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Electrical systemPart report

2002 Kia Sportage Electrical system Problems

Complaints
16about this part
Share
7%of 234 total for the year
Median mileage
58,454miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Kia Sportage, 7% of the 234 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,454 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I bought my Kia Sportage in 09/19/2006 by 9/25/2006 I started to hear squealing noises in front of the engine and when I first started it I would press the gas but the car would die. I brought it to the dealership about 5 times when they finally fixed it. Then I found out 3 weeks later in the rain that water was coming in the top left corner of the windshield. In 1/04/07 I wad headed to work and the car just suddenly die again so the dealership towed it back.”

NHTSA complaint #10178244, filed 2007-01, 70,700 miles

“On dec. 15, 2005, I contacted the dealer where I purchased my 2002 Kia Sportage a month ago for warrantee service (empire toyota, oneonta ny). I was told that they no longer sell or service under the Kia warrantee. At that time it had 58,000 miles. New dealer: country club Kia, oneonta, ny. On january 12, 2006 I called them to have the warrantee service done on my car. They are still setting up the service dept. And are waiting for empire toyota to transfer the records of customers for warrantee repairs. …”

NHTSA complaint #10149080, filed 2006-01, 58,000 miles

“Engine light/fan relay ar shook upon being turned on two separate occassions prior to enging light coming on. Car taken in for repairs scan showed random cylinder misfire #301 & #1. Found water and corrosion on plugs and wire arcing. Inginition wires and spark plugs replaced. Car returned a day and half after taken in for service although I had been told that it would not be available to me for another 2 days whereas I complained and after a moment of being put on hold was told car was repaired and I could come pick it up. …”

NHTSA complaint #10052597, filed 2004-01, 7,685 miles

“When the vehicle was hit while parked the bumper was destroyed the airbags did not deploy. The tune signals do not work, the fuses blow eveytime they are replaced, the hazzard signal blows all the fuses, there is a recall on before this year and some after, but not this one. Gas fumes inside the vehicle, no dealer in our community can find the problem. Shifter is stuck in park, the by pass key works but it will not shift without it.”

NHTSA complaint #10950217, filed 2017-02, 113,150 miles

“Coolant gauge not reading or registering thermostat temperature therefore rendering it unfit for clearing an inspection. It causes the check engine light to stay on even if coolant and/or thermostat, sensors,harness wiring wires and other things/parts connect to it has been replaced or checked for problems it still gives a false reading that the same problem is wrong with vehicle. Coolant thermostat not reaching temperature.”

NHTSA complaint #10356328, filed 2010-09, 85,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026621%
20251527%
20241621%
20234523%
2022817%
2021611%
20202012%
20191115%
20183018%
20176316%
20161713%
20151812%
201486%
2013226%
2012297%
20113821%
201015%
20091823%
20082728%
20071317%
20062220%
2005812%
2002167%
20012310%
20003211%
19994114%
19984716%
19972112%
1996712%
1995814%

Other parts of the 2002 Kia Sportage

Engine cooling
69 complaints
Fuel system
67 complaints
Brakes
25 complaints
Body and structure
23 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
23 complaints
Air bags
17 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaints
Suspension
12 complaints
Seat belts
9 complaints
Steering
9 complaints
Other or unknown
6 complaints
Equipment
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 Kia Sportage

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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