2002 KIA Sportage Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 KIA Sportage, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 61,450 miles. The words owners use most often: “cooling fan” (25% of reports).
- 69engine and engine cooling complaints
- 61,450median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cooling fan: mentioned in 17 of 69 complaints (25%)
- Heard loud: mentioned in 5 of 69 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 50 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 69 complaints, 3 a fire.
KIA Sportage engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Sportage | 1 | 2% | 262,000 |
| 2023 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 120,100 |
| 2022 Sportage | 1 | 2% | 97,000 |
| 2021 Sportage | 7 | 13% | 85,000 |
| 2020 Sportage | 9 | 6% | 73,000 |
| 2019 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 92,500 |
| 2018 Sportage | 5 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 2017 Sportage | 8 | 2% | 80,000 |
| 2016 Sportage | 3 | 2% | 120,000 |
| 2015 Sportage | 1 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2014 Sportage | 2 | 2% | 134,500 |
| 2013 Sportage | 14 | 4% | 112,000 |
| 2012 Sportage | 2 | 1% | 195,500 |
| 2011 Sportage | 7 | 4% | 22,416 |
| 2008 Sportage | 5 | 5% | 13,811 |
| 2007 Sportage | 2 | 3% | 54,675 |
| 2006 Sportage | 8 | 7% | 33,000 |
| 2005 Sportage | 4 | 6% | 38,500 |
| 2003 Sportage | 1 | 25% | — |
| 2002 Sportage | 69 | 29% | 61,450 |
| 2001 Sportage | 45 | 20% | 40,056 |
| 2000 Sportage | 45 | 15% | 59,250 |
| 1999 Sportage | 79 | 28% | 50,280 |
| 1998 Sportage | 79 | 26% | 58,000 |
| 1997 Sportage | 56 | 31% | 104,000 |
| 1996 Sportage | 10 | 18% | — |
| 1995 Sportage | 14 | 25% | 111,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
There is a very strong raw gas smell that fills the cabin and outside the vehicle. It is very noticeable upon starting and when the vehicle is at rest and running. Fuel tank leaking. Seam areas and fuel pump/sending unit area due to corrosion and vehicle. The vehicle was parked, and i had a hard…
Vehicle runs hot and will not pass the smog test. I replaced the thermostat three times and the radiator one time just recently. The diagnostic test shows that the engine cooling coil or system has a problem. I can no longer drive it because it will not pass the smog and i cannot get it…
The problem i have with my 2002 kia sportage is engine heating, engine over heating, engine cooling fan ( fan blades brake off cut into my radiator, cut my fuel lines, water hoses, air intake lines. Since there has always been a problem with engine light on i.e. Misfire on cylinder number 3 the car…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 KIA Sportages have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 69 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2002 KIA Sportage (29% of the 234 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 KIA Sportage engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 61,450 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2002 KIA Sportage?
The most frequent phrase is “cooling fan”, in 17 of 69 complaints, followed by “heard loud” (5).
See all 2002 KIA Sportage problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Sportage years.