There are 7 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2002 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ELECTRICAL LINE FROM REAR OF BRAKE SWITCH IS SHORT IN LENGTH AND UNSECURED RESULTING IN WIRE DAMAGE THAT SHORTS ELECTRICAL FUSE TO SWITCH. RESULTS IN BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE AND POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISION DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS. NEW SWITCH FROM FACTORY WAS INSTALLED BY KIA DEALERSHIP- BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 KIA RIO CINCO. I'M WORRIED FOR MY FAMILY'S AND OTHERS SAFETY. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THAT I FEEL THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE EXPENSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
VEHICLE REPEATED STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING, TOOK IT TO DEALER THE REPLACED HARNESS. DURING A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ONCE AGAIN CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD HAD THE CAR TOWED SPENT 24 HRS WITH DEALER, DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR. TOOK THE CAR HOME TODAY, DEC 1, CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN AND WILL NOT START. CAR RUNS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF
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
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS A LOT SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THE DEALER HAD MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 DAYS. THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN. DEALER PLACED FOUR FUSIBLE LINKS ON LINE THAT LEADS TO FUSE #13. THE DEALER HAD SPLICED INTO WIRING HARNESS, AND THEY A DID SLOPPY JOB. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. MY WIFE AND FAMILY ARE NOW FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF DEFECT AND POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM TO US. *JB
THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED ON 9/2 AND 9/6 DUE TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN THEY SAID FIRST IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND FUEL PUMP NOW THEY SAY IT IS THE BATTERY CABLE TODAY IS THE 15TH OF SEPT. AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE NEW CAR I BOUGHT PLEASE HELP BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND I GET KILLED. NLM
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 25, 2026