VehicleVerdict

1999 Kia Sportage electrical system problems

The 1999 Kia Sportage has 48 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

48

Electrical System complaints

10%

Share of year

1

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

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 15 MPH IN THE POURING RAIN A FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DASH. THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE ENGINE. RECALL NUMBER 9764 99 V 325 000. TOOK TO DEALER. THEY WILL NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. NLM”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 1999 Kia Sportage have?

NHTSA has 48 complaints about the 1999 Kia Sportage electrical system — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1999 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.