VehicleVerdict

1998 Kia Sportage electrical system problems

The 1998 Kia Sportage has 63 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

63

Electrical System complaints

11%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Sportage electrical system complaints by model year65 complaints1995: 8 complaints1996: 9 complaints1997: 25 complaints1998: 63 complaints1999: 48 complaints2000: 39 complaints2001: 32 complaints2002: 21 complaints2005: 12 complaints2006: 31 complaints2007: 24 complaints2008: 37 complaints2009: 27 complaints2010: 3 complaints2011: 43 complaints2012: 32 complaints2013: 23 complaints2014: 9 complaints2015: 18 complaints2016: 17 complaints2017: 65 complaints2018: 29 complaints2019: 10 complaints2020: 19 complaints2021: 5 complaints2022: 5 complaints2023: 43 complaints2024: 12 complaints2025: 15 complaints2026: 3 complaints
Sportage electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

99V325000Electrical SystemNovember 19, 1999 · 76,986 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE C123 AND C124 CONNECTORS CAN BE PUT UNDER TENSION BY MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THUS PULLING THE WIRES AND CONNECTORS, LOOSENING THEM AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CIRCUIT CONTINUITY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CLIPS TO LOCK THE CONNECTORS TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SOLDER A SPLICE IN THE WIRE HARNESS.

What owners report

“1998 KIA SPORTAGE A RECALL ABOUT THE WIRING HAS BEEN REPORTED I [XXX] HAS BEEN SUFFERING FOR TRANSPORTATION DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION JUST NEED JUSTIFICATION A.S.A.P MY MAILING ADDRESS IS [XXX] MY PH. IS [XXX] ALSO [XXX]. THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · May 16, 2011 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1998 Kia Sportage have?

NHTSA has 63 complaints about the 1998 Kia Sportage electrical system — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 Kia Sportage electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 99V325000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.