2001 Kia Sportage Fuel System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY TEEN...WHEN FILLING GAS TANK IT BEGINS TO SPEW OUT ONTO HIM . ARE THE PERSON FILLING THE TANK.ALSO A BAD SMELL OF FUMES INSIDE OF CAR,,,,PLEASE HELP THE PROBLEM....*JS
I PURCHASED A KIA SPORTAGE EX 2001 ON 12/27/12 FROM FRONT RYAL AUTO GROUP IN FRONT ROYAL VA. I WENT TO THE GAS STATION AFTER FILLING MY GAS TANK I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. AFTER A FEW DAYS I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM , THEY DID NOT KNOW IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY TO BRING IT IN MON-FRI 8-5 WELL I CAN NOT MAKE THOSE HOURS TO GO ,SO THE ODOR CONTINUES TO FIND OUT FROM A MECHANIC OF MY OWN CHOICE WHICH AFTER I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AGAIN BEFORE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT THAT WE DICOVERED I HAVE A FUEL TANK GAS SEAL LEAKAGE.. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED CAUSING A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED REPLACING AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
OUR 2001 KIA SPORTAGE HAD A GAS SMELL. NOW WE NOTICED GAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK. IT SEEMS TO STOP AT 1/4 FULL. WE BOUGHT IN BRAND NEW IN 2002. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTERIOR OF THE FUEL TANK WAS WET ON THE EXTERIOR BECAUSE THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 08/03/11
FAULTY GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK LEAKS GAS. *TR
FUEL TANK LEAKING, STRONG FUMES INSIDE CABIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL RELATED TO THE SIMILAR DEFECT; HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FUEL ABNORMALLY FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
FUEL ODOR ,FOUND GAS LEAKS FROM CORRODED GAS TANK, CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS,TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER , CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTIES BUT KIA PAID TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK, I WAS TOLD IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS KIA SPORTAGE 2001 , THE TANK SHIELD UNDER THE TANK COLLECTED THE SALT FROM THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER AND SIT THERE BETWEEN THE SHIELD AND THE TANK CAUSING EXCESSIVE CORROSION,I WAS PLEASED WITH KIA ACTION TO PAY FULLY FOR THE TANK. *TR
GAS TANK IS LEAKING WHEN TANK IS FILLED FULL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AND CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS LEAKING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
JUST BPURCHASED A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE ,THE GAS TANK IS ALL RUSTED AND LEAKING. *TR
KIA 2001 SPORTAGE / GAS TANK LEAK /PLATE GUARDING TANK RUSTED AWAY/FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. RECALL DATE 2007 FOR KIA SPORTAGES ALREADY INACTED / GARAGE SAID DIDN'T APPLY TO KIAS IN OHIO????? COST 1200 TO REPAIR . WHY NOT OHIO????? GARAGE TELLING TRUTH??? *TR
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. THIS A DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA OF AMERICA YESTERDAY AND EXPLAINED THIS SITUATION, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS IN MY OPINION, LESS THAN RECEPTIVE ABOUT KIA LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION. WHEN SOMEONE GETS CREMATED BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, IT WILL BE TOO LATE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU. *TR
GASOLINE SMELL COMES IN THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE WINDOWS. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT I CANNOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE DURING COOL OR COLD WEATHER. FIRST MENTIONED IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR A NEW VEHICLE AND THAT THE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY. 8 YEARS LATER THE SMELL HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND HASN'T GONE AWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL RELATED ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE TRAVELING UPHILL OR A SLOPE. THE FUEL PUMP, CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, TWO FUEL FILTERS, AND ADDITIONAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 63,398.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TANK WAS LEAKING DUE TO A LOOSE SEAM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CANNOT FILL UP THE GAS TANK IN THE VEHICLE. SHE DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WERE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 05/13/09*LJ UPDATED 05/13/09. *JB
2001 KIA SPORTAGE GAS TANK IS LEAKING FROM SEAM IN GAS TANK. *TR
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. *TR
FUEL LEAK UNDER HOOD. FUMES COME INTO VEHICLE THROUGH AIR VENTS WHEN OUTSIDE AIR IS COLD. *TR
THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. KIA PROVIDES A SERVICE CAMPAIGN (SC059) TO INSPECT 1996-2002 SPORTAGE MODELS TO VERIFY THIS FAILURE IS COVERED BY THAT CAMPAIGN. HOWEVER, KIA ONLY PROVIDES REPAIR BULLETIN ASSISTANCE FOR 1996-2000 MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM - SO EVEN THOUGH THEY VERIFIED IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE REPAIR BULLETIN BECAUSE IT IS A 2001 MODEL. WHY IS THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR INSPECTION ENCOMPASSING 1996-2002 MODELS IF THEY ARE ONLY REPAIRING 1996-2000 MODELS WITHOUT CHARGING? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND THE FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM A FULL TANK TO HALF A TANK. SHE FOUND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VIN, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, ENGINE SIZE, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
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. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN MY AREA, AS WELL AS COLUMBUS AND CINCINNATI, ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING...THAT THE VIN NUMBERS ARE 2 MONTHS NEWER THAN THE RECALL THAT KIA HAS ISSUED, AND THEREFORE ARE BEING DENIED. I HAD TO PAY $443.92 TO GET THIS FIXED AT THE KIA DEALER AND FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PROBLEM WITH THIS GAS TANK. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2001 Kia Sportage has 44 Fuel System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.