2002 Kia SPORTAGE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10001102 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HIT THE DEER. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001102 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 10007493 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)
ON SEPT. 18, 2002, WE PURCHASED A 2002 KIA SPORTAGE. UPON COMPLETION OF PAPER WORK, I QUESTIONED DEALER ABOUT A SEAT BELT EXTENDER AS ORIGINAL INSTALLED SEAT BELT WOULD NOT FIT COMFORTABLY AROUND MY LARGE FRAME. UNLIKE FORD & CHEVROLET, WE WERE TOLD THAT KIA DID NOT MAKE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS! THE NEXT DAY I IMMEDIATELY PHONED KIA MANUFACTURERS MAIN OFFICE, AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT MAKE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM WE HAD JUST MADE A PURCHASE ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT NOW I COULD NOT DRIVE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010033 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE WIPERS BOLTS CAME LOOSE WHEN ICE AND SNOW WERE PACKED AROUND THEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010713 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
I BOUGHT A KIA SPORTAGE IN APRIL 2002. SINCE THEN, THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE KIA SERVICE CENTER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WILL SPUTTER, THE CAR SHAKES, THE RPMS GO TO 0 AND THE HEADER PIPE GLOWS RED HOT (LITERALLY), AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL LOSE 75% OF ITS POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS CAR HAS MAYBE 10,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE SERVICE CENTER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS (KEEP IN MIND THIS IS ON 10,000 MILES), THE CATALYTIC CONVE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010713 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 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V161000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
Reported: 2007-04-16 (April 16, 2007)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE ENGINE CAUSES REPEATED BENDING DEFORMATION OF THE POLYPROPYLENE COOLING FAN INCLUDING ITS RETAINING RING, WHICH STRESSES THE POLYPROPYLENE THEREBY INITIATING CRACKING OF THE BLADES. THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCES GENERATED BY THE ROTATION OF THE BLADES CAN CAUSE THE CRACKS TO PROPAGATE UNTIL COMPLETE SEPARATION OCCURS.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE FAN BLADE(S) CAN CREATE A RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WITH A FAN MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗