Model year record

2003 Kia RIO Cinco

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 8 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V179000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
Manufacturer: KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected: 187,790
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-04-09
Owners notified: 2004-06-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	3	79,000 mi
Seat belts	2	50,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	25,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	14,871 mi
Unknown or other	1	—

The 2002 model has about a quarter as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.