Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Kia Sportage owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On April 24, 2005 columbus ohio had poor weather conditions ;snow and icy rain. I was traveling on s.r. 104 exiting on high st. I applied pressure to the brakes and fish tailed my 2001 Kia Sportage. I hit the guard rail and the car rolled over. The front bumper had hit the guard rail and was actually off the car by the time I uprighted the vehicle again. The Kia Sportage is equipped with 3 airbags;the front driver front passenger and a driver knee airbag, none of which deployed. The passenger side door was off the car as well when I uprighted, and again, none of the airbags, including the passenger side deployed. My 2 year old son was also in the car, in a carseat in the back passenger side. He thankfully suffered no injury, but that part of the car recieved the least damage.
I was driving a Kia Sportage 2001 and was struck in the rear by a tractor trailer. The impact was so great it broke the back support of my seat. The truck forced me into the vehicle in front of me so hard that I crumbled the trunk of that vehicle. In all 5 vehicles received damage. My vehicle was totaled. My seat broke and my airbags including a knee airbag did not deploy. I received whiplash to the neck and damage to my right leg. I feel that had my airbags deployed I would not have received the damage to my leg. Also I believe had my seat back support stayed upright I would not have received the injuries as bad.
Traveling at 60 MPH, I hydroplaned and lost control of my 2001 Kia Sportage, impacting a barricade with the front of the vehicle. The air bags did not inflate and the seat belt did not keep me restrained allowing my head to impact the front windshield.
While driving at 40 MPH consumer's vehicle was hit on the front passenger's side by a vehicle going 55 MPH. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. Driver sustained a broken angle, a sprained wrist, and possible head injuries.
Was traveling about 35 MPH. Two vehicles in front of me collided and then both slid into me head on. Damage to my vehicle was in excess of $5,000. Neither air bag deployed. Driver and front passenger sustained minor soft tissue injuries.
I was stopped behind two cars waiting to make a left hand turn. I was rearended by a man going approximately 50mph at impact, I was slammed in to the person in front of me, and she hit the person in front of her knocking that SUV in to on coming traffic. All four cars were totalled and everyone's airbags went off except for mine. My face took out the visor and hit the steering wheel. The front seats reclined at impact as well.
I rear ended another car on the highway going approx. 10-15 miles an hour. The airbag sensor was smashed and neither airbags deployed. I was told in the beginning that the airbag misfired and went off inside the dashboard. Now they are unable to tell me wether the airbags deployed or not and they do not know if they are even going to fix them. I am livid!
While driving approximately 35 MPH vehicle was involved in a full frontal crash. Both frontal air bags failed to deploy, resulting in injury to driver. Vehicle has not been examined to determine cause of failure. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Consumer states that while traveling at 40 MPH, consumer hit a deer on the front passenger side of vehicle. Consumer states further down the road hit another deer on drivers side and none of the airbags deployed. Please provide any further information.
While traveling at 55 to 60 MPH another vehicle suddenly stopped, causing a chain reaction of accidents. Consumer's vehicle front/ rear end, and sidways was hit. None of front airbags deployed. Please provide any further informati0n.
Airbag complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Kia Sportage, 9% of the model year's 228 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Kia Sportage airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 Kia Sportage. 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 2001 Kia Sportage airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 0 fires and 14 injuries to air bags 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.