2002 Ford Explorer vs 2002 Kia Sportage
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Ford Explorer | 2002 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 3,294 | 234 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 258 | 9 |
| Investigations | 7 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 144 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 57 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–17 | 18–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,300 mi | 61,133 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 1,502 | 23 |
| Structure | 486 | 23 |
| Suspension | 421 | 12 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 163 | 69 |
| Air Bags | 162 | 17 |
| Steering | 155 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 148 | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 152 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 16 |
| Shifting problems | 111 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 98 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 77 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 74 | 8 |
| Airbag warning light | 66 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 61 | 10 |
| Rust / corrosion | 47 | 24 |
2002 Ford Explorer
2002 Kia Sportage
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Kia Sportage years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.