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Kia Sportage

Report: Fuel Tank Leak Due to Corrosion From Road Salt

Kia Sportage Problem

22 Reports

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Model Years Affected: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

Average Mileage: 116,935 mi (60,000 mi - 209,000 mi)

Vehicles driven in areas where roads are heavily salted in winter may experience corrosion of the fuel tank, which can result in a leak. Kia has extended the fuel tank warranty on the 1996-2002 models. Please check with you local Kia dealer for more information, the service bulletin number is 059

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nso1162, 2000 Kia Sportage, 118,235 mi

Rookie
just replaced gas tank. This car is a piece of crap

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Visitor, 1998 Kia Sportage, 84,000 mi

I have a 98 Kia that was given to me by my mother.She hardly ever drove it.It now has 84,000 on it and a few months back someone said that I had a gas leak.We looked at it and sure enough,right on the bottom of the tank there was a rusted out spot that was leaking.The heat shield had rusted away as well.Since I didn't have money to replace the tank I put a pan under the car to collect the gas that was leaking.I tried steel stick but the gas would just eat right thru it.THEN,my timing belt broke.I had a friend work on that for me.He decided to look online about the gas tank,to see what it would cost for a new one.He found out that there was this problem on 96 to 02 kia's so he decided to call a dealership for me.The needed the mileage and the VIN which we gave him.Also wanted to know where the leak was coming from.We called him back and he said that they would fix it,no problem.Now,I haven't brought it in yet,still fixing the timing belt,but I really hope they fix this without any problems.How a company can make such a cheap and HUGE mistake putting peoples lives in danger is beyond me.So my only advice to people being told they wont fix this problem is to maybe try different dealerships in the area and maybe someone will fix it.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 122,071 mi

Gas flowed from tank, took it to shop and was told the tank was corroded. Have not gotten it repaired because cannot find replacement tank.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 60,000 mi

Fuel tank leaking at seam. Also the frame in the driver side rear is rusting out on me.

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Visitor, 1999 Kia Sportage, 180,000 mi

Tank leaks because of rust. Can not find used one.

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f bar, 2000 Kia Sportage, 89,000 mi

Rookie
just bought used.From St. Clair moters in wickliffe. Gas tank leaks. Owner Victor said its not his problem. Bad wheel bearing. I called him less than 18 hrs. Only put 20 miles on the car when I called him. I took it for an oil change when I picked it up. That when I found out what was wrong. I took his word. He said as is but told me everything was great.He has not returned my calls

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Visitor, 1999 Kia Sportage, 120,000 mi

Gas fuel leakage

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Visitor, 1998 Kia Sportage, 115,565 mi

You can smell fuel and also where it sits fuel on the ground. And when I put gas in it , I know it leaks out .

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 85,000 mi

I needed a new fuel sender and my gas tank was pretty rusted. They suggested I should replace the tank because they have to remove it anyway to replace the fuel sender. The fellow that did the work (mechanic at the KIA dealership might have been a mechanic for a couple of years) did more damage and I had to pay an extra $200.00 on top of the already outragious prices because (you can only get parts from KIA) he made a mistake blamed it on the work that was done by my regular mechanic (whose been a mechanic for 30+ years) I receive the recall about the fuel tank and they came up with some lame excuse why it wasn't covered. I will NEVER buy another KIA, won't recommend it to anyone else, nor will I step on the lot on Brookpark Rd. in Cleveland , Ohio.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 123,000 mi

the fuel tank is leaking from the sending uint. The dealer was contacted and they told me that the recall has expired and that i would have to replace the tank at my expence. What about the fire and safety issuse. so i now have a KIA Sportage for sell haha.

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f bar, 2000 Kia Sportage, 89,000 mi

Rookie
just bought used.From St. Clair moters in wickliffe. Gas tank leaks. Owner Victor said its not his problem. Bad wheel bearing. I called him less than 18 hrs. Only put 20 miles on the car when I called him. I took it for an oil change when I picked it up. That when I found out what was wrong. I took his word. He said as is but told me everything was great.He has not returned my calls

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Visitor, 1999 Kia Sportage, 120,000 mi

Gas fuel leakage

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Visitor, 1998 Kia Sportage, 115,565 mi

You can smell fuel and also where it sits fuel on the ground. And when I put gas in it , I know it leaks out .

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 85,000 mi

I needed a new fuel sender and my gas tank was pretty rusted. They suggested I should replace the tank because they have to remove it anyway to replace the fuel sender. The fellow that did the work (mechanic at the KIA dealership might have been a mechanic for a couple of years) did more damage and I had to pay an extra $200.00 on top of the already outragious prices because (you can only get parts from KIA) he made a mistake blamed it on the work that was done by my regular mechanic (whose been a mechanic for 30+ years) I receive the recall about the fuel tank and they came up with some lame excuse why it wasn't covered. I will NEVER buy another KIA, won't recommend it to anyone else, nor will I step on the lot on Brookpark Rd. in Cleveland , Ohio.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 123,000 mi

the fuel tank is leaking from the sending uint. The dealer was contacted and they told me that the recall has expired and that i would have to replace the tank at my expence. What about the fire and safety issuse. so i now have a KIA Sportage for sell haha.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 209,000 mi

The first sign of a problem was the odor of gas. When investigating this I found the shield under the gas tank was very rusty and the flaky rust smelt of gas. So after I removed that I was able to see several leaky spots on the tank. Not really a hole, but rusting thru.. I have tried a couple different kinds of putty meant for fuel tanks.So far it has not sealed. I see online that this is not uncommon and that there may have been a recall. I sent a message to kia and am waiting for their responce.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 63,000 mi

Fuel tank leak at top where fuel pump housing assembly unit connects to fuel tank, rusted through and leaks out badly, local kia dealer said only covered if leak at bottom of tank so there goes 167.00 for new tank and 41.00 for fuel sending unit then discovered that the fuel pump housing unit which is where the leak actually occurred rusted so bad it could not be replace without breaking so they wanted over 400.00 for it alone and actually told me they always have this problem with the kia sportage gas tank replacement. Luckily I found OEM online for 239.00 and have someone that can fix at much less expensive rate than kia techs. Seems most of the leaks are at the top in the same area and sorry, have driven American vehicles that were older than this with much less of rust problem than this kia and plan on going back to the American made where at least parts are cheaper. I purchased this 2000 Kia Sportage in 2002 and loved it up until I realized a tuneup cost me around 350.00 and not happy with the rust situation at all.

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 148,000 mi

Gas tank and fuel sending unit corroded with rust, last I saw they stopped honoring this in 2009 don't know how to get help or where to find a replacement tank or unit at this point. Have looked all over internet

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brinaco2, 1999 Kia Sportage, 99,156 mi

Rookie
tried to replace the fuel tank and the mechanic stated that the gas tank has rusted bolts and leaks, will need new tank,

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Visitor, 2000 Kia Sportage, 138,000 mi

not sure just found out

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Kia Sportage

Report: Fuel Tank Leak Due to Corrosion From Road Salt

Kia Sportage Problem