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2002 Kia Spectra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Spectra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Kia Spectra is a passenger car fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission, with routine oil service specified at 4.2 quarts of 10W-40, 10W-50, or 5W-20 API oil. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Within the 2000–2009 Spectra complaint history, the 2002 model sits roughly in the middle at 96 owner complaints—below the 2007 high of 162 but above the 2000 low of 23—with air bags flagged as the top complaint area and zero recalls on record.

Model year2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-40 / 10W-50 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy19/27/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 450 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 450 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	177.6 in
Overall width	67.7 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	100.8 in
Curb weight	2661 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.1 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	19 / 27 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	93 cu ft
Cargo volume	10 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Spectra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.20 sec — 2002 LS Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2002	LS Sedan 1.8L I-4	9.20 sec	17.20 sec	126 hp	FWD
2001	GSX Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.70 sec	16.60 sec	125 hp	FWD
2001	GSX Sedan 1.8L I-4	8.80 sec	17.20 sec	125 hp	FWD
2001	GSX Sedan 1.8L I-4	10.00 sec	17.50 sec	125 hp	FWD
2004	EX Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.50 sec	16.20 sec	138 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 10W-40 / 10W-50 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-40 · 10W-50 · API · 5W-20 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	Tighten in 5 or 6 steps to 8-10 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	35-37 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	71-76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-19 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	28-34 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	14-19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	154-205 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	5 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	10 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.43 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Capacity	4.05-4.60 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	450 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance	14.5 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	142-186 PSI. 25 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure	43-57 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle	18-24 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	18-24 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.040 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.787 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	36 ft. lbs.	36 ft. lbs
2	loosen 1 turn
3	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90 degrees	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

29 ft. lbs., Step 2: backoff 360 degrees, Step 3: 15 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90 degrees, Step 5: 60

29 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 9,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 22,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 40,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 45,000 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Kia Spectra recorded 96 complaints, which is more than double the 2000 total (23) and substantially higher than the 2001 figure (40), yet it is comparable to the 2003 complaint count of 93. Recalls remained at zero in 2002, matching the earlier years 2000‑2001 and preceding the first recall that appears in 2004. The vehicle had one investigation in 2002, down from three in 2000 but equal to the 2001 level, while technical service bulletins rose to 15, a modest increase over the 12‑13 range seen in the prior two years. Complaint areas most frequently cited were Air Bags (15), Power Train (8), Visibility (8), and Electrical System (8). Overall, the 2002 model sits in an upward‑trending complaint arc—worse than the earliest generation years but better than the peak complaint years of 2005‑2007—suggesting a moderate risk profile that warrants a careful pre‑purchase inspection before considering it a good buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

27 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’00 ’01’02’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 96 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags15

Power Train8

Visibility8

Electrical System8

Vehicle Speed Control6

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Seat Belts5

Structure4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB_BOD055_R1	2021-09-13	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
PS539	2018-03-02	Engine And Engine Cooling	PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R1	2017-01-18	Equipment	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN085	2016-11-04	Latches/Locks/Linkages	TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
PS443	2016-04-04	Electrical System	TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Spectra. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Spectra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE -15 degrees F: 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API, BELOW -15 degrees F: 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API, ABOVE 85 degrees F 40W API STARBURST, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Spectra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Spectra get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg.