← New search

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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Rio Cinco years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
60,948 miles · Jul 21, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

REFER TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V179000 IN JANUARY 2007, I TOOK MY VEHICLE (2002 KIA RIO) TO RAY CARTER KIA DEALERSHIP AT 6373 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE AND WOULD SOMETIMES CUT OFF DURING ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME I NEEDED THE 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE SERVICE WHICH …

Read full complaint

REFER TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V179000 IN JANUARY 2007, I TOOK MY VEHICLE (2002 KIA RIO) TO RAY CARTER KIA DEALERSHIP AT 6373 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE AND WOULD SOMETIMES CUT OFF DURING ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME I NEEDED THE 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING THE TIMING BELT, OIL CHANGE, TIRE BALANCE, THROTTLE CLEANING, FUEL ADDITIVE, FRONT AND REAR AXLE OIL, TRANSFER CASE OIL, ETC ETC AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER NON-ENGINE RELATED INSPECTIONS. THIS WAS AT A COST OF $759.65. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP BELIEVING IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER, THE SAME PROBLEM KEPT RETURNING. TODAY, 21 JULY 2007, I WENT BACK TO RAY CARTER KIA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY PERFORMED AN OIL AND FILTER CHANGE, TIRE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TOPPED OFF FLUIDS AT A COST OF $77.75. THEN THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW IDLE CONTROL SOLENOID AT A COST OF $573.74. I ASKED THEM ABOUT THE $759 I PAID BACK IN JANUARY TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALL THEY SAID WAS IT WAS FOR THE 60,000 MILE CHECKUP. OF NOTE, DURING THIS VISIT, THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A RECALL FOR THE KIA RIO'S FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED UP THE RECALL ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND IT ALONG WITH THIS SITE OF COURSE. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THE FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY SYSTEM REPLACED IAW THE RECALL? I ALSO BELIEVE I AM ENTITLED TO THE MONIES I PAID FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197119

61,000 miles · Apr 10, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2002 KIA RIO CINCO'S TIMING-BELT BROKE AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN A $2500 FEE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE MY TIMING-BELT WAS NOT CHANGED AT 60000 (WE HAVE 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THESE VEHICLES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WI…

Read full complaint

MY 2002 KIA RIO CINCO'S TIMING-BELT BROKE AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN A $2500 FEE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE MY TIMING-BELT WAS NOT CHANGED AT 60000 (WE HAVE 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THESE VEHICLES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154924

1,500 miles · Jan 6, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingWheels

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. WHILE STOPPING, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AND THEY DETERMINED THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE PIPES TO THE HEAT SHIELD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BURNED OFF. ALSO, THE LUGS: NUTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THEY WERE…

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. WHILE STOPPING, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AND THEY DETERMINED THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE PIPES TO THE HEAT SHIELD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BURNED OFF. ALSO, THE LUGS: NUTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THEY WERE CORRODED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10147089

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUMER 2002 RIO CINCO WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES , CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING . *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146405

105,000 miles · Jun 26, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR HESITATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP (HAMILTON, ON) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SENSOR (250$CAD) AND DO A 300$ TUNE UP ON THE …

Read full complaint

APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR HESITATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP (HAMILTON, ON) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SENSOR (250$CAD) AND DO A 300$ TUNE UP ON THE CAR. TWO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I BROUGHT IN BACK TO THE DEALER. BY THE TIME I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER THE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WAS ON. FINALLY AFTER A NUMBER OF VISITS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ECM NEEDED A FLASH. THEY FLASHED THE ECM AND THE CAR SEEMED FINE. APPROX 3 WEEKS AGO THE CAR STARTED HESITATING AGAIN AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND A BULLETIN FROM KIA THAT STATED A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN KIA'S (WHICH MINE FELL UNDER) WHERE THE ECM WOULD INCORRECTLY INTERPRET RESULTS FROM THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE ECM AND REPLACED IT, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THEY FINALLY FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INCORRECT READING FROM THE ECM WOULD HAVE MADE THE CAR SEND UNSPENT FUEL THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEREBY CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #10126598

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsService Brakes, HydraulicInjury

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SMELL WAS HYDROGEN SULFIDE (KIA RECALL SC034). *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED DRIVER'S SEAT PROBLEMS , ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE ALLOY WHEELS RUSTED AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10099320

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE HAS A HAZARDOUS STALLING PROBLEM THAT SURFACED WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 49,986 AND 52,281. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED FROM INTERMITTENT TO CHRONIC. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER STOPPING AT STOPLIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS OR UPON RESUMING DRIVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION (STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUS…

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE HAS A HAZARDOUS STALLING PROBLEM THAT SURFACED WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 49,986 AND 52,281. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED FROM INTERMITTENT TO CHRONIC. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER STOPPING AT STOPLIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS OR UPON RESUMING DRIVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION (STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION). THE PROBLEM BECAME CHRONIC WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 73,241 AND 74,727. THIS IS WHEN THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20 MILES WITHOUT STALLING. THE PROBLEM WAS MORE PRONOUNCED IF ANY PART OF THOSE 20 MILES WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. THE CAR WILL USUALLY RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. OCCASIONALLY UPON RESTARTING, IT WILL STALL AGAIN. USUALLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WILL CONTINUE RUNNING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STALLING PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY THE KIA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF IT COULD BE REPEATED BY THE TECHNICIAN OR IF IT OCCURRED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR IF ERROR CODES WERE STORED. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 52,281) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, THE ECM WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 55,966) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM ERROR CODES INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 64,287) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE RECALL THAT SUPPOSEDLY ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE THAT TIME, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN (MILEAGE 72,416), THE ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN (MILEAGE 73,241), AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED (MILEAGE 74,727). THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 75,135) CONTINUES TO STALL REGULARLY. THE NEXT REPAIR RECOMMENDED BY THE KIA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090536

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLES STALLS AFTER MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAR HAS BEEN OWNED FOR A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED TOO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE RECALL AS IF IT WERE NEVER FIXED. DEALER WANTS TO EXCHANGE THE CAR AT MY EXPEN…

Read full complaint

VEHICLES STALLS AFTER MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAR HAS BEEN OWNED FOR A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED TOO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE RECALL AS IF IT WERE NEVER FIXED. DEALER WANTS TO EXCHANGE THE CAR AT MY EXPENSE FOR THE PROBLEM. HOW IS THIS FAIR???? THEN THE CAR WILL BE PUT BACK ON THE MARKET FOR SOME OTHER SUCKER TO PURCHASE. SOME THING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND FOR THE BEST INTEREST IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR SOMEONE DOESN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR-ENDS THE VEHICLE.......WHOSE FAULT WOULD IT BE?????*AK *TR

NHTSA ODI #10079270

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.