1999 Kia Sportage Body & Structure Problems

While driving at 40 mph, your vehicle began shaking violently, causing you to lose control. After regaining control and stopping, you noticed corrosion on the rear end of the vehicle. This structural issue caused a serious loss of vehicle control and should be inspected by a mechanic to determine if the corrosion compromised the frame or suspension components.

While driving on the interstate and hitting a bump, your car began swaying side to side, making it very difficult to control. Upon inspection, you discovered severe rust damage to the frame — the passenger side is nearly gone and the driver side has significant holes and missing pieces. This structural damage poses a serious safety risk and likely requires complete frame replacement or professional structural repair.

While driving at 50 mph, your 1999 Kia Sportage began swaying back and forth. A mechanic found that the chassis on the rear passenger side had rusted severely, and they determined the damage was not repairable. This structural rust failure occurred at 88,000 miles. Addressing this issue would likely require extensive welding or chassis replacement to restore structural integrity.

Your 1999 Kia Sportage's frame has extensive rust and rot that makes it unsafe to drive and unable to pass inspection. You've been warned that the gas tank could fall off if you hit a bump, creating a serious safety hazard. Addressing this would require extensive frame repair or replacement, which is typically not economically viable on a vehicle this age.

Your Sportage has developed a serious structural problem: the rear frame has cracked and separated, causing the car to sway side-to-side and making steering extremely difficult. Your mechanic says the car is unsafe to drive because the frame is moving excessively. Additionally, you've experienced repeated rust issues with the gas tank (requiring 3 patches and one full replacement) and recurring brake problems. Fixing the frame crack will likely require welding or frame replacement, which is a major structural repair.

While driving at 55 mph, a larger truck passed you and forced your vehicle to swerve into another lane. A mechanic later found that your car's frame was fractured, likely from this incident. Frame damage of this severity can affect your vehicle's structural integrity and safety, and will typically require professional frame straightening or replacement at a body shop.

You took your 1999 Kia Sportage in for an oil change and were told the frame was completely rusted. A manufacturer engineer inspected it and confirmed the rear frame is severely rusted and cannot be replaced. Your vehicle was not repaired and has 72,083 miles on it.

Your mechanic discovered that the rear frame of your 1999 Kia Sportage has decayed or rusted significantly. While your vehicle is still driveable, this structural damage hasn't been repaired and could affect the vehicle's integrity over time. Addressing frame rust typically involves inspection, rust removal, and potential welding or replacement of damaged sections.

THE FRAME IS ALL RUST. I HAD TO HAVE THE STABILIZER BAR WELDED WHERE IT COME LOSE FROM THE FRAME FROM RUST. THE BAR WAS ON THE REAR OF THE CAR WITCH MAID IT GO ALL OVER THE ROAD. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE THAT HAS 114,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IT WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR, TOOK IT IN THINKING IT NEEDED SHOCKS AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN JUST BEHIND THE GAS TANK (WHICH IS NEW). THEY INFORMED ME THIS CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE MY LITTLE GRANDBABIES IN ANY LONGER AND WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT COULDN'T GUARANTEE OUR SAFETY. NOW I AM FORCED TO GET ANOTHER CAR THAT IS SAFE TO DRIVE MYSELF AND MY GRANDKIDS I AM THEIR CAREGIVER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. I DON'T THINK THIS CAR IS OLD ENOUGH FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I HAVE KEPT IT IN GOOD MECHANICAL SHAPE SO I DON'T APPRECIATE BEING FORCED TO FIND ANOTHER CAR RIGHT NOW, I ALREADY WORK 2 JOBS AND THIS PUTS A STRAIN ON ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME BEHIND THE TIRES WAS BEGINNING TO RUST AND DISINTEGRATE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE PARTICULAR COMPONENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000. UPDATED 01-26-09 *BF UPDATED 01/27/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HEARD LOUD NOISES WHEN HER 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS ACTIVATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ROTTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

CRACKED CHASSIS IN A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE DUE TO CORROSION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT THE END OF NOVEMEBER WITH MY 4 CHILDREN 13,12, 2 AND18 MONTH OLD TWINS MY CAR BEGAN TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE OUT OF CONTROL. I PULLED OVER AND FIGURED IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. IT WAS NOT. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS MY POWER STEERING. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 2 MILES AN HOUR. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY .. AFTER I HAD A FRIEND COME BY TO CHECK OUT THE CAR AND THAT IS WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE BACK SWAY BAR WAS HANGING TO THE GROUND. IT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF THE FRAME AT THE BRACKET WHERE IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME. THERE WAS ABOUT A 10-12 INCH HOLE IN THE FRAME AND BOTH THE BRACKET AND THE FRAME WHERE BROKEN WERE COVERED INSIDE AND OUT WITH RUST. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY WAS UP. I ASKED THEM TO REFERENCE WHERE IN THE HANDBOOK THEY WOULD WARRANTY THE FRAME. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING FOR ME. THEY KEEP SAYING THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. I HAD MY INSURANCE COMPANY COME LOOK AT THE CAR. THEY TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES AND HE SAID THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND A TERRIBLE INSUFFICIENT WELD JOB AND IT WAS NOT SEALED WOULD EXPLAIN THE RUST. NO ONE WILL FIX IT NOT EVEN THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO FIX. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO SAID THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS BEGINNING TO RUST AS WELL. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 5 MINUTES PRIOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 70 MPH. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY ANSWERS OR HELP AND KEEP TELLING ME TO REFER TO MY WARRANTY. *JB

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN, AND DOOR HANDLE WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. *TT

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN, AND DOOR HANDLE WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE. *TT

VEHICLE HAS A WATER LEAK, WATER COMES IN AND RUNS ALONG THE GLOVEBOX AND DRIPS ONTO THE FLOOR. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

REAR BUMPER ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKEN. NLM

FRONT TWO DOORS LEAK IN HEAVY RAIN ON THE TOP OF THE DOOR FRAME, DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *SLC

CENTER CONSOLE WILL NOT LOCK. NLM

THE STRIKER PLATE IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. NLM

THE VEHICLE HOOD WOULD NOT CLOSE. YH