There are 7 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2001 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
PARKED CAR AT WORK CAME BACK OUT AND THE DOOR LOCK WAS DOWN TRIED TO PULL UP BUT IS STUCK OR CAUGHT ON SOMETHING. THE WAY THE SCREWS ARE IN THE DOOR 2 OF THEM CANNOT BE TAKEN OUT WITHOUT HAVING THE DOOR OPEN. WITH LONG LEGS ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE!!! ALSO TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE MISFIRING OF SPARKPLUG WITH SOME LOSS OF POWER. *TR
I HAVE A KIA RIO. STOCK #06520901,CASE 0067, MODEL K32B NA3,YEAR 2001, VINKNADC1234165XXXXX RA, MOTOR ASD21403 COLOR BI. THE COMPACT BASE THAT HOLDS THE RADIATOR SPLIT AT THE CENTER. THE TWO SIDES OF THIS BASE BROKE IN TWO. MY HUSBAND TALKED TO VARIOUS PERSONS WHO ALSO HAVE A KIA. TO HIS SURPRISE, THEY ALL TOLD HIM, "THESE CARS MUST HAVE COME WITH A DEFECT BECAUSE THE SAME BASE IS ALSO BROKEN ON MY CAR". SO FAR, 4 PERSONS OWING A KIA HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM . I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS BECAUSE AS I WAS RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A CACKLING SOUND. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE ARRIVED AND CHECKED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THE BROKEN BASE. IT SPLIT AT THE CENTER AND BROKE OFF OF BOTH SIDES OF THE BASE. I WAS REALLY HAIR RAISED BECAUSE IF ANY THE PARTS INVOLVED WOULD HAD COME DOWN, DEFINITELY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE MY HUSBAND SENT THE PART TO BE SOLDERED BUT I FEEL UNSECURED. *NM
FRONT DRIVER'S PLASTIC DOOR MECHANISM BROKE WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED THE MECHANISM AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF$210.00. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A LITTLE CRACK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT TO THE LEFT OF ROAD, CONSUMER PULLED OVER. A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAD FALLEN THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A PIECE METAL NEAR THE MOTOR. THIS CAUSED BUMPER TO CRACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.AK
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WATER COMING IN THRU THE DOOR HINGES. . DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT IS A DEFECT BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT WATER COMING IN THE VEHICLE TRUE THE DOOR. ALSO STATED THAT HAS FILED FOR THE LEMON LAW. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADMITTED THAT THEY DO HAVE A PROBLEM BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL THE MANUFACTURE ISSUES A RECALL. TS
AIR LEAKS AROUND THE DOORS, THE DOORS WERE ADJUSTED WHICH HAS ONLY SOMEWHAT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 5 MPH BUMPER, THE PLASTIC ATTACHMENTS DO NOT HOLD THE BUMPER TO THE VEHICLE SECURELY AND WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH A VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. *SLC
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