2003 KIA RIO Cinco Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other RIO Cinco years
- Not enough data 3rd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 KIA RIO Cinco. That ranks 3rd out of 4 RIO Cinco model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (3 complaints, 38%), typically at around 79,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 8owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 KIA RIO Cinco problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | 38% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 25% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 13% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 13% | 14,871 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 13% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 KIA RIO Cinco recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
When you park the car, shutoff engine, pull up the short unlock stick, then pull the open button to open the door. That's normal procedure. But if you are in hurry, pull the door open button first and forget pull the unlock stick, you cannot open door anymore, you cannot go back and pull up the…
The rear seatbelts don't lock into place right. Normally, when you pull a seatbelt the full way out then let it wind back in, it should have tension on it. The seatbelts in the rear of my vehicle don't do this. They can be pulled back out without stopping. They clip into the buckles fine though. I…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia rio cinco. The contact stated that the rear automatic seat belt retractor was not locking properly; therefore, the safety seat might come loose. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and a report was filed since the vehicle was not…
I have several issues with kia. I'll give you a quick synopsis of my dealings with kia. 1-i wanted to buy the 2002 rio cinco in august 2002. I researched it online, and picked the one i wanted before going to a dealership. I went to the dealership that had billboards posted all over grand rapids…
Cont...2 of 3 3-i've followed the maintenance schedule, provided evidence for routine oil changes, transmission flushes, air conditioner maintenance., tires, brakes, etc. Every auto i've every owned (dating back to 1976) has given me in excess of 200,000 miles...and my toyota had over 350,000…
Other KIA RIO Cinco years
← 2002 RIO Cinco · 2004 RIO Cinco →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 RIO Cinco | 12 | 1 |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 |
| 2002 RIO Cinco | 21 | 1 |
| 2001 RIO Cinco | 0 | 1 |
See all KIA RIO Cinco problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 KIA RIO Cinco?
Owners most often report power train, seat belts, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 KIA RIO Cinco?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 KIA RIO Cinco a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other RIO Cinco model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.