2002 Kia Sportage reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Kia Sportage — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 321
- on record
- Top problem area
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- 35 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 19 reported crashes · 11 injuries · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,652
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
+56
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2000-2004
+68
median 253 complaints in 771 records
Top component share
11%
Fuel System, Gasoline: 35 complaints
What owners report fails — 2002 Kia Sportage
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 35
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN 22
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 20
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 12
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Kia Sportage
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Kia Sportage units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 321 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Kia Sportage. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (35 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Kia Sportage units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Sportage?
Owners most often report problems with: fuel system, gasoline (35), engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan (22), fuel/propulsion system (20), engine and engine cooling:engine (12). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2002 Kia Sportage?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.