2001 Kia Sportage Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 9%of 228 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 44,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Kia Sportage, 9% of the 228 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 44,000 miles. 17 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Was traveling about 35 MPH. Two vehicles in front of me collided and then both slid into me head on. Damage to my vehicle was in excess of $5,000. Neither air bag deployed. Driver and front passenger sustained minor soft tissue injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10104663, filed 2004-12, 40,000 miles“Traveling at 60 MPH, I hydroplaned and lost control of my 2001 Kia Sportage, impacting a barricade with the front of the vehicle. The air bags did not inflate and the seat belt did not keep me restrained allowing my head to impact the front windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #10023466, filed 2003-06, 44,000 miles“On april 24, 2005 columbus ohio had poor weather conditions ;snow and icy rain. I was traveling on s.r. 104 exiting on high st. I applied pressure to the brakes and fish tailed my 2001 Kia Sportage. I hit the guard rail and the car rolled over. The front bumper had hit the guard rail and was actually off the car by the time I uprighted the vehicle again. The Kia Sportage is equipped with 3 airbags;the front driver front passenger and a driver knee airbag, none of which deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10118804, filed 2005-05, 82,000 miles“I was driving a Kia Sportage 2001 and was struck in the rear by a tractor trailer. The impact was so great it broke the back support of my seat. The truck forced me into the vehicle in front of me so hard that I crumbled the trunk of that vehicle. In all 5 vehicles received damage. My vehicle was totaled. My seat broke and my airbags including a knee airbag did not deploy. I received whiplash to the neck and damage to my right leg. I feel that had my airbags deployed I would not have received the damage to my leg. …”
NHTSA complaint #10016912, filed 2003-05, 30,000 miles“While driving at 40 MPH consumer's vehicle was hit on the front passenger's side by a vehicle going 55 MPH. Upon impact, none of the frontal air bags deployed. Driver sustained a broken angle, a sprained wrist, and possible head injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10067347, filed 2004-04, 60,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 11 | 6% |
| 2022 | 2 | 4% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 4% |
| 2016 | 5 | 4% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 20% |
| 2009 | 16 | 20% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 17% |
| 2006 | 38 | 34% |
| 2005 | 12 | 18% |
| 2002 | 17 | 7% |
| 2001 | 20 | 9% |
| 2000 | 18 | 6% |
| 1999 | 23 | 8% |
| 1998 | 11 | 4% |
| 1997 | 39 | 22% |
| 1996 | 9 | 16% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2001 Kia Sportage
62 complaintsEngine cooling
45 complaintsBrakes
27 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
22 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsEquipment
10 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 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