RecallRepo

2001 Kia Rio Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2001 Kia Rio has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 269,249 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

WHEELS 05V159000 2005-04-20 24,119 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 04V179000 2004-04-09 187,790 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 03V352000 2003-09-24 57,340 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUEL LEAKS MAY DEVELOP AT THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF QUALITY DEVIATIONS.

Consequence

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
20
2fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
19
1fires
AIR BAGS
17
4crashes2injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
16
2fires
WHEELS
14
2crashes2fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
13
1fires
WHEELS:RIM
13
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
12
9crashes7injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
11
1crashes2fires1injuries
Total complaints355

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Door locks on both front doors stuck in the locked position.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-01-12

“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…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · reported 2013-11-12

“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…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2013-11-12

“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 · reported 2013-11-12

“It is difficult to enter the car with the key and when I pull the door handle the lock drops down to the close position and I can't get out this happens on the driver's side and the front passenger side,I have to hold the lock on the up position with a piece of metal or leave the rear doors…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · reported 2013-09-04

“It is difficult to enter the car with the key and when I pull the door handle the lock drops down to the close position and I can't get out this happens on the driver's side and the front passenger side,I have to hold the lock on the up position with a piece of metal or leave the rear doors…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY · reported 2013-09-04

“It is difficult to enter the car with the key and when I pull the door handle the lock drops down to the close position and I can't get out this happens on the driver's side and the front passenger side,I have to hold the lock on the up position with a piece of metal or leave the rear doors…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR · reported 2013-09-04

“It is difficult to enter the car with the key and when I pull the door handle the lock drops down to the close position and I can't get out this happens on the driver's side and the front passenger side,I have to hold the lock on the up position with a piece of metal or leave the rear doors…”

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER · reported 2013-09-04

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02009 Opened 2002-07-02 · closed 2003-07-02

AIR BAG NON DEPLOY

THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 82 REPORTS ALLEGING NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS.OF THE 82 REPORTS, ONLY ONE INCIDENT, THE FATAL CRASH THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MODERATE TO SEVERE CRASH IN WHICH THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTRAINT CONTROLLER ISSUED A COMMAND…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA03015 Opened 2003-08-28 · closed 2004-04-30

FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE

ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2003,…

Investigation EA04020 Opened 2004-07-22 · closed 2005-04-28

STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE

ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-030) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 12 THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2000.WHEELS WERE MANUFACTURED…

Investigation EA04020 Opened 2004-07-22 · closed 2005-04-28

STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE

ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-030) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 12 THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2000.WHEELS WERE MANUFACTURED…

Investigation PE02022 Opened 2002-02-12 · closed 2002-07-02

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT FRONTAL CRASH

IN ADDITION TO THE DECEMBER 2001 FATAL CRASH REPORTED TO ODI THAT PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR OPENING PE02-022, KIA PROVIDED ODI 29 ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF ALLEGATIONS OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG IN A CRASH.NO ADDITIONAL FATAL CRASHES ARE REPORTED.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO CONDUCT FURTHER ANALYSIS OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE03016 Opened 2003-04-15 · closed 2003-08-28

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF…

Investigation PE04030 Opened 2004-03-24 · closed 2004-07-22

STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE

ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 12 AND OCTOBER 18, 2000.WHEELS WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THIS…

Investigation PE04030 Opened 2004-03-24 · closed 2004-07-22

STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE

ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 12 AND OCTOBER 18, 2000.WHEELS WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THIS…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Kia Rio as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.