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2002 Kia Rio Cinco

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 10

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
200121
20028
200312
2004
Compare all Rio Cinco years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
8Fuel System, Gasoline
4Air Bags
3Electrical System
3Power Train
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Wheels
2Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

3 reports
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35,000 miles · Jul 18, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO CINCO. ON JULY 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE SUSTAINED PERMANENT INJURIES TO HER OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA FROM SNAPPING HER HEAD FORWARD. A SPEC SCAN SHOWED THAT SHE RECEIVED SOME…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO CINCO. ON JULY 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE SUSTAINED PERMANENT INJURIES TO HER OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA FROM SNAPPING HER HEAD FORWARD. A SPEC SCAN SHOWED THAT SHE RECEIVED SOME BRAIN DAMAGE, LOWER BACK HERNIATION, A TEAR IN THE ROTATOR CUP, PAIN IN HER RIGHT LEG, AND NEUTRAL HERNIA IN HER CHEST WHERE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE COMPRESSOR, THE HOOD, AND THE FRONT AXLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/24/07.8JB

NHTSA ODI #10196679

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

FAXED FOIA REQUEST A COPY OF THE ENTIRE FILE FROM THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED DEFECT RE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE 2002 KIA RIO, ATTY REPRESENT DRIVER OF A 2002 KIA RIO INJURIED WHEN HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR

NHTSA ODI #10118901

40,000 miles · Sep 15, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED CORRECT THE VEHICLE AND COME BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY , THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE BARRIER THE DRIVER MADE A HARD TURN AND OVER CORRECTED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE EDGE OF THE BLACK …

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WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED CORRECT THE VEHICLE AND COME BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY , THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE BARRIER THE DRIVER MADE A HARD TURN AND OVER CORRECTED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE EDGE OF THE BLACK TOP INTO THE BOTTOM OF A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ROOF CAVED IN ABOUT A FOOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS LEFT LEG, NECK PAIN AND SLIGHT BLURRED VISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10092243

Official recalls

1

04V179000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Apr 9, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.