Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Fuel system 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.
15
Latest Jan 30, 2012
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.
12%
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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 15 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 fuel system
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Fuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD SPEW BACK OUT FROM THE FILLER NECK. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS CONSTANTLY PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V179000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF UPDATED 03/30/12
NHTSA ID
10445892
Incident
Jan 27, 2012
Mileage
106,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 25, 2007
Fire reported1 injury reported
2002 KIA RIO, PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. HAD 61,000 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING, MY DAUGHTER SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME, SMOKE WAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, STOPPED THE CAR AND REMOVED HER KEYS. THE IGNITION STARTED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR ENGINE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE CAR IS TOTALLY DESTROYED. FIRE AND HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTS WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN CLOVIS CA. SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE HAD TAKEN PICTURES AND BECAME INVESTIGATION. WHEN I WENT IN TO SEE THE CAR AND TAKE PICTURES, THE SERVICE TEAM WAS COMPLETELY APATHETIC AND RUDE. I MADE A CALL TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND FOUND THAT THE REPORT HAD NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. THE INDIVIDUAL AT KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. HER CALLS WERE NOT RETURNED. MY DAUGHTER WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY AND ONLY SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO THE FACE, AND SMOKE INHALATION THAT EXACERBATED HER ASTHMA. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN OVER-FILLING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BY 1 QUART. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE SAW THE VEHICLE THE DAY AFTER, THERE WAS NO FLUID ANYWHERE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY RELATED TO A RECALL, WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AT THE DEALERSHIP. *JB UPDATED 06/21/07. *JB
NHTSA ID
10191739
Incident
May 23, 2007
Mileage
61,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2007
Crash reported
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE STEERING, THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE LOCKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OR STOP IT WHICH CAUSED A CRASH WITH A VAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND LATER CLAIMED IT WAS THE TIMING BELT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE AT COST TO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA RECALL#04V179000: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *AK CUSTOMER DID RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. UPDATED 4/9 *TR
NHTSA ID
10185609
Incident
Mar 16, 2007
Mileage
78,780 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 6, 2005
2002 KIA RIO STALLING DURING DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. THREE TIME COMPLIANT TO EL CAJON MAZDA KIA, FIRST TIME THEY SAID(NOTHING WRONG) 2ND (THE COMPUTER NEED REPROGRAM) TODAY AGAIN BACK TO DEALER, I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY
NHTSA ID
10124375
Incident
Jun 6, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2004
OVER THE LAST MONTH MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT OVER TEN TIMES, USUALLY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE ON; ONCE IT STALLED AND THE LIGHT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS SAID IT WAS NOT ON WHEN THEY RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO RUNS ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND WORRY ABOUT WHERE AND WHEN IT MAY STALL OUT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND RESPECTFUL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME SO BAD I MAY NEED TO FILE LEMON LAW PAPERS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10102661
Incident
Dec 10, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 10, 2004
AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE GAS.*AK
NHTSA ID
10099759
Incident
Oct 26, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Aug 19, 2004
INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED EVERY TIME IT WAS FILL UP . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10089257
Incident
Aug 19, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jul 30, 2004
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION AND FUEL ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. CONSUMER IS AWAITING CONTACT FROM THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DEFECTS CORRECTED. *JB AS OF 7/14/04 THE CONSUMER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE DEALER ABOUT PARTS AVAILABILITY. *NM
NHTSA ID
10080285
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
32,145 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 26, 2004
DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO GIVE CONSUMER AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS PERFORMED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 DAYS.*AK *LA
NHTSA ID
10080118
Incident
Jun 29, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jul 1, 2004
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE IN. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN AFTER THEY SET UP THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTUER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. *JB
NHTSA ID
10080286
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
32,145 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 18, 2004
Fire reported
RECALL NO.#04V179000, FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AFTER CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISN'T GOING TO ISSUE THE RECALL NOTICE UNTIL JUNE OF 2004. *JB
NHTSA ID
10073804
Incident
May 16, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 10, 2004
1 injury reported
ASPERGILLUS FUNGI PRESENT IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
10060889
Incident
Jul 18, 2003
Mileage
7,707 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 29, 2003
MY CAR TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING IT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10048800
Incident
Apr 21, 2003
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