2002 KIA SPECTRA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
121
Owner Complaints
0
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
The 2002 KIA SPECTRA has received a total of 121 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bagsfrontal (12 complaints), Air Bags (10 complaints), and Power Trainautomatic Transmission (8 complaints).
Recalls for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA. No Active Recalls
Owner Complaints for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
121 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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 REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
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 DISCONNECT IN A CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN PREVENT ALL AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING.
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 DISCONNECT IN A CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN PREVENT ALL AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING.
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 DISCONNECT IN A CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN PREVENT ALL AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING.
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 TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,896.
Safety Rating for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2002 KIA SPECTRA in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
Kia America, Inc. has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
KT-2008110606 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
KIA: DOORS LOCKING INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT FROM THE RKE TRANSMITTER OR KEY SWITCH MAY BE CAUSED BY WEAR ON SWITCH CONTACTS IN DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN HIGH RESISTANCE. *PE
54 — POWER TRAIN
INFORMATION REGARDING SPEEDOMETER ERROR. *TT
45 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
INFORMATION REGARDING SPECTRA 2002 MY NEW STYLE O2 SENSORS. *ET
NHTSA Investigations for the 2002 KIA SPECTRA
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2002 KIA SPECTRA.
Investigation PE04065 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS Closed
Opened:
REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE
Other Model Years of the KIA SPECTRA
- 2000 KIA SPECTRA — 30 complaints
- 2001 KIA SPECTRA — 56 complaints
- 2002 KIA SPECTRA (current)
- 2003 KIA SPECTRA — 132 complaints
- 2004 KIA SPECTRA — 92 complaints
- 2005 KIA SPECTRA — 130 complaints
- 2006 KIA SPECTRA — 129 complaints
- 2007 KIA SPECTRA — 206 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints