Sportage (2002)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
2.0-I4-Gas
2.0L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Kia Sportage Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sportage, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2002 Kia Sportage
On a used 2002 Kia Sportage, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (71), the cooling system (69) and the fuel system (67). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 71 owner complaints on the 2002 Kia Sportage about the engine.
- With the engine cold, check the coolant level and color, then watch the temperature gauge on the drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 69 owner complaints on the 2002 Kia Sportage about the cooling system.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 67 owner complaints on the 2002 Kia Sportage about the fuel system.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the trunk or hatch. Check the latches, the seals and the gaps between panels.Minor. NHTSA has 24 owner complaints on the 2002 Kia Sportage about the body and structure.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 23 owner complaints on the 2002 Kia Sportage about the transmission and drivetrain.
Recalls (3)
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
Alternatives in Compact SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2002-2002 Kia Sportage complaints?
Owners have filed 233 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage. The systems they name most often are the engine, the cooling system and the fuel system.
Is the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 233 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA has 233 owner complaints on file for the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2002-2002 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls covering some 2002-2002 Kia Sportage vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Kia Sportage?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the cooling system and the fuel system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the Sportage have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2002 Kia Sportage. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 233 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.