IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES. *NLM
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio 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
230–25K
1025–50K
1050–75K
1075–100K
10100–150K
1150K+
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
39 reportsTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VAPOR AND SERVICE THE FUEL INJECTION, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. *JB
THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING. MR *TS *JB
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE AND VEHICLE WILL STALL, BUT WILL START BACK UP IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS *DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. AND THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH THERE'S A HESITATION; THEN, ENGINE SHUTS DOWN IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
104V179000 · 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
1EA02009 · 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