There are 1 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2002 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 46 MPH. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF, AND THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT. *AK CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH BY A TOOTA TACOMA. THE DRIVIER OF THE TACOMA WAS ON DRUGS WHEN CROSSED OVER INTO PATH OF THE RIO. THE DRIVER OF THE RIO EXPERIENCED A SEVERED BRAIN STEM, PUNCTURED LUNG FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND A SEVERED ARM. THE DRIVER OF THE RIO WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. DURING THE CRASH THE RIO'S DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE FROM THE MOUNTINGS AND THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. AFTER THE CRASH THE RIO'S DRIVER WAS FOUND UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE TACOMA WAS BENT IN HALF AND THE TRUCKS BED BROKE OFF FROM THE FRAME. RIO HAS BEEN NOTIFED OF THE CRASH. IT WAS ASSUMED THE DRIVER OF THE TACOMA WAS TRAVALING ATLEAST 45-50 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. CW
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