There are 3 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2002 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL TANK SENOR, AND PART WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM RECURRED. *TT
CAR WAS 4 WEEKS OLD WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME - CALLED DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO GAS TANK CAP. MADE APPT W/DEALER - NEXT DAY ENGINE LIGHT OFF - FOLLOWING WEEK 6/18/02 ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IT WENT OFF BEFORE DEALER APPT. ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. FINALLY ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES. ON JULY 10 TAKE TO DEALER KEEP CAR OVER NIGHT REPLACED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. NEXT DAY JULY 11 HAVING TRAVELED 125 MILES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON - AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GEARS DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AT TIMES UNABLE TO ACCLERATE PAST 50 MPH - ENGINE REVVED LOCKED IN WRONG GEARS FOR SPEED TRAVELED - HAD TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES TO TRY AND GET GEARS WORKING RIGHT. WITH EXCEPTION OF A FEW HOURS ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON . SO FAR DEALER FINDS NOTHING WRONG AS ENGINE LIGHT WANT OFF MERE MINUTES BEFORE MY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. ALSO TRUNK RELEASE ON HATCHBACK ONLY WORKS 1/3 OF THE TIME THE REST OF THE TIME IT OPENS HALF WAY AND YOU MUST USE KEY
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026