There are 4 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2001 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10136024 COMPONENT: WHEELS GAS IGNITION? YOU TELL ME? WHEN ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR LEMONS KIA-2001 DETAILS: DT: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND A TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING, THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID FIRE STARTED FROM HEAT OF POWER EQUIPMENT AND THE IGNITION BURNED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 6, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL REGARDING THE WHEELS. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER COMPLAINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SAME TIRE THAT THE BLEW OUT WAS THE SAME ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0 FAIL DATE: 08/06/2005 DEATHS: 0 DATE ADDED TO DATABASE: 9/9/2005 [FILE] YOUR OWN COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL CAR. *TR
VEHICLE SKIDS REPEATEDLY, DURING NORMAL OPERATION. HANDLES POORLY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE INTERIOR PANEL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD HAS BROKEN OFF, ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS POOR GAS MILEAGE, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS COMING ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND IS DIFFICULT TO UNLOCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TOO FAR DOWN.*SLC
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY AXLE FAILURE.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026