IllustrationTHE 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
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 reportsTHE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED ON A WET SURFACE. DEALERSHIP DEGLAZED AND LINED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM SINCE IT DIDN'T RAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE LINED. THIS VEHICLE WAS A PROGRAMMED VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. REPLACED THENTWICE, BUT EACH TIME THEY CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME. SHE JUST HAD ONE OF THEM REPLACED ON 6/5/04, AND WHEN HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HER CHILD IN THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. SHE STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THE…
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CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. REPLACED THENTWICE, BUT EACH TIME THEY CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME. SHE JUST HAD ONE OF THEM REPLACED ON 6/5/04, AND WHEN HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HER CHILD IN THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. SHE STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK
WHILE BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. DURING HIGH HUMIDITY THE BRAKES GRABBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TOO SHORT. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN FIFTY TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKE LINING WAS THE PROBLEM…
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WHILE BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. DURING HIGH HUMIDITY THE BRAKES GRABBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TOO SHORT. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN FIFTY TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKE LINING WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
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
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK VEHICLE KEPT ON OVER HEATING. IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLING FAN ON ENGUAGING CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. TRANSMISSION JERKED AT TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK VEHICLE KEPT ON OVER HEATING. IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLING FAN ON ENGUAGING CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. TRANSMISSION JERKED AT TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. *LA
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION SHUTS OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS IN FIRST AND THIRD GEAR. *AK VEHICLES ALSO DIES WHEN IN NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLES DIES OR LOSES POWER, CONSUMER LOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *LA
VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER REPLACED A MODULE. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. AIR CONDITIONER EXHIBIT BAD SMELL. *LA
ASPERGILLUS FUNGI PRESENT IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*AK
CAR LOSES POWER. BELT CONTINUOUSLY BURNS AND SNAPS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE, ALTERNATOR, TWO TRANSMITTIONS, 10 BELTS AND NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK ON FRIDAY, TUESDAY OT BROKE AND IS NOW SITTING WORTHLESS IN MY YARD. I STILL HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF PAYMENT ON IT. AM NOW GOING THROUGH LEMON LAW PROCESS…
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CAR LOSES POWER. BELT CONTINUOUSLY BURNS AND SNAPS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE, ALTERNATOR, TWO TRANSMITTIONS, 10 BELTS AND NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK ON FRIDAY, TUESDAY OT BROKE AND IS NOW SITTING WORTHLESS IN MY YARD. I STILL HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF PAYMENT ON IT. AM NOW GOING THROUGH LEMON LAW PROCESS.*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