MotorDeets

1995 Kia Sportage: Recalls, Problems & MPG

Here are the deets on the 1995 Kia Sportage: 2 recalls, 56 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.

2vehicle recalls
56owner complaints
2mention a crash
19best combined mpg
1995 Kia Sportage
Photo: Bull-Doser · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Recalls

2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.

Suspension Vehicle recall #95V073000 · 1995 · 1,319 vehicles

What's wrong: The nuts attaching the rear axle bearing oil seal retainers and brake backing plates to the rear axle housing May be under- torqued causing these units to loosen or fall off.

Why it matters: This condition can cause (1) oil leakage into the rear brake and onto the brake linings; (2) rear brake damage from the axle nutsfalling into the rear brake drums; or (3) separation of the rear wheel/axleshaft from the vehicle resulting in an increased potential for a vehicle accident.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and retorque the rear axle bearing oil seal retainer nuts.

Seat belts Vehicle recall #02V216000 · 2002 · 189,706 vehicles

What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle May "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.

The fix: Owner notification began December 20, 2002.

Most-reported problems

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.

Engine & cooling14
Seat belts11
Electrical8
Visibility (wipers, glass)7
Brakes (hydraulic)6
Suspension6
Steering5
Body & structure5

What owners describe

The 1995 Kia Sportage has 56 owner complaints, ranking #25 of 31 Sportage model years for complaints (well below the 152 average). Complaints peaked in 1997 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 111,500 miles. Neighboring years: 1996 (57 complaints, 3 recalls).

Engines & fuel economy (EPA)

EngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyComb.Fuel
2.0 L 4-cylManual 5-spdRear-Wheel Drive172119Regular
2.0 L 4-cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive182219Regular
2.0 L 4-cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive162018Regular
2.0 L 4-cylManual 5-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive172018Regular

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1995 Kia Sportage.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
Check 1995 Kia Sportage manual
Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yr
Check 1995 Kia Sportage manual
ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
Check 1995 Kia Sportage manual
Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
Check 1995 Kia Sportage manual

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FAQ

Does the 1995 Kia Sportage have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 1995 Kia Sportage. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common 1995 Kia Sportage problems?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (14), seat belts (11), electrical (8).

What gas mileage does the 1995 Kia Sportage get?

EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (2.0 L, Manual 5-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.

Where can I get a 1995 Kia Sportage repair manual?

eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.

Other Sportage years

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