RoadVitals

2002 Kia Rio Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Jun 9, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 128 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Kia Rio submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 9, 2014

SLOWING TO TURN INTO GAS STATION, REAR AXLE BROKE DO TO EXCESSIVE RUST ROT. THE BODY ON THIS CAR HAD STATED TO RUST AT 8000 MILES, REAR FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ROT ALSO. NUMEROUS OTHER KIA RIO OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS ISSUE THIS IS ALARMING I COULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO THE GAS PUMPS AS THE BRAKES LOCKED DO TO SEVERING A BRAKE LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597220
Incident
Jun 5, 2014
Mileage
61,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2009

T PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING ON MY 2002 KIA, LOOSING ALL BRAKE FLUID. KIA DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY CAN REPAIR FOR $230.00. THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ANY CAR. HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE? I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM AND POSSIBLY A DEALER RECALL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME? *TR

NHTSA ID
10289413
Incident
Oct 20, 2009
Mileage
87,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 27, 2005

DT: IN THE HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN THE REAR BRAKES LOCK. IT MAKES A SCRAPING AND SCRATCHING NOISE, WHEN THE BRAKES DRY OUT. THERE IS NO FOREWARNING; NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2002. HAVE CONTACTED THREE DEALERS, AND A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. ONE DEALER DID REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137815
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
Mileage
100 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 9, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO 2002 KIA RIOS, THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES, DIED. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 14 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING . THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WILL WORK FOR AWHILE, NO SPECIFIC TIME, AND THEN DIE AGAIN. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DROVE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.*AK THE VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE. THE LIFTGATE LATCH WAS REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131673
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
100 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 27, 2004

BRAKE PROBLEMS, COMMENTS FROM ODI WEB USER. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL SERVICE TWICE. BESIDES THE RECALLS ( # 04V179000). THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMESFOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING GASKETS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON, AND AIR FLOW METER SENSOR DAMAGED. *TC

NHTSA ID
10095201
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 2004

VEHICLE VIBRATED AFTER DRIVING 45 MPH OR MORE. THE FASTER VEHICLE WAS GOING THE MORE IT VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO HAD THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088060
Incident
Jul 15, 2004
Mileage
4,144 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 22, 2004

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED ON A WET SURFACE. DEALERSHIP DEGLAZED AND LINED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM SINCE IT DIDN'T RAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE LINED. THIS VEHICLE WAS A PROGRAMMED VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079618
Incident
Apr 1, 2004
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE BRAKING FOR A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK. DURING HIGH HUMIDITY THE BRAKES GRABBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TOO SHORT. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN FIFTY TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKE LINING WAS THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10067230
Incident
Aug 20, 2002
Mileage
25 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2004

VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISES FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HUB CAP AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE BODY WERE NOTICEABLY DISCOLORED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT SEEMED THAT A WHEEL BEARING WAS WEARING OUT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WASN'T DOING WARRANTY WORK AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER GO TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE BARE METAL WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS STILL AT 25% THICKNESS. AT THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST THE DEALER INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE LEFT SIDE TO WEAR SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THE RIGHT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR THAT HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10057165
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
BrakesEngineSeat belts+1 more
Filed Jan 12, 2004

FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELT SYSTEMS. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER THEY DECLINED TO REPAIR THE SAFETY FEATURES, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WAS WORN DUE TO DIRT BEING INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE.. * CB THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOUNTS BE REPLACED. ALSO THE RADIATOR WAS STOPPED UP WITH MUD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10042442
Brakes
Filed Jan 4, 2004

I HAVE A KIA RIO WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOT. THE OTHER BRAKES ARE NOT SHOT. THEY ARE LIKE BRAND NEW. IF THIS WOULD BE WEAR AND TEAR IT WOULD BE ALL AROUND. THIS IS POOR MAKE OF THIS VEHICLE AND KIA DOES NOT CARE. THE FRONT BRAKE BROKE AND DUG INTO THE ROTOR CAUSING MUCH DAMAGE. AND THE CALIBER IS ALSO SHOT. NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AND KIA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THIS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. BOY WAS I WRONG. *LA

NHTSA ID
10052326
Incident
Dec 22, 2003
Mileage
15,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK *TS

NHTSA ID
10032016
Incident
Aug 4, 2003
Mileage
8,100 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 3, 2003

UPON COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER CLAIMED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WORE OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES EARLIER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10038144
Incident
Sep 2, 2003
Mileage
1,090 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BRAKES GAVE OUT, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027236
Incident
Jul 14, 2003
BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed May 19, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE VAPOR AND SERVICE THE FUEL INJECTION, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. *AK THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019491
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 2003

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED THERE WAS A MUSHY FEELING. DEALER REPLACED THE BACK PLATE ASSEMBLY, AND BRAKE SHOES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ID
10006681
Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. THE CLOSED VALVE CAUSED A THUMPING IN THE VEHICLE AND AIR HAD COME IN CAUSING A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO STEER. *SCC

NHTSA ID
568100
Brakes
Filed Sep 10, 2002

I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER KIA OWNER'S HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS? I HAD THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO A CLIP THAT FELL OFF AND GOT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD AND DRUM, AND THE REAR BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE DUST AND GLAZING OF DRUMS. NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, I'M STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR BRAKES AGAIN AND I HAVE AN APPT. WITH MY KIA DEALER ON WED. 9/11/02 TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES EXAMINED AGAIN. THE GRINDING NOISE GETS LOUDER AS TIME GOES BY, AND OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKES GRAB.

NHTSA ID
766937
Incident
Aug 25, 2002
BrakesFuel systemOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Aug 21, 2002

CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A SCRATH ON THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
567166
Incident
Jul 17, 2002
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 12, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
567090
Incident
Jan 17, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .