IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
2003 Kia Rio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from 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
525–50K
950–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
49 reports with mileage · 25 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
74 reportsSO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CON…
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SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CONTINUES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS. THERE WAS A LOST TO THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *MR
NUTS ATTACHING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO THE WIPER DRIVE SHAFT REPEATEDLY COMING LOOSE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE 3-15-04. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE LOOSE UNTIL YOU NEED YOUR WIPERS IN RAIN OR SNOWY CONDITIONS AND YOU TURN THEM ON TO FIND THE DRIVE MECHANISM IS LOOSE FROM THE BLADE AND SLIPS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS T…
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NUTS ATTACHING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO THE WIPER DRIVE SHAFT REPEATEDLY COMING LOOSE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE 3-15-04. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE LOOSE UNTIL YOU NEED YOUR WIPERS IN RAIN OR SNOWY CONDITIONS AND YOU TURN THEM ON TO FIND THE DRIVE MECHANISM IS LOOSE FROM THE BLADE AND SLIPS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WIPERS WHEN YOU NEED THEM.*AK
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING COLUMN BOLT SNAPPED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
THE LUG NUTS PEELED OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. *PH THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED. WHEN THEY WERE REMOVED THE LUG NUT(S) PEELED OFF. THE REAR BRAKES WERE LOCKING AS WELL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID SIDEWAYS DURING THE FIRST MILE OR EACH MORNING. *SC *JB
IN JUNE I WAS HAVING A OVER HEATING PROBLEM. IF I WENT UP A HILL THE CAR WOULD HEAT UP TO THE PEG. IT NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT. THE ENGINE BLEW UP & I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ONE. NOW THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SO KIA HAS SENT FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'M AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING ELSE WILL H…
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IN JUNE I WAS HAVING A OVER HEATING PROBLEM. IF I WENT UP A HILL THE CAR WOULD HEAT UP TO THE PEG. IT NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT. THE ENGINE BLEW UP & I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ONE. NOW THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SO KIA HAS SENT FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'M AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN TO IT. I'M ALONE, THEREFORE I NEEDED SOMETHING I CAN RELY ON.
IN APRIL 2003 I BOUGHT A 2003 KIA RIO CINCO FOR MY FAMILY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT IN THE MORNING IT WILL NOT START. IT TAKES ABOUT SIX TO TEN TRIES TO GET IT STARTED. THEN IT RUNS BAD FOR MILES. IT ALSO RUNS VERY HOT AND IT SEEMS THE MORE I DRIVE IT THE LESS PREFORMANCE I BEEN GETING. MY BRAKES ARE ALSO BAD WHEN I FIRST DRIVE I…
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IN APRIL 2003 I BOUGHT A 2003 KIA RIO CINCO FOR MY FAMILY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT IN THE MORNING IT WILL NOT START. IT TAKES ABOUT SIX TO TEN TRIES TO GET IT STARTED. THEN IT RUNS BAD FOR MILES. IT ALSO RUNS VERY HOT AND IT SEEMS THE MORE I DRIVE IT THE LESS PREFORMANCE I BEEN GETING. MY BRAKES ARE ALSO BAD WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT AFTER IT SITS FOR HOURS. KIA TOLD ME THAT IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE REFORMULADED GAS WE USE IN MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO. AFTER MONTHS OF PEOPLE AT KIA NOT CALLING ME BACK AND TRING TO RESOULVE THIS WITH KIA I AM INTERESTED IN A CLASS ASTION LAW SUIT.
Official recalls
306V294000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Aug 4, 2006
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." WHEN USED WITH CERTAIN CHILD SEATS, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) FUNCTION IN THE REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES MAY DISENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI-KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
05V557000 · Child Seat
Dec 12, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
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
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