2002 Kia Spectra problems
The 2002 Kia Spectra has 121 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (18%) concerns air bags. Next are brakes (12%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 121 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 18% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 38 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 27 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 41,000 miles 72 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 24 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 72 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 41,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 38 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 27 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 98% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Kia Spectra with enough data (77 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
On monday, january 16, 2006, a 1984 GMC pickup, crossed the center line of tx 317, causing a severe frontal collision with a 2002 kia spectra. Although the spectra driver was properly wearing her seat belt, she sustained fatal blunt force injuries when the frontal driver?s side air bag failed to deploy in the severe frontal collision due to an open circuit in the airbag system.
While traveling about 50MPH on the highway hit a curb. And lost control of vehicle and then hit a telephone pole. Upon impact, dual airbags didn't deploy. Ts....
I rear ended another vehicle at 30-40 MPH, front end damage resulting in over $6400, including unibody alignment. Upon impact driver and passenger air bags did not deploy, brakes locked up and did not release. I am concerned about the safety of this vehicle and would like an investigation into this matter.
The consumer's vehicle was struck from the rear at 65 MPH, causing it to strike another vehicle. Upon impact, both the passenger and driver seats broke, and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled.
I purchased 2002 kia spectra in 11/ 2004 with 14,000 miles on it. ( I have all maintenance work documented) . In 2006 I noticed my car would get sluggish and hesitate whenever I would accelerate. It didn't happen all the time. But I did take it in for a tune-up and transmission flush and fill. This was in 10/2006 and I only had 26,000 miles on it .but this problem persisted and it worsened to a point that it took a while before it would shift gears.