2003 Kia Rio Cinco Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Kia Rio Cinco, and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Kia Rio Cinco
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Delivery (fuel system)
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…
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.
8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Kia Rio Cinco have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 56,696 miles. Complaints peaked in 2007 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 12, 2015 · Unknown or other
“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'”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2011 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Kia Rio. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 25–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–23 / 30 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Kia Rio Cinco model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Rio Cinco model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Kia Rio Cinco | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 Kia Rio Cinco | 1 | 21 |
| 2003 Kia Rio Cinco | 1 | 8 |
| 2004 Kia Rio Cinco | 1 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2003 Kia Rio Cinco
How do I know if my 2003 Kia Rio Cinco has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Kia Rio Cinco; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V179000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.