KnownCarProblems2002 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 234 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Kia Sportage, most often about the engine (30% of complaints, typically around 64,500 miles). It is 5th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2002 Kia Sportage problems
Engine
71 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
: the contact stated while driving 60mph a scrapping noise came from under the hood. The contact discovered the radiator fan was scrapping against the fan casing. There was a stress fracture in the center of the fan blades. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealership.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Kia Sportage. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the fan blade blew into pieces. He replaced the power steering reservoir, antifreeze reserve tank, all three serpentine belts, air intake, and the intake hose himself, to correct the failure. He then received a recall notice (NHTSA campaign id…
Fuel system
67 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
Action # ea06-007-fuel tank leakage in 2002 Kia Sportage. I took the car to the dealership for service on 7/03/07 complaining of gas odor. I was charged to fix the roll over valve because it was said to be leaking externally. I took the car back to the dealership with the same odor complaint on 8/8/07. They claimed…
Like other complaints that I am seeing, we have a 2002 Kia Sportage with 69000 miles and are having severe problems with raw fuel vapors in the passenger compartment upon start up and sitting still. I am a mechanic and have searched for an active fuel leak, but can not find one.. The vapors are extremely strong and I…
Brakes
25 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 13,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, power assist.
Vehicle developed a squeak in front brakes. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they pushed back the caliper piston. However, problem recurred. Later, dealer stated that there was nothing else found. Rotors have hot spots and light grooves causing heavy braking
The vehicle's rotors and brakes failed prematurely. The cause has not been determined. The part has been replaced three times, however problem still exist.
Body and structure
23 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Car was at dealer for service. We were told the frame was rusted and the car was not safe to drive. We purchased the car new in dec 2002. We have had it serviced through the years at the local dealer. They tell US there is nothing they can do about fixing the car. We have had many new cars from 1962 to 2011 and never…
The frame at the point of connection with the rear differential is completely rusted through and I am unable to get it repaired. I have contacted Kia and they said that the vehicle is beyond it's warranty. I was driving and heard a thumping sound. The sound got louder and the car began to shake terribly. A mechanic…
Transmission
23 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, manual transmission, axle hubs.
: the contact stated while traveling 35 MPH uphill on icy road conditions with the 4WD engaged, the vehicle began to slide. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the brake booster cable, vacuum hose, wheel bearings had failed. Each component was replaced on separate occasions. The 4WD was replaced 3…
2002 Kia Sportage 4WD has a vacuum-hub system, I have been researching on the internet and have found that this has a history of failure, however there is no way of knowing that the 4WD is not engaged,because the indicator on the dashboard lights whether or not the 4WD is working. This is a common ongoing problem in…
Air bags
17 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
March 30th I was involved in an accident, a lady pulled accross traffic and I had no time to stop, needless to say I slammed into her drivers side door at about 30mph. The entire front end of my Kia sprortage was damaged with about $6700 in damages and the air bags didn't deploy and myself and my passengers were in…
I have a 2002 Kia Sportage 2 door. We bought it brand new for our son thinking it would be a fun little car for him. 36,000 miles later it has been in the shop 15 times for various things such as air bag needing repaired to engine cooling system exploding on me in the middle of the dessert and me alone for 6 hours…
Electrical
16 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, horn, alternator/generator/regulator.
I bought my Kia Sportage in 09/19/2006 by 9/25/2006 I started to hear squealing noises in front of the engine and when I first started it I would press the gas but the car would die. I brought it to the dealership about 5 times when they finally fixed it. Then I found out 3 weeks later in the rain that water was…
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. There was a short in the wiring in the shock arms, a problem with the catalytic converter, rattling in the exhaust system, license plate…
Visibility and wipers
15 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 11,500 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield, windshield wiper/washer, glass, side/rear.
While rolling up the front driver side power window, the window fell back down with great force without warning. As a result the window was inoperative.
Consumer states that since buying the vehicle in january of 2003 rotors have been replaced twice in that time. The faulty rotors caused vibration while braking. The rotors were replaced once at 5699 miles and again at 8694 miles. When the engine was started all the doors locked, but when it was damp outside the locks…
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 Sportage recalls
Engine: fan
Risk: Separation of the fan blade(s) can create a risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
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
Fan blade cracking/separation
Summary
Kia motors america, inc. (kia) has identified a defect in the plastic engine cooling fan in the subject vehicles and will conduct a safety recall.kia's defect report states, ...heat generated by the engine causes repeated bending deformation of the polypropylene cooling fan...initiating cracks in the fan.the centrifugal forces generated by the rotation of the blades can cause the cracks to propagate until complete separation occurs...kia estimates approximately 35,090 vehicles will be subject to the recall, as some of the 46,887 vehicles produced have already had the fan replaced under warranty.kia dealers will replace the original version of the fan with a fan made of improved material.this
Fan blade cracking/separation
Summary
The investigation of engine cooling fans in the subject vehicles was opened on september 21, 2006 as pe06-042.the basis for opening was 10 consumer reports alleging fan blade cracking and blade separation.six of the reports indicated the separated fan blades caused damage to other engine compartment components.kia has provided additional consumer reports and information in its response to pe06-042.the investigation has been upgraded to engineering analysis (ea07-001) to continue to assess the consequence of fan blade separation in the subject vehicles.
Fuel tank leakage
Summary
A safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time.review of the warranty data revealed elevated tank leakage experience in vehicles produced from june 1999 to october 2000.analysis of complaints and warranty claims identified multiple causes and origins of fuel tank assembly leakage.the majority of complaints involve non-specific allegations of fuel leakage where more than one fuel system component was replaced.odi's analysis focused on leaks occurring on the underside of the tank due to corrosive failure caused by disruption of the protective pvc coating.the analysisindicates that such leaks are rare and do not show evidence of an increasing trend. Accordingly, this investi
Seat belt buckle false latch/malfunction
Summary
Information received and analyzed during this rq disclosed that my 1999 and 2000 kia sephia and sportage vehicles were equipped with modified versions of the same safety belt latch assembly as those recalled in campaign no. 02v-216.these latch assemblies were identified as type a97. Odi analyses indicate a continuing trend of consumer complaints following a series of design modifications made by kia to improve the a97 latch assembly.my 2001 and 2002 subject vehicles were equipped with different design latch assemblies (type db-6 or autoliv) and exhibit a much lower complaint count.this rq has been upgraded to an ea in order to further investigate this matter for the subject vehicles equipped
Questions about the 2002 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (71 complaints, typically around 64,500 miles); fuel system (67 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); brakes (25 complaints, typically around 13,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Sportage have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 16, 2007 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is 5th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints, with 234 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.