RecallRepo

2002 Kia Sportage Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Kia Sportage has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 35,090 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 321 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 07V161000 2007-04-16 35,090 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE ENGINE CAUSES REPEATED BENDING DEFORMATION OF THE POLYPROPYLENE COOLING FAN INCLUDING ITS RETAINING RING, WHICH STRESSES THE POLYPROPYLENE THEREBY INITIATING CRACKING OF THE BLADES. THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCES GENERATED BY THE ROTATION OF THE BLADES CAN CAUSE THE CRACKS TO…

Consequence

SEPARATION OF THE FAN BLADE(S) CAN CREATE A RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WITH A FAN MADE OF IMPROVED MATERIAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Complaints by component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
35
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
22
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
20
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12
1fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
12
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
11
AIR BAGS
9
3crashes4injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8
7crashes3injuries
Total complaints321

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I purchased a 2002 kia sportage in february of 2017, after driving it for a couple months it all the sudden started rocking side to side uncontrollably while driving. When looking at the car we noticed the whole frame is rusted and falling apart. This is a huge safety problem, especially when it…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2017-06-04

“We have religiously cleaned our 2002 sportage with under washing to keep under carriage as clean as possible...yet we are told the frame is too rusted, with holes and cannot be inspected or driven safely...we have less than 90,000 miles on it. Why hasn't there been a safety recall on this frame…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2016-10-01

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia sportage. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted carbon monoxide and caused the contact to fall sleep. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a canal. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic.…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2016-08-04

“Driver side and front passenger shoulder belts are frayed which makes them unable to stay secure. It won't stop upper body movement when brakes are applied quickly. Driver side rear passenger window won't go down and motor in door still makes the noise like its wants to work but does not. Unable…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-08-01

“Driver side and front passenger shoulder belts are frayed which makes them unable to stay secure. It won't stop upper body movement when brakes are applied quickly. Driver side rear passenger window won't go down and motor in door still makes the noise like its wants to work but does not. Unable…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2016-08-01

“Driver side and front passenger shoulder belts are frayed which makes them unable to stay secure. It won't stop upper body movement when brakes are applied quickly. Driver side rear passenger window won't go down and motor in door still makes the noise like its wants to work but does not. Unable…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2016-08-01

“Takata recall I purchased this car for my granddaughter on 6-6-2016 it has all the symptoms of kia's recall # cs-048 the car is a 2002 kia sportage vin [xxx] with 87k miles and on july 4th she stopped for a light and the car started to run rough and than stop running, she looked out the window and…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2016-07-04

“Rear section of vehicle frame is rotted beyond a safe condition to continue use. Rear suspension mount points are crumbling and falling off. Vehicle has 38,000 miles. Vehicle always parked on pavement or concrete and used as a primary vehicle for an older female. Vehicle used very little during…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2016-05-06

Defect investigations

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation EA06007 Opened 2006-05-09 · closed 2007-11-30

FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF…

Investigation EA07001 Opened 2007-01-22 · closed 2007-04-16

FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATION

KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) HAS IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE PLASTIC ENGINE COOLING FAN IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL.KIA'S DEFECT REPORT STATES, ...HEAT GENERATED BY THE ENGINE CAUSES REPEATED BENDING DEFORMATION OF THE POLYPROPYLENE COOLING FAN...INITIATING CRACKS IN THE FAN.THE…

Investigation PE06042 Opened 2006-09-21 · closed 2007-01-22

FAN BLADE CRACKING/SEPARATION

THE INVESTIGATION OF ENGINE COOLING FANS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2006 AS PE06-042.THE BASIS FOR OPENING WAS 10 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING FAN BLADE CRACKING AND BLADE SEPARATION.SIX OF THE REPORTS INDICATED THE SEPARATED FAN BLADES CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE COMPARTMENT COMPONENTS.KIA…

Investigation RQ03007 Opened 2003-10-14 · closed 2004-02-27

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTION

INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES INDICATE A CONTINUING…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Kia Sportage as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.