1996 Kia Sportage Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 14%of 57 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the seat belts of the 1996 Kia Sportage, 14% of the 57 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The driver-side seat belt fastener will not work. I have contacted Kia, but they say that this item is not covered by warranty. I have not abused this piece of equipment and I have never had a seat belt fail (in any other car-- nor heard of this) because it comes unlatched. I am really concerned about this as it seems I will need to pay for the new seat belt fastener. Ts”
NHTSA complaint #10000519, filed 2003-01, 105,150 miles“Received recall 02 v 216 000 concerning front seat belts, but rear seat belt failed in this vehicle. Dealership was not replacing the rear seat belt under the recall remedy.”
NHTSA complaint #10040370, filed 2003-09, 45,000 miles“Help!! I have tried for 6 weeks now to contact Kia with little success, after a month of trying a factory tech finally came out to look at my car and did confirm some of the problems, including the random accelration, he promised to contact me within 4 days and it has now been 3 weeks, I have left messages and faxes with their consumer affairs dept and as of yet have received no response. These are some of the problems I have had: transmission replaced 3 times, 4 trans has problems, rear shocks broken - manuf. …”
NHTSA complaint #708653, filed 1999-07“While driving, seat belt detaches. When driving more than 35-40 MPH consumer has to depress brakes harder than usual. Consumer states there was an accident and that there were problems with the belts detaching 2-3 months prior to the accident, one person was injured in the accident, consumer did not list the cause of the accident.”
NHTSA complaint #899324, filed 2001-11“Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, consumer noticed that upon leaning forward the set belt latch came undone. This happened twice. Consumer was involved in an automobile accident in march. Another auto hit consumer pushing the vehicle into a tree. The seat belt unlatched and consumer was thrown into the passenger side windshield. Consumer suffered head, neck and shoulder injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #567553, filed 2002-09Related recalls
- 02V216000Aug 16, 2002On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.Covers: Kia Sportage 1995–1998, Sephia 1995–1998
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 15% |
| 2009 | 3 | 4% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 5 | 6% |
| 2006 | 4 | 4% |
| 2005 | 3 | 4% |
| 2002 | 9 | 4% |
| 2001 | 9 | 4% |
| 2000 | 7 | 2% |
| 1999 | 17 | 6% |
| 1998 | 8 | 3% |
| 1997 | 6 | 3% |
| 1996 | 8 | 14% |
| 1995 | 11 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1996 Kia Sportage
15 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsInterior lighting
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology