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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

14 reports
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106,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD SPEW BACK OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS CONSTANTLY PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V179000 (FUEL SYST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD SPEW BACK OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS CONSTANTLY PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V179000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF UPDATED 03/30/12

NHTSA ODI #10445892

61,000 miles · May 25, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFireInjury

2002 KIA RIO, PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. HAD 61,000 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING, MY DAUGHTER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME, SMOKE WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE CAR AND REMOVED HER KEYS. THE IGNI…

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2002 KIA RIO, PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. HAD 61,000 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING, MY DAUGHTER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME, SMOKE WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE CAR AND REMOVED HER KEYS. THE IGNITION STARTED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR ENGINE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE CAR IS TOTALLY DESTROYED. FIRE AND HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTS WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN CLOVIS CA. SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE HAD TAKEN PICTURES AND BECAME INVESTIGATION. WHEN I WENT IN TO SEE THE CAR AND TAKE PICTURES, THE SERVICE TEAM WAS COMPLETELY APATHETIC AND RUDE. I MADE A CALL TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND FOUND THAT THE REPORT HAD NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. THE INDIVIDUAL AT KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. HER CALLS WERE NOT RETURNED. MY DAUGHTER WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY AND ONLY SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO THE FACE, AND SMOKE INHALATION THAT EXACERBATED HER ASTHMA. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN OVER-FILLING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BY 1 QUART. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE SAW THE VEHICLE THE DAY AFTER, THERE WAS NO FLUID ANYWHERE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY RELATED TO A RECALL, WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB UPDATED 06/21/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10191739

78,780 miles · Mar 20, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineCrash

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE STEERING, THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE LOCKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OR STOP IT WHICH CAUSED A CRASH WITH A VAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHIC…

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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE STEERING, THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE LOCKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OR STOP IT WHICH CAUSED A CRASH WITH A VAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND LATER CLAIMED IT WAS THE TIMING BELT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE AT COST TO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA RECALL#04V179000: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *AK CUSTOMER DID RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. UPDATED 4/9 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10185609

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2002 KIA RIO STALLING DURING DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. THREE TIME COMPLIANT TO EL CAJON MAZDA KIA, FIRST TIME THEY SAID(NOTHING WRONG) 2ND (THE COMPUTER NEED REPROGRAM) TODAY AGAIN BACK TO DEALER, I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY

NHTSA ODI #10124375

30,000 miles · Dec 11, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

OVER THE LAST MONTH MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT OVER TEN TIMES, USUALLY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE ON; ONCE IT STALLED AND THE LIGHT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THE T…

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OVER THE LAST MONTH MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT OVER TEN TIMES, USUALLY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE ON; ONCE IT STALLED AND THE LIGHT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS SAID IT WAS NOT ON WHEN THEY RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO RUNS ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND WORRY ABOUT WHERE AND WHEN IT MAY STALL OUT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND RESPECTFUL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME SO BAD I MAY NEED TO FILE LEMON LAW PAPERS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10102661

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE GAS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10099759

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED EVERY TIME IT WAS FILL UP . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089257

32,145 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION AND FUEL ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER …

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THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION AND FUEL ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. CONSUMER IS AWAITING CONTACT FROM THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DEFECTS CORRECTED. *JB AS OF 7/14/04 THE CONSUMER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE DEALER ABOUT PARTS AVAILABILITY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10080285

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO GIVE CONSUMER AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS PERFORMED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 DAYS.*AK *LA

NHTSA ODI #10080118

32,145 miles · Jul 1, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE IN. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN AFTER THEY SET UP THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTUER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10080286

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