Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2003 Kia rio has 16 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
16
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,TIRES | I BOUGHT MY 03 KIA RIO IN 04 AND WITHIN A MO. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERS... |
| Apr 7, 2009 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND STALLED. THE ... |
| Sep 26, 2008 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TIMING BELT BROKE AT 72000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING. KIA SAYS CHANGE AT 60000 MILES IN KY, BUT WARRANT... |
| Jul 14, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE ... |
| Feb 18, 2006 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN A CORNER AT 10 MPH THE TIMING BELT BROKE. THE VEH... |
| Sep 9, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE V... |
| Aug 10, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE TEMPORALLY LOST POWER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID N... |
| May 1, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK |
| Feb 23, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED... |
| Jan 10, 2004 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1/10/04 SATURDAY. AROUND 10:30 AM HOPE CALLS AND SAYS THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN ON THE KIA. I CALLED KIA'... |
| Sep 17, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT TO WARM UP IT ... |
| Sep 15, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | IN JUNE I WAS HAVING A OVER HEATING PROBLEM. IF I WENT UP A HILL THE CAR WOULD HEAT UP TO THE PEG. ... |
| Sep 1, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT | THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR A STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FU... |
| Aug 16, 2003 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS GIVING OUT A ROTTEN EGG ... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOO... |
| Jan 1, 1970 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN | WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD RUN HOT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE ONCE, AND REPLACED AUTOMATIC T... |