Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
I bought the car 2 weeks after I left dealer started noticing a smell of gas though was. Because just put gas in .then when turned on heat smell would get worse ! A few days ago went to fill gas and a lot gas over.filled onto ground not able to figure out why the smell gas so strong inside car its. Actually upset my stomach when driving the. At and afraid going start fire ! Also leakage on ground when parked . I have read other complaints with same problem !! It's a 2001 Kia. Only has 78,000 miles on it think should be cover. From company since not only one with this problem .
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Kia Sportage. While driving at various speeds, fuel fumes emitted into the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that fuel was leaking from the top of the fuel tank and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Bought this vehicle with only 11K miles from an elderly couple that hardly drove it. Now at 21K miles, there is a gas smell coming inside the vehicle and also outside of the vehicle. Has a rough idle and gas spews out of tank while I'm pumping gas. The front passenger tire sounds like it's about to fall off. Had to replace spark plugs twice already. Also, the driverside seatbelt will not retract. I bought this vehicle with only 11K miles thinking it will last for awhile, but I've had so many issues with it.
My 2001 Kia Sportage is garage parked, and I noticed the smell of gas in my garage one day last week. I parked in my driveway that night and noticed a large gas stain the next morning. I took my car to my mechanic who called a parts dealer to find out the cost of a used one. He was notified that Kia had a recall on these gas tanks. He then called Kia and scheduled an appointment for me to take it in to them that afternoon. After Kia's inspection, they said I had the same problem as many others were having with these gas tanks. The service tech ran my VIN number and was told that my vehicle was "two months out of the recall date." he said he felt that since it was that close to the date, that Kia should cover it. He called Kia and spoke to a couple of "higher ups" there and was told the same thing. …
On two occasions, my 2001 Kia Sportage has suffered a ruptured gasoline tank from rocks being trap between the gasoline tank and the gasoline tank guard plate, making my vehicle a rolling bomb until I discovered the gasoline leak. The gasoline guard plate was designed with 8, circular holes in the guard approximately 1 inch in diameter which allows smalls rocks from the road to enter the space between the guard plate and the gasoline tank and grinding a hole in the gasoline tank, allowing the fuel to leak which creates an almost certain recipe for a disaster if the gasoline was to contact a hot tailpipe, or if the vehicle was in a accident. In both cases I had to replace a very expensive gasoline tank. I will be injecting foam into the space between gasoline tank and the guard plate later this week to hopefully, keep this explosive problem from occurring again. …
Dt: the contact states that 2001 Kia Sportage was having a problem with the gas line. When the consumer put gas into the gas tank the gas was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The charcoal box has been changed. The gas was shooting out back toward the person putting the gas in the tank. The vehicle has been in the shop three times over the samething. The other two times that the consumer brought the vehicle back home from the dealership it was okay for a few days. The dealership was trying to fix the vehicle. It will run for a couple of days, and when going to get gas the vehicle will only hold $4 worth of gas. Afterrwards the gas would shoot out of the filler pipe. The vehicle I stalled while driving. When stopping at a stop sign the vehicle died and then started right back up. Kia said that she May be overfilling the tank. …
Just purchased this vehicle from a private owner, they smelled an odor of fuel ever since they acquired the vehicle a month ago. Prior to that it was owned by one owner and garage kept. The fuel tank and bottom protector was rotted away and in dangerous leaking condition. Kia was contacted and they said there were no recall and they wouldn't repair the vehicle. The rot in this tank didn't happen overnight, but it was so severe that it warrants a look from the NHTSA into this. A manufacturer such as Kia should not be able to sell an inferior safety hazard to the citizens of the USA. There were investigations into this problem a full 7 years ago and nothing was done. This is an insult to people concerned with motoring safety, we should expect better from both the manufacturer and government agencies such as this one. …
Defective fuel tank. Fuel tank leaks and it is a known problem with vehicle and yet Kia corporation and the dealership in canton michigan where I purchased vehicle will not take responsibility for this issue. This is dangerous. I have taken outstanding care of my 2001 Kia Sportage-it was always garaged and away from the elements. I even have covered parking at work. I want Kia to compensate me by 1) replacing the fuel tank free of charge; 2) giving me my $ back $11K--that I spent on purchasing this care; or 3)giving me $ to purchase a tank and cover labor. Do you know that it is impossible to find a new or used 2001 Kia Sportage fuel tank. This is terrible and an incredible safety violation. I have been trying for years to get an answer and I just get the run around. I am writing Kia, the dealership, my michigan attorney general and president obama. …
As is it happening with the 2002, and 2005 models, my 2001 Kia Sportage also has problem when I put gas in. When I try to fill it up, it spits the gasoline out with so much force it gets all over the floor and if you are not careful, it gets on you. This is been happening about a year or so ago. It is a very dangerous situation because when you least expect it the gasoline you put in the tank goes back out. I took it to the local mechanic and told me there was a defective valve inside the tank and it was a very expensive job. I check but there are no Kia recalls. I think there should be some enforcement from the government against Kia so they fix this problem which is dangerous not only to the owner's health, but to the environment and his pocket too.
I had a leak in my 2001 Kia Sportage fuel tank last year. I discovered that while I was visiting Canada and fixed it there. This week, I take the vehicle to the mechanic for inspection. He finds that there is another leakage around the fuel pump. The mechanic recommends that I replace both the fuel pump and the fuel tank. I file the complaint because the leakage problem is a safety hazard and the mechanic indicates that it is a common problem with the Kia Sportage. The vehicle currently has fewer than 59,000 miles and had fewer than 50,000 miles when the first incident occurred. So, I presume that the problem is likely related to a manufacturing defect.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel tank leakage
A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from June 1999 to October 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component…
Fuel System complaints in other Sportage years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2001 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2001 Kia Sportage, 27% of the model year's 228 complaints. The component named most often is storage › tank assembly (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Kia Sportage fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
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.