2002 Kia Spectra Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2002 Kia Spectra, and owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2002 Kia Spectra. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Kia Spectra have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA; 25 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 53,902 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 22 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 time”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 13, 2016 · Structure
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 14, 2015 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Kia Spectra. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–24 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 19–21 / 27–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Kia Spectra model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Spectra model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Kia Spectra | 0 | 23 |
| 2001 Kia Spectra | 0 | 40 |
| 2002 Kia Spectra | 0 | 92 |
| 2003 Kia Spectra | 0 | 90 |
| 2004 Kia Spectra | 1 | 71 |
| 2005 Kia Spectra | 2 | 103 |
| 2006 Kia Spectra | 1 | 100 |
| 2007 Kia Spectra | 1 | 152 |
| 2008 Kia Spectra | 0 | 121 |
| 2009 Kia Spectra | 0 | 114 |
Checking a specific 2002 Kia Spectra
How do I know if my 2002 Kia Spectra has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.