Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2002 Kia Sportage. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- SEPARATION OF THE FAN BLADE(S) CAN CREATE A RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
- Remedy
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (234)
234 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 234 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 69 | 29.5% |
| Fuel system | 47 | 20.1% |
| Service brakes | 25 | 10.7% |
| Power train | 23 | 9.8% |
| Structure | 23 | 9.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 8.5% |
| Air bags | 17 | 7.3% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 6.8% |
| Visibility | 15 | 6.4% |
| Suspension | 12 | 5.1% |
How 2002 compares with other Sportage years
Best and worst Sportage years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 303 | 3 |
| 1999 | 284 | 3 |
| 2000 | 304 | 2 |
| 2001 | 228 | 0 |
| 2002 | 234 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | 68 | 3 |
| 2006 | 111 | 1 |
| 2007 | 77 | 2 |
| 2008 | 98 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 20 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2002 Sportage for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2002 Kia Sportage FAQ
How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Sportage have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 07V161000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2002 Kia Sportage problems?
Owners filed 234 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (69), Fuel system (47), Service brakes (25) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2002 Kia Sportage get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 17 city, 21 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2002 Sportage compare with other years?
Among the 1998–2008 Kia Sportage model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2000 the most (304). The 2002 drew 234. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.