1996 Kia Sportage
KNEJA5555VD001993
Vehicle record for the 1996 Kia Sportage (VIN KNEJA5555VD001993). Green, wagon / suv, diesel. Registered in Khmelnytskyi. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year. Free specifications, registration region and recall data.
No photo of this model yet1996 Kia Sportage · Green on the registration record
Full vehicle history report
Everything below is in the paid report for VIN KNEJA5555VD001993, compiled live from NMVTIS and licensed providers the moment you unlock it. Not every vehicle has every record type — the report shows what is on file, and says so when nothing is. The 3 recall campaigns for this model year are shown free further down.
📜 Title & ownership
- Title statusClean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon — from the national title database (NMVTIS)🔒
- Title brand historyEvery brand ever applied, by state, with what each one means🔒
- Title & registration recordsHow many times it has been titled, where, and the years-per-owner pace🔒
- Decode consistency checkThe provider's decode cross-checked against ours — a mismatch is a cloned-VIN warning sign🔒
🛞 Odometer
- Odometer timelineEvery reported reading with its date and state, drawn as a timeline🔒
- Rollback checkFlags any reading that goes backwards🔒
- Miles per yearThis car's pace against the US average🔒
💥 Damage, loss & theft
- Total-loss recordsInsurance total-loss declarations, with the reporting insurer type and date🔒
- Salvage & junk-yard recordsSalvage, junk and auction dispositions, including export flags🔒
- Theft screenActive and recovered theft records🔒
- Accident indicatorsDamage events reflected in title data (NMVTIS does not carry police crash reports)🔒
- Flood-exposure checkTitle activity in a disaster area soon after a major flood or hurricane🔒
💰 Liens & value
- Liens, impounds & exportOpen liens with the lender, tow/impound and export records🔒
- Market value for this exact carRetail adjusted for its mileage and state, trade-in, loan value, auction low/avg/high and retail by condition🔒
- DepreciationDrop from original MSRP, yearly rate and a one-year projection🔒
- Sticker vs dealer invoiceWhat it cost new, and what the dealer paid🔒
🧰 Factory warranty & equipment
- Remaining warrantyBasic, powertrain and rust coverage left, estimated from the first title date and odometer🔒
- Standard equipment & coloursWhat this trim came with from the factory, and the colours it was offered in🔒
🚨 Recalls on this VIN
- Per-VIN recall statusWhether each campaign has been repaired on THIS car, remedy availability, do-not-drive and stop-sale flags, dealer labour time🔒
History reports cover US-titled vehicles only. This car is registered in Ukraine, so title, salvage and odometer records from the US national title database (NMVTIS) don't apply to it. The registration record, specifications and recall data on this page are free.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
🧾 Window sticker / build sheet → All 1996 Kia Sportage data →
📋 All factory specifications on file8 more fields from the manufacturer's VIN record (NHTSA vPIC)
🏭 Manufacturing & other
Values are as reported by the manufacturer for this VIN pattern; blank or "not applicable" fields are omitted.
MPG & running costs
U.S. EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 1996 Kia Sportage.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages. Actual mileage varies with trim and driving conditions.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1996 Kia Sportage costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Safety recall campaigns 3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY "FALSE LATCH" AND EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO UNRESTRAINED MOVEMENT DURING A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA Campaign #02V216000 · manufacturer #SC027 · 16/08/2002LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MICROSWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH LOCK CYLINDER CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS TO UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNLOCK CIRCUIT.
NHTSA Campaign #97V234000 · 17/12/1997VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY COULD BIND OR STICK DURING OPERATION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA Campaign #96V131000 · 15/07/1996Note: recall data comes from the U.S. NHTSA and covers the US-market version of this model. A car registered in Ukraine may have different campaigns — check with the manufacturer's local importer.
These are NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year, last checked 8 Oct 2026. They don't show whether this particular car has had the repair done — check this VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.
We'll email you the moment a new safety recall is issued — no spam, unsubscribe any time.
Common problems & what to inspect
Based on all 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Kia Sportage, here are the most-reported problem areas — and what to check before you buy.
💥 12 involved a crash 🔥 3 involved a fire 🚑 27 reported injuries
🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
🔍 Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 69
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1996 Kia Sportage.
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN FOGGY CONDITIONS WHEN SUDDENLY SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
Crash · 1 injured · NHTSA ODI #10105282SEAT BELTS
THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050151EQUIPMENT
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE LISTENING TO THE RADIO . FORTUNATELY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH HER JACKET. THE FIRE BURNED PART OF THE DOOR PANEL. *JB
Fire · NHTSA ODI #10041399SEAT BELTS
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.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10040370VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT THROTTLE PEDAL WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. *AK
Crash · NHTSA ODI #10034539SUSPENSION
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10024174ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLES HORN DID NOT BLOW LOUD ENOUGH TO WARN OTHER VEHICLES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10017402SEAT BELTS
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 B…
NHTSA ODI #10000519+ 61 more complaints on record.
