Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts 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.
16
Latest Sep 18, 2013
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.
13%
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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. 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. 16 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 seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Seat belts
Filed Sep 18, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE SEAT BELTS AND DISCOVERED THAT PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
NHTSA ID
10544190
Incident
Sep 11, 2013
Mileage
104,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 18, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS HER RESPONSIBILITY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,458 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/01/2011 *LN
NHTSA ID
10413387
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
93,458 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,458.
NHTSA ID
10410720
Incident
Jul 4, 2011
Mileage
93,458 mi
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Aug 10, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BUCKLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHOR FELL APART. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY OR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. KIA WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 182,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ
NHTSA ID
10348559
Incident
Feb 16, 2010
Mileage
182,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 26, 2007
THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE SHREADED AT THE BASE OF THE SEAT BELT. I HAD THE BELTS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WASNOT A WARRANTY ITEM, AND HE DETERMINED THAT THE BELTS WILL CONTINUE TO SHRED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS THE RETRACTOR AT AN ANGLE AND THE TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ARE CATCHING THE BELT. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW THAT THE BELT SHREADED WAS TO PULL IT OUT ALL OF THE WAY. WE HAVE A BELT OUT OF ANOTHER KIA RIO THAT HAS ALSO STARTED SHREDDING. KIA ADVISED THAT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND THAT AT SOME POINT AND TIME THE OWNER MUST TAKE CARE OF ITEMS SUCH AS THIS. THEY FELT THAT IT WAS FROM USAGE. WE HAVE CHECKED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT, AND IT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SHREADING AND IT GOTB MORE USE THAN THE BACK SEAT BELTS. PARENTS NEED TO KNOW TO CHECK THESE BELTS BEFORE THEY GIVE AWAY DURING AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10186189
Incident
Aug 15, 2006
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 28, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
HIT DEER AT 55 MPH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING HEAD TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND BOUNCE BACK AND HIT SEAT WHOLE FRONT OF CAR WAS TORE UP. *JB
NHTSA ID
10143771
Incident
Nov 23, 2005
Mileage
53,755 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 26, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 360 IN GRAND PRAIRIE TEXAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH AND AN OTHER VEHICLE WAS CROSSING THE LANES TOWARD HER AND HIT HER VEHICLE AT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE). SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND SO WAS THE PASSENGER.THE SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT WORK AND AIRBAGS ON NEITHER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WENT FORWARD STRIKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUFFERING HEAD AND BODY INJURIES.
NHTSA ID
10130095
Incident
Jul 19, 2005
Mileage
81,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Oct 12, 2004
OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE SEAT BELTS WHICH WERE VERY LONG AND WILL NOT ADJUST. THE DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB.......*AK
NHTSA ID
10096581
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
12 mi
AirbagsSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Oct 7, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING 10 MP AND TURNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AGAIN, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY MRS. SIKAKOY'S DAUGHTER LESLIE SANCHEZ.*AK
NHTSA ID
10095445
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Jun 10, 2004
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. REPLACED THENTWICE, BUT EACH TIME THEY CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME. SHE JUST HAD ONE OF THEM REPLACED ON 6/5/04, AND WHEN HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HER CHILD IN THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. SHE STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK
NHTSA ID
10076090
Incident
Jun 10, 2004
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
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 20, 2003
Crash reported3 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 65/70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10020205
Incident
May 8, 2003
Mileage
27,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 16, 2003
THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BACKWARDS, AND THEREFORE THEY DID NOT LOCK. *JB
NHTSA ID
10016007
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 31, 2003
Crash reported
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT JAMMED SO TIGHT THAT THE PLASTIC AROUND IT SHATTERED AND PIECES HIT THE DRIVER. AFTER THAT OCCURRED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM
NHTSA ID
10006148
Incident
Jan 6, 2003
Seat belts
Filed Nov 12, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE IN MOTION CONSUMER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND THREE TIMES. DURING THIS INCIDENT, SAFETY DEVICES FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK; THEREFORE, CONSUMER WAS THROWN FORWARD. SEAT BELT IN THE BACK SEAT WHICH SECURED THE CHILD SEAT DID NOT LOCK, THROWING THE SEAT FORWARD AND OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. *JG ...*AK
NHTSA ID
567843
Incident
Oct 19, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Dec 29, 2001
IN MODELS WITH 2ND ROW BUCKET SEATS, A STANDARD CHILD SEAT (FOR 20-40 POUNDS) CAN NOT BE SAFELY SECURED. THE PLASTIC STOP BUTTON ON THE BELT THAT KEEPS THE BUCKLE FROM FALLING TO THE FLOOR WHEN NOT IN USE, ALSO PREVENTS YOUR FROM DRAWING THE SEAT BELT TIGHT ENOUGH TO TIGHTEN THE CAR SEAT DOWN PROPERLY. WHEN THE BELT IS DRAWN AS TIGHT AS IT CAN BE, YOU CAN STILL EASILY MOVE THE CAR SEAT AROUND. THE SEAT AND BELT WILL ALLOW YOU TO TIGHTEN THE LARGER BOOSTER SEATS IN PLACE, BUT THEY ARE NOT FOR CHILDREN IN THE 20-40 POUND RANGE. I TRIED THIS WITH ALL 3 SEATS THAT I OWN, AND I WENT TO A RETAILER AND MEASURED A NUMBER OF OTHER SEATS. IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THEM MEASURE APPROXIMATELY 7.5 INCHES FROM THE BASE TO THE BELT HOLE, BUT YOU NEED AT LEAST 9.5 INCHES (APPROXIMATELY) IN HEIGHT TO RAISE THE CAR SEAT HIGH ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT BELT TO SECURELY TIGHTEN IT IN.
NHTSA ID
756153
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