Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Kia Sportage
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Kia Sportage has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 234 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V161000 ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 69 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 40 complaints
- Power Train 23 complaints
- Structure 23 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 21 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 20 complaints
Of the 234 complaints on file, 15 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 234 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$6,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Kia Sportage has frequent complaints related to engine cooling and fuel systems, with significant recall history regarding cooling fan issues, affecting reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling fan | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$600 | very common |
| Fuel pump | 70,000–100,000 miles | $350–$500 | common |
| Brake system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $250–$450 | common |
| Transmission | 100,000–130,000 miles | $1,200–$2,500 | occasional |
| Electrical system | 90,000–120,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection annually
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Transmission service every 90,000 miles
- Air filter replacement every 20,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Overheating engine
- Rough idling or stalling
- Delayed gear engagement
- Unusual brake noises
- Dim or flickering headlights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Kia Sportage at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.