Kia · Spectra · 2002
2002 Kia Spectra
0
Recalls
92
Complaints
N/A
NCAP overall
The 2002 Kia Spectra has no recalls and 92 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most frequent stored component label: air bags (15 reports).
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2002 Kia Spectra 4-DR NCAP Vehicle ID: 4458
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
Source: NHTSA Public Records
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
- Complaints
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Recalls
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Safety ratings
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Investigations
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Manufacturer communications
- Separate successful check not recorded.
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.
Research Context
The 2002 Kia Spectra page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most frequent complete stored component label is air bags with 15 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2002 Kia Spectra currently shows no active NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 92 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows no overall NHTSA safety rating in our current dataset.
- The most frequent complete stored component labels on this page are air bags (15), power train (8), visibility (7).
- Vehicle
- 2002 Kia Spectra
- Recalls
- 0
- Complaints
- 92
- Stored Configuration Overall Rating
- Not available in this dataset
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Configuration Test Results
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2002 Kia Spectra 4-DR NCAP Vehicle ID: 4458
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
No overall score is available in our current dataset. The individual results below are not a combined safety rating; compare vehicles within the same test program and model year.
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
No rollover risk estimate available in this dataset
Safety Features
ESC: NoForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: No
Owner Complaints
92 totalSTRUCTURE
Mar 13, 2016
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 R...
Preview excerpt
STEERING,SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS
CRASHJun 19, 2015
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 DISCON...
Preview excerpt
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Aug 6, 2014
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 CONTRIB...
Preview excerpt
SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES,VISIBILITY/WIPER
May 15, 2014
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 TE...
Preview excerpt
SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 13, 2013
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 LEAKI...
Preview excerpt
SERVICE BRAKES
Apr 1, 2013
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 C...
Preview excerpt
SERVICE BRAKES
Jun 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT...
Preview excerpt
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS
FIREMar 23, 2012
CAR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. NO CAUTION LIGHTS CAME ON. FIRE STARTED AROUND THE BACK TIRE OF CAR, PASSENGER REAR. POSSIBLY TRUNK. HAVE PHOTOS. SMOKE QUICKLY ENTERED BACK SEAT AREA WITH ONLY MOMENTS TO STOP AND JUMP OUT BEFORE IT WENT UP IN SMOKE. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRASHFeb 9, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. N...
Preview excerpt
SEAT BELTS
Jun 10, 2010
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FEMALE FASTENER AND ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND TO BE NO LONGER SECURED TO SEAT OR CAR ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE 1 BOLT THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE HAD COME FULLY OUT ALLOWING THE BRACKET TO BE PULLED OUT. *TR
Showing 10 recent complaints from 92 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2002 Kia models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Kia Spectra Years
2003 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.90c2001 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.40c2004 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.1r71c2000 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.23c2005 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.2r103c2006 Kia SpectraCompare this year against 2002 for complaint and recall shifts.1r118c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2002 Kia Spectra have?
The 2002 Kia Spectra has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2002 Kia Spectra?
NHTSA has received 92 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Kia Spectra.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2002 Kia Spectra?
An overall NHTSA safety rating is not available in our current dataset for the 2002 Kia Spectra. Individual crash-test results may still be available.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Kia Spectra?
The most frequent complete stored component labels for the 2002 Kia Spectra are air bags (15 reports), power train (8 reports), visibility (7 reports). These are exact-label counts, not broader component-group totals or confirmed defects.
Does the 2002 Kia Spectra have any recalls?
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2002 Kia Spectra. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.