1999 Kia Sportage Seat Belts Problems
11 owner-reported seat belts complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Seat Belts Recalls (1)
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Owner Complaints (11)
Your front left seat belt won't retract back into its housing after you unbuckle it. The belt may stay pulled out or move slowly when you try to put it away. This is a safety concern since a properly functioning seat belt is critical for crash protection. The seat belt retractor mechanism will likely need to be inspected and possibly replaced.
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SEATBELT RESTRAINT FAILURE, BOTH INERTIA REELS FAILED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. THE PLASTIC IS SO DRY ROTTED AND IT BREAKS LIKE CARDBOARD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING SPRING FALLS OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT. HE STATED THAT IT APPEARS TO BE DECOMPOSING AND IS UNABLE TO SNAP THE SHAFT OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING BACK TOGETHER. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS HAD THE SAME FAILURE. THE FAILURE PREVENTS THE SEAT BELT FROM RETRACTING AND CAUSES IT TO BE VERY LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. KIA STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AS WELL. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
1999 KIA SPORTAGE SEAT BELT LOST ALL TENSION AND BECAME LOOSE. INERTIA REEL BROKE AND DISCONNECTED WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE BODY OR A HARD POINT. *TS *JB
THE CONTACT HAS A KIA SPORTAGE 1999 AND IT HAS A SEAT BELT PROBLEM. WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE IS LATCHED IT DOES NOT LOCK OR MAKE A CLICKING SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AGO. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PART OF A RECALL AND IF THEY NEEDED REPAIR THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO INSTALL NEW ONES AT HIS COST. WHEN THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SEAT BELT THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL BE REPAIRED AT NO COST. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON THE REAR SEAT BELTS *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAYED. THE FRAYING WAS SO BAD THAT THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT SLIDE DOWN CORRECTLY. HE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK
THE RETRACTOR TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT JUST FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE ROAD. AND WHEN I SAY FELL OFF, I MEAN LITERALLY FELL OFF. MY DAUGHTER HEARD THE RETRACTOR FALL DOWN THE SIDE PANEL. THE SEATBEAT THEN HAD NO RESISTANCE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT, LEAVING THE SEATBELT USELESS. AFTER CLOSER EXAMINATION, I FOUND THE PLASTIC DOWELS HOLDING THE RETACTING MECHANISM TO THE SEATBELT HAD JUST FALLEN OFF OR WORN AWAY. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DURING AN ACCIDENT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES. SEEMS THESE PLASTIC DOWELS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH METAL OR STEEL ONES. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE REPORTED TO KIA ASAP. *AK
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AT 34 MPH. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT RESULTING IN CONSUMER HITTING FRONT WINDSHIELD. *MR
REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN. NLM
THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED EXTENSIONS TO FIT PROPERLY AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE IT. YH
HAD PUT SEAT BELT ON. MADE SLIGHT MOVEMENT, BELT TIGHTENED/LOCKED UP. CONTINOUS MOVEMENT MAKES BELT TIGHTER. HAPPENED ON PASSENGER'S SIDE ONLY & BOTH SEAT BELTS IN REAR. SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & HAD SEAT BELTS CHECKED. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK