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2002 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Rio years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Kia Rio are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

64 reports with mileage · 64 unknown

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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports6 fire reports18 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

21 reports
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12,000 miles · Sep 22, 2003
Air BagsSteeringCrash

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 46 MPH. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF, AND THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT. *AK CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH BY A TOOTA TACOMA. THE DRIVIER OF THE TACOMA WAS ON DRUGS WHEN C…

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VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 46 MPH. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF, AND THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT. *AK CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH BY A TOOTA TACOMA. THE DRIVIER OF THE TACOMA WAS ON DRUGS WHEN CROSSED OVER INTO PATH OF THE RIO. THE DRIVER OF THE RIO EXPERIENCED A SEVERED BRAIN STEM, PUNCTURED LUNG FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND A SEVERED ARM. THE DRIVER OF THE RIO WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. DURING THE CRASH THE RIO'S DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE FROM THE MOUNTINGS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. AFTER THE CRASH THE RIO'S DRIVER WAS FOUND UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TACOMA WAS BENT IN HALF AND THE TRUCKS BED BROKE OFF FROM THE FRAME. RIO HAS BEEN NOTIFED OF THE CRASH. IT WAS ASSUMED THE DRIVER OF THE TACOMA WAS TRAVALING ATLEAST 45-50 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. CW

NHTSA ODI #10040288

8,464 miles · Sep 4, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026798

14,800 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022072

15,000 miles · Jun 24, 2003
Air BagsInjury

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023644

27,000 miles · May 20, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 65/70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020205

14,000 miles · Feb 4, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED, RESULTING IN DASHBOARD PUSHING INTO DRIVER AND PASSENGER. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10006322

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT JAMMED SO TIGHT THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND IT SHATTERED AND PIECES HIT THE DRIVER. AFTER THAT OCCURRED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10006148

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2003
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 35MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FEEL FREE TO ADD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10004734

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT HITTING A DEER. AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, NOR SEAT BELTS HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION:: MR

NHTSA ODI #8022700

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Air BagsTiresCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED AT A SPEED OF 30-35 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FROM THE FIRST COLLISION, TNE 2ND CRASH OCCURED WHEN THE LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT (NO TIRE INFO WAS GIVEN). *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8019725

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

1

EA02009 · Air Bag Non Deploy

Opened Jul 2, 2002 · Closed Jul 2, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 82 REPORTS ALLEGING NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS.OF THE 82 REPORTS, ONLY ONE INCIDENT, THE FATAL CRASH THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MODERATE TO SEVERE CRASH IN WHICH THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTRAINT CONTROLLER ISSUED A COMMAND TO DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT