2002 Kia Sportage Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 17about this part
- Share
- 7%of 234 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 41,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Kia Sportage, 7% of the 234 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I bought a car last week from a private seller, and it has a gas leak coming from the gas tank area. I have not taken it in yet to a mechanic to have it checked out. The seller had replaced the filler hose, and had said the previous owner had replaced the gas tank, so he said there shouldn't have been any issues. I have two grandchildren that need to be able to ride safely in this car, and I refuse to drive it with this leak on there. From the other reports that I am reading, this is a major issue, along with the rusted frame on the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10824814, filed 2016-02, 58,400 miles“I have a 2002 Kia Sportage 2 door. We bought it brand new for our son thinking it would be a fun little car for him. 36,000 miles later it has been in the shop 15 times for various things such as air bag needing repaired to engine cooling system exploding on me in the middle of the dessert and me alone for 6 hours before I could get help. This SUV if you can call it that is nothing but a headache and I am very concerned about my sons or in fact anyone that is in it when it is on the roads safety.”
NHTSA complaint #10136857, filed 2005-09, 36,000 miles“March 30th I was involved in an accident, a lady pulled accross traffic and I had no time to stop, needless to say I slammed into her drivers side door at about 30mph. The entire front end of my Kia sprortage was damaged with about $6700 in damages and the air bags didn't deploy and myself and my passengers were in our seat belts but badly bruised and thrown about. I was informed by Kia that I didn't hit the sensors ... Ok the whole front end was gone where exactly are the sensors? I don't feel safe in the car and my children are in it , please can some one tell me what to do? …”
NHTSA complaint #10129505, filed 2005-07, 41,000 miles“Dt: the contact stated that while driving at 40 vehicle wa sinvolved in a collision and air bags did not deploy. Someone pulled out in front of the contact's vehicle and sit hit the other vehicle. There were not lights on the dashboard to indicate the air bags would not deploy. Dealer did not say anything about the air bags to her. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet. Police came and a report was taken.”
NHTSA complaint #10138989, filed 2005-10, 73,861 miles“Upon impact air bags deployed with such force that the under frame of the dashboard detached from the body of the vehicle. When this occurred, it broke an occupant's ankle and foot. Dealer indicated it was not his problem, and urged consumer to call the manufacturer.”
NHTSA complaint #10053458, filed 2004-01, 17,000 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 1 | 2% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 11 | 6% |
| 2022 | 2 | 4% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 4% |
| 2016 | 5 | 4% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 4 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 20% |
| 2009 | 16 | 20% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 17% |
| 2006 | 38 | 34% |
| 2005 | 12 | 18% |
| 2002 | 17 | 7% |
| 2001 | 20 | 9% |
| 2000 | 18 | 6% |
| 1999 | 23 | 8% |
| 1998 | 11 | 4% |
| 1997 | 39 | 22% |
| 1996 | 9 | 16% |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2002 Kia Sportage
69 complaintsFuel system
67 complaintsBrakes
25 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsSuspension
12 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Kia Sportage
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology