2002 Kia SPORTAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
234 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
59,764 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 152 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 234 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 37 | 15.8% |
| Braking behavior | 28 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Electrical System: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 11; Air Bags: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 39 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 39; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 9
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 82 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 29 |
| 2003 | 24 |
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 17 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
2002: 29; 2003: 24; 2004: 23; 2005: 13; 2006: 15; 2007: 20; 2008: 12; 2009: 17; 2010: 17; 2011: 18; 2012: 8; 2013: 9; 2014: 13; 2015: 6; 2016: 5; 2017: 5
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 37 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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 10090666 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
I HAVE A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE 4X4. PURCHASED IN APRIL 2004 WITH 3 YEARS & 50K MILES REMAINING ON WARRANTY. I TRAILERED MY BOAT TO THE LAKE AND AFTER LEAVING THE LAKE THE CAR DIED. TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALER,DICK HANNAH KIA, VANCOUVER,WA.98665 $161 TOW BILL! DIAGNOSIS WAS WATER IN THE GAS TANK!! TURNS OUT THERE IS A EVAPORATOR CHARCOAL CANISTER MOUNTED UNDER THE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR BUMPER WHICH ALLOWED WATER INTO THE GAS SYSTEM. I AM NOW FACED WITH OVER $600 REPAIR FOR DRAINING THE TANK. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A BAD DESIGN. NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148402 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE MODULE RESET. THIS REMEDY WORKED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BUT THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY ILLUMINATES AGAIN. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT. ALSO, THE GAS TANK HAD A LEAK IN THE GAS LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE GAS LINE, HOWEVER A GAS ODOR STILL EXIST INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011438 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026141 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026141 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014706 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE GEARS SHIFTED IMPROPERLY AND THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALSO THE DEALER NOTICED THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025903 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
RATTLE/VIBRATION FROM UNDER VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING FROM HIGH GEAR TO LOW AND VISA VERSA. CAR HAS BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES. A NEW CONVERTER WAS PUT ON WITH NO RESULTS. ANOTHER CONVERTER WAS ORDERED (SO I WAS TOLD) NEVER HAPPENED. THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK WAS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE NOISE THAT I HEAR IS THE EXHAUST GASES FLOWING THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM!! I WAS TOLD THAT EVERY CAR MAKES A DISTINCTIVE AND UNIQUE SOUND DEPENDING UPON THE MAKER IE: ASIAN, EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN!?!?!? A COMPLAINT HAS BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000627 · 2002-12-28 (December 28, 2002)
THE STEERING BOX IN MY 2002 KIA SPORTAGE SUDDENLY BECOME INOPERABLE AND WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO BE STEERED TO THE RIGHT. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I COULD GET IT STOPPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002236 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SPENT OUT OF CONTROL, SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING REALLY BAD. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046687 · 2003-11-10 (November 10, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HARNESS WHICH HELD THE ALTERNATOR WAS MELTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105069 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE SEIZED, AND THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURRED, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097870 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
THE LEFT FRONT ROTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES FOR OTHER DEFECTS. NO SERVICE FOR THE BRAKES. *AK THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING IN THE SHOCK ARMS, A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, RATTLING IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE DUE TO ROTTED SOCKETS, WHEEL BEARINGS WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE, PULLING TO THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON POSSIBLY DUE TO A SMALL LEAK OR A LOOSE GA…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124892 · 2005-06-10 (June 10, 2005)
DT: PROBLEM OCCURED WHEN SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER DASH. NO WARNING PRIOR. A BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE PRIOR TO FLAMES. IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE DEALER REPORTS IT MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR WAS PULLED, A PERSON HELPED BY TRYING TO PUT OUT FIRE WITH A SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THEN OWNER WENT INSIDE A BUILDING AND GOT ANTOHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE WAS OUT BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THAT IT WAS AN ELECT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124892 at NHTSA ↗