2002 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- About as many complaints as other years 6th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 KIA Spectra. That ranks 6th out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (22 complaints, 24%), typically at around 47,102 miles. Complaints mention 25 crashes, 2 fires, 19 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 92owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 25complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 KIA Spectra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 22 | 24% | 47,102 | — | — |
| Power Train | 12 | 13% | 32,431 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 10% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 10% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 9% | 66,650 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 8% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 8% | 17,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 7% | 10,800 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 5% | 52,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4% | 111,400 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 4% | 26,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% | 86,609 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | 17,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 3% | 56,161 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | 47,102 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 59,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | 36,600 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 72,896 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 KIA Spectra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 KIA Spectra.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear drum brake wheel cylinder leakage (PE04065) — opened Sep 21, 2004, closed Feb 8, 2005.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side interior door handle fractured while attempting to exit the vehicle. The failure recurred four times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the door handles was replaced however…
A front tie rod broke, something in the steering column broke, and the air bag indicator lit up but no air bags deployed. The two front tires were not pointing in the same direction. I had it towed to a mechanic, and they said that the steering column issue likely caused a disconnect in a circuit…
Tl* 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…
The paint just faded away. Alot on the hood of the car. Looks bad with part of the paint fading away. Was there a recall for the factory paint job on the car/ *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectrum. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and it was coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was contributed to a faulty…
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2001 Spectra · 2003 Spectra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 |
| 2008 Spectra | 121 | 0 |
| 2007 Spectra | 152 | 1 |
| 2006 Spectra | 100 | 1 |
| 2005 Spectra | 103 | 2 |
| 2004 Spectra | 71 | 1 |
| 2003 Spectra | 90 | 0 |
| 2002 | 92 | 0 |
| 2001 Spectra | 40 | 0 |
| 2000 Spectra | 23 | 0 |
See all KIA Spectra problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
Embed this 2002 KIA Spectra badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 22 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 KIA Spectra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 KIA Spectra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Spectra model years, the 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.