Your vehicle report
2001 Kia RIO
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 223
- Received Oct 2000 to Jan 2017
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Check engine light comes on repeatedly16 complaints · 7.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine suddenly shuts off while driving15 complaints · 6.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes14 complaints · 6.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #05V159000Certain passenger vehicles may have a manufacturing flaw that could cause the wheels to crack under long term driving fatigue. If cracks occur, wheel noise and vibration will result and become progressively worse over time.
- Recall #04V179000On 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 21 crashes, 14 fires, 12 people injured, 1 death.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 19 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 31 |
| 2002 | 51 |
| 2003 | 37 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 223 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 16 | 7.2% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 15 | 6.7% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 14 | 6.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 14 | 6.3% | – | |
| Alloy wheel rims crack and lose air | 13 | 5.8% | – | NHTSA recall #05V159000 |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 12 | 5.4% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 10 | 4.5% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 9 | 4.0% | – | |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches | 5 | 2.2% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Wheel bearings fail prematurely | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Brake lights fail or stay on | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 3 | 1.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #05V159000April 20, 200524,119 vehicles affected
wheels
Certain passenger vehicles may have a manufacturing flaw that could cause the wheels to crack under long term driving fatigue. If cracks occur, wheel noise and vibration will result and become progressively worse over time.
If the crack is severe, the wheel could separate from the vehicle and possibly result in loss of vehicle control and a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace all four wheels free of charge. The recall began on june 22, 2005. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA recall #04V179000April 9, 2004187,790 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline: delivery
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.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #03V352000September 24, 200357,340 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles, fuel leaks may develop at the fuel distributor assembly because of quality deviations.
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel distributor and fuel connector assemblies. Owner notification is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2004. Owners should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2001 Kia RIO.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN