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
What owners actually said
128 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2002
Air BagsTiresInjury
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH. AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED AT 7,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 165/70R14 AND THE DOT# UNAVAILABLE. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES WERE OEM SWITCHED BY THE DEALER AT 4132 MILES. THE FIRST SET DEVELOPED LARGE BLISTERS ON THE INSIDE TIRE WALLS. THE C…
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THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT AT 70 MPH. AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED AT 7,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE 165/70R14 AND THE DOT# UNAVAILABLE. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRES WERE OEM SWITCHED BY THE DEALER AT 4132 MILES. THE FIRST SET DEVELOPED LARGE BLISTERS ON THE INSIDE TIRE WALLS. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A BRIDGE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT, HIT THE GUARDRAIL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT, THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED END OVER END SPINNING THE FRONT END THEN ROLLING DOWN THE EMBANKMENT 3 AND HALF TIMES LANDING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8019723
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2002
Electrical System
THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED ON 9/2 AND 9/6 DUE TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN THEY SAID FIRST IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP NOW THEY SAY IT IS THE BATTERY CABLE TODAY IS THE 15TH OF SEPT. AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE NEW CAR I BOUGHT PLEASE HELP BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND I GET KILLED. NLM
NHTSA ODI #767204
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER KIA OWNER'S HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS? I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO A CLIP THAT FELL OFF AND GOT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND DRUM, AND THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE DUST AND GLAZING OF DRUMS. NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, I'M STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES …
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I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER KIA OWNER'S HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS? I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO A CLIP THAT FELL OFF AND GOT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND DRUM, AND THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE DUST AND GLAZING OF DRUMS. NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, I'M STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES AGAIN AND I HAVE AN APPT. WITH MY KIA DEALER ON WED. 9/11/02 TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES EXAMINED AGAIN. THE GRINDING NOISE GETS LOUDER AS TIME GOES BY, AND OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKES GRAB.
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
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
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
NHTSA ODI #8009260
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Suspension
WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SWERVES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BUSHINGS, FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT AGREED THAT ANY THING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT 9 ALIGNMENTS, 4 NEW TIRES AND BALL BEARINGS WERE REP…
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WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SWERVES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BUSHINGS, FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRES. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT AGREED THAT ANY THING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. BUT 9 ALIGNMENTS, 4 NEW TIRES AND BALL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT LESS THAN 2000 MILES. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8008340
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2001
Seat Belts
IN MODELS WITH 2ND ROW BUCKET SEATS, A STANDARD CHILD SEAT (FOR 20-40 POUNDS) CAN NOT BE SAFELY SECURED. THE PLASTIC STOP BUTTON ON THE BELT THAT KEEPS THE BUCKLE FROM FALLING TO THE FLOOR WHEN NOT IN USE, ALSO PREVENTS YOUR FROM DRAWING THE SEAT BELT TIGHT ENOUGH TO TIGHTEN THE CAR SEAT DOWN PROPERLY. WHEN THE BELT IS DRAWN A…
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IN MODELS WITH 2ND ROW BUCKET SEATS, A STANDARD CHILD SEAT (FOR 20-40 POUNDS) CAN NOT BE SAFELY SECURED. THE PLASTIC STOP BUTTON ON THE BELT THAT KEEPS THE BUCKLE FROM FALLING TO THE FLOOR WHEN NOT IN USE, ALSO PREVENTS YOUR FROM DRAWING THE SEAT BELT TIGHT ENOUGH TO TIGHTEN THE CAR SEAT DOWN PROPERLY. WHEN THE BELT IS DRAWN AS TIGHT AS IT CAN BE, YOU CAN STILL EASILY MOVE THE CAR SEAT AROUND. THE SEAT AND BELT WILL ALLOW YOU TO TIGHTEN THE LARGER BOOSTER SEATS IN PLACE, BUT THEY ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN IN THE 20-40 POUND RANGE. I TRIED THIS WITH ALL 3 SEATS THAT I OWN, AND I WENT TO A RETAILER AND MEASURED A NUMBER OF OTHER SEATS. IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THEM MEASURE APPROXIMATELY 7.5 INCHES FROM THE BASE TO THE BELT HOLE, BUT YOU NEED AT LEAST 9.5 INCHES (APPROXIMATELY) IN HEIGHT TO RAISE THE CAR SEAT HIGH ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT BELT TO SECURELY TIGHTEN IT IN.
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
2002 Kia Rio Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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