2001 Kia Rio vs 2003 Kia Rio
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Kia Rio | 2003 Kia Rio |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 223 | 74 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 21 | 16 |
| Investigations | 6 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–26 | 25–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 49,000 mi | 49,349 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Kia Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 52 | 19 |
| Electrical System | 25 | 15 |
| Air Bags | 33 | 4 |
| Power Train | 25 | 12 |
| Wheels | 31 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 23 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 12 |
| Suspension | 22 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 28 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 22 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 16 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 5 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 6 |
2001 Kia Rio
2003 Kia Rio
Compare all Kia Rio vs Kia Rio years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.