KiaSportage2002Overview/kia/sportage/2002/base/

2002 Kia Sportage

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

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Kia Sportage is an SUV equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an EPA rating of 16/20/18 mpg, utilizing 4.4 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil. This model year saw three recalls and 237 owner complaints, which were primarily concentrated in the engine and engine cooling area. In the context of the model's 1995-2026 history, this version immediately precedes the 2003 model, which recorded the lowest number of complaints in the series.

Model year202620252023202220212020201920182002

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/20/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI N/A · 600 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 N/A · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length162.2 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3360 lb
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 20 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

11.8–12.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.80 sec — 1996 EX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001Limited 2.0L I-412.50 sec19.10 sec130 hp4x4
1998SUV 2.0L I-412.80 sec19.10 sec130 hp4x4
1996EX 2.0L I-411.80 sec18.30 sec130 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.2 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsDOHC: 13-20 ft-lbs; SOHC: 16 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) BearingsDOHC: 51-54; SOHC: 50 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsDOHC: 71-76; SOHC: 73 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25-36 ft-lbs
Main BearingsDOHC: 61-65; SOHC: 63 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8MM

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-87 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing4, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance6 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)42.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression164-111 PSI. 26 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure43-57 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle17 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.945 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.945 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.882 in
Drum Nominal Diameter9.843 in

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; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)

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 Sportage sits at the tail end of a first generation (1995–2002) that saw complaints climb from 67 in 1995 to a peak of 383 in 1998, then plateau at elevated levels through 2002. While complaints dropped from the 1998–1999 peak, the 2002 model still recorded 237 complaints—essentially flat versus 2001—and notably higher than the 2003 figure of just 4, which marks the start of a new generation. The 2002 carries 3 recalls and 4 active NHTSA investigations, with the top complaint areas being Engine & Engine Cooling (45) and Fuel System, Gasoline (36), plus 16 crash-related complaints and 7 fire-related complaints. This places the 2002 near the end of a troubled generation arc rather than at a point of resolved issues. The concrete takeaway: the 2002 Sportage is among the later entries in a generation with a documented history of high complaint volumes, and a buyer should factor in the likelihood of engine and fuel-system-related repairs compared to later model years.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
9
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
237
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 237 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling45
Fuel System, Gasoline36
Structure18
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Power Train10
Air Bags10
Visibility8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07V161000Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:FanReported 16/04/2007

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… 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.

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 9 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
PS5392018-03-02Engine And Engine CoolingPITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R12017-01-18EquipmentTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN0852016-11-04Latches/Locks/LinkagesTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
PS4432016-04-04Electrical SystemTSB - 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 Sportage. 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Sportage take?

4.4 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Sportage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sportage get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 20 highway / 18 combined mpg.