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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Kia SPECTRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

92 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

41,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 92 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2021.7%
Transmission and shifting1010.9%
Steering behavior77.6%
Engine operation66.5%
Electrical and battery issues33.3%
Fuel system concerns33.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags:Frontal
12
Air Bags
10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Electrical System
4
Electrical System:Ignition
4
Service Brakes
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags:Frontal12
Air Bags10
Power Train:Automatic Transmission8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Vehicle Speed Control5
Electrical System4
Electrical System:Ignition4
Service Brakes4

Air Bags:Frontal: 12; Air Bags: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 4; Service Brakes: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 40 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002
22
2003
17
2004
12
2005
6
2006
4
2007
3
2008
7
2009
3
2010
5
2011
1
2012
4
2013
2
2014
3
2015
2
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200222
200317
200412
20056
20064
20073
20087
20093
20105
20111
20124
20132
20143
20152
20161

2002: 22; 2003: 17; 2004: 12; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 7; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10025202 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)

I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30-40 MPH, FRONT END DAMAGE RESULTING IN OVER $6400, INCLUDING UNIBODY ALIGNMENT. UPON IMPACT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT RELEASE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 13,734 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042203 · 2003-10-02 (October 2, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. ENGINE THEN DIED, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE, BUT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029142 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)

TRANSMISSION: CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD, ONLY REVERSE. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10078880 · 2004-06-27 (June 27, 2004)

(1)BRAKES FEEL INSUFFICIENT UNTIL PRESSED VERY HARD (2) 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE I AS THE DRIVER REAR ENDED DRIVERS (3) COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO SHOLZ KIA WHEN I WENT TO HAVE ORVR RECALL TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY STATED THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL FOR THE MODEL. ALSO: (1)OCCASIONALLY WHEN VEHICLE TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN REVERSE (2) THE CAR DRIVES FORWARD (3) I CALLED SHOLZ KIA AND CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH-KIA OR PARAMUS AND WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 33,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057129 · 2004-02-13 (February 13, 2004)

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR--2002 KIA SPECTRA, THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION IN THE FRONT. IT BASICALLY SITS ON THE GROUND, THE STEERING "SLIPS" FROM TIME TO TIME WITHOUT WARNING AND IT JUST DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THIS IS THE WAY THE STEERING IS SET UP, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE DEALER WILL NOT CHANGE IT UNTIL IT IS RECALLED BY THE GOVERNMENT. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANKS.

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057129 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10082658 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)

I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 SPECTRA SINCE NOV. 2001. WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR UP IN THE MORNINGS THE CAR WILL STALL OUT AND THEN WHEN I GO TO RE-START THE CAR IT WILL FINALLY START THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM BUT TO NO AVAIL THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THEY HAVE STATED TO ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP OVER 7 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS PROBLEMS; THE STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE RECALL ON THE GAS LINE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND ONE OF THE SPARK PLU…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082658 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10013948 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)

KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION LEAVES BATTERY ON. DEALER FIXED THE TUMBLER TWICE, NOW WILL NOT FIX ANYMORE SAYING THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TOLD ME IF IT SHOULD DO THIS AGAIN TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY WILL TOW IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FROM DEC 02 ONLY 9 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,712 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013948 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030100 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHUTDOWN FORCING CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER REPLACED TWICE THE BATTERY,BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030100 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021734 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL TANK SENOR, AND PART WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM RECURRED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021734 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621946 · 2014-08-13 (August 13, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRUM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND IT WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR AND A BLOWN FUSE . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621946 at NHTSA ↗