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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

14 reports
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50,000 miles · May 18, 2004
Fuel System, GasolineFire

RECALL NO.#04V179000, FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AFTER CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED TH…

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RECALL NO.#04V179000, FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AFTER CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISN'T GOING TO ISSUE THE RECALL NOTICE UNTIL JUNE OF 2004. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10073804

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY CAR TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048800

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A SCRATH ON THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #567166

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #567090

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