IllustrationAFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE GAS.*AK
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
What owners actually said
128 reportsOWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE SEAT BELTS WHICH WERE VERY LONG AND WILL NOT ADJUST. THE DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB.......*AK
WHILE DRIVING 10 MP AND TURNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AGAIN, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED…
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WHILE DRIVING 10 MP AND TURNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AGAIN, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY MRS. SIKAKOY'S DAUGHTER LESLIE SANCHEZ.*AK
IF VEHICLE IS ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE THE TRUNK LID WILL COLLAPSE WHEN OPENED FULLY. ONCE WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT RENDERED THE CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRUNK LID SPRING, BUT IT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, AT 4000 MILES THE TRUCK IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE FRONT TIRE TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE ONLY…
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IF VEHICLE IS ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE THE TRUNK LID WILL COLLAPSE WHEN OPENED FULLY. ONCE WHEN THIS OCCURRED IT RENDERED THE CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRUNK LID SPRING, BUT IT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, AT 4000 MILES THE TRUCK IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE FRONT TIRE TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE ONLY. AT 6000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED, AND A FRONT ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. FRONT TIRE TREAD WORE OUT AGAIN AT 12000 MILES. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED, BUT DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED AGAIN AT 20000 MILES WITH BRAND NEW 60000 MILES WEAR TIRES BUT THEY HAVE WORN EXCESSIVELY AT 10,000 MILES. *AK
BRAKE PROBLEMS, COMMENTS FROM ODI WEB USER. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL SERVICE TWICE. BESIDES THE RECALLS ( # 04V179000). THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMESFOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING GASKETS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON, AND AIR FLOW METER SENSOR DAMAGED. *TC
VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVEN, THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE RIM WAS BENT. *AK THE FRONT END SHIMMIED AT 55 MPH. *SC *JB
INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED EVERY TIME IT WAS FILL UP . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
VEHICLE VIBRATED AFTER DRIVING 45 MPH OR MORE. THE FASTER VEHICLE WAS GOING THE MORE IT VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO HAD THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. *AK
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
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
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