Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
Dt: the c owns a 2000 Kia sporadic. On 10-14-05 their car caught on fire while driving 35 MPH. The contact saw white smoke coming from the vents, and then she saw black smoke coming from underneath the dash. The fire department was not called. Once she turned the ignition off the car finished smoking for a while, and when it quit smoking the contact tried to start the car and it would not start. She was not yet sure of the damage done because the insurance company has not looked at it. . She reported having no problems at all with the car prior to this incident. The incident has been reported to the insurance company. Her husband thought it was of electrical nature. The contact contacted ,a Kia dealer and they were not very helpful. They referred her to the insurance company. She has not spoken to the manufacturer.
Vehicle experienced an electrical system failure, and caught on fire. Vehicle was totaled. A recall was issued, but the vehicle not included due to VIN. The vehicle was engulfed on the passenger side in flames. The vehicle was parked the whole time prior to the fire. The fir department deemed it was an electrical problem and had become a total loss. (recall #00V205000)
Since oct. 2002 until April 2003, the power locks would operate erratically, making the lock and unlocking sound, and a clicking sound coming from under the dash board, vehicle has been to the dealer four times for this problem, first they thought it was the timer control unit, audio circuit, they did find four chaffered wires in the drivers side door, and some corrosion from the main door pin. Two days later from picking up the vehicle, problem still exists. Alarm is working funny when the vehicle locks are freaking out. Service manager where I take my vehicle for service said to me upon picking up my vehicle," I hope you don't take this the wrong way, or personally, but I hope I don't see you again, you know things are either black, white, or gray and this situation is very gray." imagine that, that's what they are there for, to fix your vehicle. …
My Kia began having electrical problems about 3 years ago. Long story made short: the dealer wanted me to pay $3000 plus for it had all its electrical system melted down. I found a recall and after a battle with the dealer and manufacturer I got it fixed when I found out there was a recall. Next nightmare: July 2008 no one died luckily. I lend my car to a friend and he is driving his 2 year old daughter and the car falls to the ground. Axle broke down, wheels spun inwards and Kia is not working again. Luckily these friends were going at 20 miles an hour otherwise they would not have told the story. Got it fixed cost me $$ apparently it was a defective Kia part center link replaced. Have the part still in my car as a nice memory. Final nightmare: April 2009 I was the main character: again the axle feels weird and clicks when I turn. Problem: tie rod is broken. …
Tl contact owns a 2000 Kia Sportage. Since purchasing the vehicle, the contact has paid for numerous repairs. Before driving the vehicle off the lot, she noticed a large puddle of oil underneath the vehicle. The dealer repaired the failure. The following week, while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to shake severely. The dealer rotated the tires, but the shaking persisted. Thirdly, a tire blew out and had to be changed. In addition, the vehicle began leaking transmission fluid and a new transmission line was installed. Lastly, the windshield wiper motor stopped working and the entire driver's side glass caved in on the contact, but did not break. There were no injuries. Currently, the glass will not roll up or down. The failure mileage was 86,000. Updated 1/5/09 the gas tank was falling apart. A shield was needed to rectify the problem. The drivers window was inoperative. …
Tl contact had a 2000 Kia Sportage. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The vehicle had not been taken to a mechanic. The contact believed that the vehicle should have been included in NHTSA campaign id number 99V325000 (electrical system:wiring) because the symptoms were identical, however, Kia stated that the VIN was excluded from the recall. The contact has since sold the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 49,150.
Smoke had come out of the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic, who stated the wires in steering column caused friction. The mechanic stated that eventually the vehicle would burn to the ground. The battery was replaced twice due to a corroded cable which lead to the engine. The horn was inoperative and the consumer was unsure if the air bag(s) would deploy.
Consumer has reported eletrical problems to the dealer who has been uncorporative. There was some type of substance dripping on driver's foot & a burning smell from the inside. Consumer pulled/lifted up hood and vehicle was on fire. Vehicle was totaled. Dealership has no concern of the problem or cause.
Car loses power while in motion, taken to dealer on 4 occasions in a time span of three months, everytime they say something different is wrong with it, yet it has been the same type of failure everytime. I have been in one near fatal accident on the highway when the car lost power going 70mps, I had to drive off of the hwy so that I wouldn't be hit from behind, then my husband has almost been in atleast 4 accidents, when the car loses power while turning onto a busy intersection (car stalls in the middle of the road). Dealer can't seem to find anything wrong with the car, yet I keep having the same problems. I just got the car back from the dealer this past Friday, and it is still stalling out on me. Is it going to take me, or one of my family members, dying in this car to see what the real problem is? Please help me. I don't know where else to turn to.
One numerous attempts to get these diffrent probelms fixed always something elsewent wrong with the vehicle within a hour or so of time after picking vehicle up from the dealership. I currently have a major engine probelm that still exists with a very strong odor of sulfur smell. Vehicle has left me stranded along roadside with 3 children in it on at least 4 separate occasions. I have contacted the manufacter and they will not repurchase this vechile back nor do they acknowledge current engine probelms and the safety issue of this vechile. I have a techinical no partial party report about this vechile and the ( maufacture will still not repurchase this vechile from me) I need everyone to know what kind of probelms this vechile has given me as of this point only owning this for 6 months with 4000 + miles on it.
Related recalls
Electrical system
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.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with an adhesive label with the correct illustration to permanently affix to their respective owners manuals.
NHTSA investigations
Incorrect battery jump-start
Allege battety May explode if owner's attempt to jump-state the vehicle by following the owner's manual diagram
Electrical complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2000 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the electrical system of the 2000 Kia Sportage, 11% of the model year's 304 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Kia Sportage electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-205 (electrical system, Jul 27, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Kia Sportage electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.