a major safety hazard.
Entire undercarriage rusted out. Rust start with the shroud over gas tank. Then the neck of the gas fill pipe corroded. Now the entire chaise is rusted. I realize the car is 10 years old but it only has 54,500 original miles on it. Kia should have been made to recall all of the 2000 sportages and forced to fix them. There are far too many of these still on the road and they have become a safety hazard. This not a matter of lack of maintenance, the car has been well care for. This is a matter of a manufacture being allowed to get away with selling an inferior product. Time the NHTSA steps in and protects the American consumer.
Tires became bald three months after I bought the car, brake pads and rotor needed replacing. The gas lever has been and is broke again. Hubs were replaced the first time, seals were replaced second time. The heat shield needs to be replaced right now. Passenger side window moves very slow. Timing belt replaced early. Brake light comes on whenever I applied the brakes. I went to an auto dealer and had them check out the brakes. They told me that the master brake cylinder was leaking badly.
The frame where the rear stabilizer arm connects has completely rusted allowing the arm to fall away. The only thing supporting the arm now appears to be the fuel line which is attached to it. The rest of the frame is rusted out as well. There is not enough metal left to weld or repair. Had the arm broken the fuel line and sparked when it dragged on the road, this problem could have turned deadly. This is a very serious problem for a vehicle with only twelve years and 84K miles on the road.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Kia Sportage. While driving at approximately 30-40 MPH, the rear of the vehicle swayed back and forth. The contact noticed that the entire rear part of the frame near the rear passenger side tire had rusted and the stabilizing bar had fallen off on one side. The vehicle had not been inspected by at a dealership or repair shop at the time of the complaint. The current mileage was approximately 115,200. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
My 2000 Kia Sportage has serious frame rust. The car is only ten years old and I am the original owner. I have taken very good care of this car and can't understand why this would happen. There seem to be many of the same complaints on this. I think this should be subject to a safety recall due to the frame being structurally compromised. This is serious. The frame on the right side of the vehicle is almost broken in two pieces.
My 2000 Kia Sportage has serious frame rust. The car is only ten years old and I am the original owner. I have taken very good care of this car and the stabilizer bar broke off of the frame and my mechanic states the frame is si rusted it is paper thin and advises not repairing as it would be hazardous. I think this should be subject to a safety recall due to the frame being structurally compromised. This is serious.
Body complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2000 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the body & structure of the 2000 Kia Sportage, 10% of the model year's 304 complaints. The component named most often is frame and members (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Kia Sportage body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2000 Kia Sportage, though it has 2 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 2000 Kia Sportage body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 113,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure 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.