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2001 Kia Sportage

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Sportage.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Kia Sportage, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, takes 4.4 quarts of 5W-20 API oil and delivers EPA ratings of 16 mpg city, 20 highway. Its 235 owner complaints, centered on the fuel system and accompanied by a single recall, place this model year squarely in the middle of the nameplate’s reliability history—far from the 4 complaints of the 2003 low point, yet well below the 394 logged for the 2017 peak.

Model year2026 2025 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/20/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 From 5/16/00 · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 From 5/16/00 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	162.2 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	65 in
Wheelbase	104.3 in
Curb weight	3360 lb
Track (front / rear)	56.7 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 20 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sportage of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

12.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.50 sec — 2001 Limited

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2001	Limited 2.0L I-4	12.50 sec	19.10 sec	130 hp	4x4
1998	SUV 2.0L I-4	12.80 sec	19.10 sec	130 hp	4x4
1996	EX 2.0L I-4	11.80 sec	18.30 sec	130 hp	4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.4 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	DOHC: 13-20 ft-lbs; SOHC: 16 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	DOHC: 51-54; SOHC: 50 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	DOHC: 71-76; SOHC: 73 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	25-36 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	DOHC: 61-65; SOHC: 63 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	8MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-87 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	4, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	6 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Standard BCI Group Number	86 From 5/16/00
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	11-15 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	42.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	164-111 PSI. 26 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure	43-57 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	17 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.945 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.945 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.882 in
Drum Nominal Diameter	9.843 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Rotor (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 mi	Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2001 Kia Sportage sits near the end of the first-generation model's federal complaint cycle, with 235 complaints filed that year—a notable drop from the peak of 383 in 1998 and 349 in 1999. This declining complaint trajectory (383 → 349 → 326 → 235) across 1998–2001 aligns with a parallel reduction in recalls (4 → 4 → 3 → 1) and investigations (6 → 8 → 6 → 2), suggesting the model-year issues were being progressively identified and addressed. The 2001 model year also saw 13 TSBs on record, matching the elevated volume from 1999–2000. However, the complaint profile for 2001 reveals persistent safety concerns: fuel system/gasoline issues led with 44 complaints, followed by engine/engine cooling (24), air bags (16), and structure (14), with 26 crash-related complaints and 4 fire-related complaints. Comparing to the immediate successor, 2002 saw complaints rise again to 237 with 3 recalls and 4 investigations, while 2003 dropped to just 4 complaints as the generation shifted. The data does not specify whether the 2001 decline reflects actual mechanical improvements or simply reduced reporting as the model aged. The takeaway is that while 2001 represents the low point in complaints and recalls for this generation, it carries forward the underlying complaint areas (fuel system, air bags) that characterized the generation's trouble spots—making it a relatively safer purchase within a problematic generation, but still requiring thorough pre-purchase inspection and attention to any open recalls before buying used.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

235

Owner complaints

26 involved a crash · 4 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 235 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline44

Engine & Engine Cooling24

Air Bags16

Structure14

Service Brakes, Hydraulic13

Power Train10

Visibility9

Suspension8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

09E012000Exterior LightingReported 07/04/2009

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_BOD055_R1	2021-09-13	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
TSB_ELE220_R1	2021-02-03	Electrical System	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: FRONT CAMERA OPERATION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT…
PS539	2018-03-02	Engine And Engine Cooling	PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R1	2017-01-18	Equipment	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN085	2016-11-04	Latches/Locks/Linkages	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sportage. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 86 battery Vehicles taking 4.4 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Sportage take?

4.4 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Sportage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sportage get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.