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2002 Kia Rio Cinco Recalls & Complaints

1

open safety recall on record

Critical

31 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 1.52 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical04V179000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

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.

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.

Complaint volume

31 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

3Crashes
3Fires
8Injuries
0Deaths

Across 31 complaints. Severity Index 1.52.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System3 · 10%Power Train · Clutch Asse…2 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 6%Air Bags2 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling…2 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling2 · 6%Fuel System, Gasoline · D…2 · 6%
  1. Electrical System — 3 reports
  2. Power Train:Clutch Assembly — 2 reports
  3. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 2 reports
  4. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor — 2 reports
  5. Air Bags — 2 reports
  6. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System — 2 reports
  7. Engine And Engine Cooling — 2 reports
  8. Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery — 2 reports
  9. Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings — 1 reports
  10. Seats — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2002 · 2003 (1) · 2004 (1)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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