2002 Kia Spectra recalls & problems
The 2002 Kia Spectra has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 92 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (22 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints92filed by owners
Crashes · fires25 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths19 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 Kia Spectra.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2002 Kia Spectra 4-DR
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Spectra
24mpg combined
| City / highway | 21 / 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Spectra
22mpg combined
| City / highway | 19 / 27 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags Frontal | 22 | 47,102 mi |
| Power train Automatic transmission; Driveline › Driveshaft | 12 | 32,431 mi |
| Electrical system Ignition; Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module | 9 | 31,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components | 9 | 38,000 mi |
| Seat belts Front › Anchorage; Front | 8 | 66,650 mi |
| Visibility Windshield; Power window devices and controls | 7 | 17,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal | 7 | 54,000 mi |
| Steering Hydraulic power assist system; Column | 7 | 10 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine | 6 | — |
| Structure Body › Door; Body | 5 | 52,500 mi |
| Tires Tread/belt | 4 | — |
| Suspension Front › Macpherson strut; Front › Control arm › Lower arm | 4 | 86,609 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Mar 13, 2016 · 120,000 milesStructure › Body
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, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. - Jun 19, 2015 · 195,000 miles · crashSteering
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, WHICH CAN PREVENT ALL AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING. - May 15, 2014 · 72,896 milesService brakes
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 THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE… - Jun 1, 2007 · 90,000 milesStructure
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 - Aug 6, 2014 · 165,000 milesFuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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 FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR AND A BLOWN FUSE . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. - Jun 30, 2009Structure
HEAT HAS WARPED DASHBOARD SO VENTS NO LONGER STAY SEATED. *TR - Aug 13, 2013 · 122,800 milesService brakes
DRIVING AT 35 MPH, SLOWING DOWN APPROACHING TRAFFIC LIGHT, PRESSED ON BRAKES AND HAD ALMOST NO TENSION. NEARLY SMASHED DIRECTLY INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. USED BOTH FEET WITH ALL THE PRESSURE I COULD GIVE TO STOP THE CAR. FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID LEAVING ME WITH NO BRAKE FLUID WHATSOEVER. VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROPORTIONING VALVE NEEDS REPLACING. I HAVE BEEN FILLING UP THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ASSESSED? *JS - Apr 1, 2013 · 186,000 milesService brakes
AS I WAS ABOUT TO STOP DOWN A STEEP HILL MY BRAKES GAVE AWAY AND JESUS TOOK THE WHEEL IS ALL I CAN SAY.BRAKE CAME ON NO BRAKE FLUID .I GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES IT JUST LEAKS OUT AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT. MECHANIC FOR 40 YEARS SAID NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON A CAR. THE CONNECTOR WERE THE VALVES OR CONNECTING IS LEAKING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID OUT . *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PE04065 · opened Sep 21, 2004 · closed Feb 8, 2005REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY KIA?S EARLY WARNING REPORT TO THE AGENCY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004, WHICH CONTAINED A SINGLE FIELD REPORT THAT IDENTIFIED 13 INCIDENTS OF WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK BODY STYLES.THE SAME PARTS SUPPLIER PROVIDES WHEEL CYLINDERS FOR BOTH VEHICLE TYPES, ALTHOUGH THEIR PART NUMBERS DIFFER.THESE PARTS ARE USED ON ALL MY2002-2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? VEHICLES MANUFACTURED THROUGH 12/30/2003.ADDITIONALLY, MY2001-2005 KIA RIO VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/17/2004 USE THE SAME WHEEL CYLINDERS AS THE SUBJECT SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? 4-DOOR SEDAN.MY2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-II? VEHICLES, WHICH STARTED PRODUCTION ON…