1998 Kia Sportage Wheels Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 2%of 303 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the wheels of the 1998 Kia Sportage, 2% of the 303 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“Vehicle is sold as sutomatic four wheel drive, encouraging drivers to drive in hazardous conditions. When I realized that indeed I did not have automatice four wheel, (resulting from going off the road and getting stuck in snow bank) the dealer stated that the manufacturer knows that this problem exists with this vehicle. I was given manual hubs as a fix . My problem is that 1) this is not what I bought. 2) the safety implications of the manufacturer not notifying owners of the problem. 3) safety issues with having to dismount vehicle in bad weather to change hubs.”
NHTSA complaint #704488, filed 1999-03“While the vehcle was driven by a service person from the dealership, front right wheel froze up. The wheel hub was replaced by the dealership with one from a previous model. The owner brought this to the attention of the dealership because of a noise that was heard while driving. Please provide any other information.”
NHTSA complaint #841696, filed 1999-07“Wheel assembly becomes loose and requires routine tightening by dealer. Loose wheel causes safety hazard & potential for loss of control as well as needless damage to remaining hub assembly and drive train components totaling as much as $3,500 per incident to repair.”
NHTSA complaint #748635, filed 2001-07Wheels: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 3 | 2% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 6 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 1% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 4 | 4% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 3 | 1% |
| 1998 | 6 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 1998 Kia Sportage
79 complaintsBrakes
71 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
63 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsBody and structure
26 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsEquipment
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsSteering
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 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