KIA RIO Cinco Problems by Year
NHTSA has 41 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file for the KIA RIO Cinco, across 4 model years (2001–2004). The 2002 model year has the most complaints (21). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
KIA RIO Cinco years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No RIO Cinco model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 RIO Cinco: 21 complaints, 1 recall
- 2004 RIO Cinco: 12 complaints, 1 recall
- 2003 RIO Cinco: 8 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA RIO Cinco problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Structure | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Wheels | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All KIA RIO Cinco model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 RIO Cinco | 12 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2003 RIO Cinco | 8 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2002 RIO Cinco | 21 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2001 RIO Cinco | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA RIO Cinco years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2002 (21), 2004 (12), 2003 (8). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA RIO Cinco?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 11 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA RIO Cinco have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.