KnownCarProblems2002 Kia Spectra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Kia Spectra, most often about the air bags (24% of complaints, typically around 47,000 miles). It is 6th of 10 Spectra model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2002 Kia Spectra problems
Air bags
22 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 47,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The consumer's vehicle was struck from the rear at 65 MPH, causing it to strike another vehicle. Upon impact, both the passenger and driver seats broke, and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled.
On monday, january 16, 2006, a 1984 gmc pickup, crossed the center line of tx 317, causing a severe frontal collision with a 2002 Kia Spectra. Although the Spectra driver was properly wearing her seat belt, she sustained fatal blunt force injuries when the frontal driver?s side air bag failed to deploy in the severe…
Brakes
14 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Spectra. The emergency brake has not worked properly since the vehicle was purchased in april 2002. The vehicle continued to move after the brake was engaged. On several occasions, the dealer stated that the brakes are fine and to pull a little harder. The failure mileage was 63,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Spectra. After opening the front driver and passenger side windows, they failed to close. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front driver side window needed a new motor. The vehicle was repaired. The technician confirmed that the front passenger…
Transmission
12 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 32,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission.
(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…
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate from a stop and would exhibit loud noises when driving above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was…
Electrical
9 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
2 problems. 1st the steering wheel doesnt lock when vehicle is shut of, you can turn the wheel freely and the tires move. Also sometimes not all accesories work when car is running, have to move the key around. Accesories affected are the cigarette lighter, stereo and clock flitters. The second is the rubber window…
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…
Seat belts
8 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: front, rear/other.
We have now had a second failure of the passenger side seat belt. It now lacks a retract, as well as a locking mechanism and is completely useless. Now also, two months out of warranty.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Spectra. While driving approximately 5 to 10 MPH the middle seat belt broke. The child safety seat was secured in that seat belt when it broke. The child was not injured. The dealer stated that the repair would not be covered under the warranty. The labor rate is $70 and the cost to repair…
Visibility and wipers
8 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: windshield, power window devices and controls, glass, side/rear.
I bought a car 8 months ago, a Kia Spectra, right after I got it the rearview mirror fell down with a piece of the windshield. I went to the Kia dealer and they fixed it. They replaced the windshield. But last week exactly the same problem happened again they rescheduled my appointment 3 times, and finally today after…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Spectra. While driving 5 MPH, the front driver side power window fell. The dealer stated that the window regulator caused the failure. Approximately two years later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that the window regulator was poor quality and they replaced the window regulator and…
Speed control
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle accelerated and lurched forward at a high speed. The consumer had to apply the emergency brake, and turned the ignition switch off to get the vehicle to stop.
I am the owner of a 2002 Kia Spectra VIN [] in the last month I had 3 incidents of sudden severe acceleration associated with applying the brake. The first time, on dec 8th, as I was stopping for a traffic light, the RPM counter went to 7500, the car tried to lurch forward, and I held my foot on the brake to stop it.…
Engine
6 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: engine.
At the end of july 2004 my Kia Spectra began to act as if the car was choking and not going to start after I turned on the ignition of the car. I noticed that the car only did this after it had sat for a while (like over night). I took the car to the dealership where I had purchased it a year earlier and they said…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Kia Spectra recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rear drum brake wheel cylinder leakage
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this preliminary evaluation to investigate allegations of rear drum brake wheel cylinder leakage in 2002 kia spectra vehicles.this investigation was prompted by kia?s early warning report to the agency for the first quarter of 2004, which contained a single field report that identified 13 incidents of wheel cylinder leakage in the subject vehicles.the subject vehicles are available in both 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback body styles.the same parts supplier provides wheel cylinders for both vehicle types, although their part numbers differ.these parts are used on all my2002-2004 spectra ?type-I? Vehicles manufactured through 12/30/2003.additi
Questions about the 2002 Kia Spectra
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Spectra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (22 complaints, typically around 47,000 miles); brakes (14 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); transmission (12 complaints, typically around 32,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Spectra have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Kia Spectra. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Kia Spectra?
- It is 6th of 10 Spectra model years by number of complaints, with 92 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.