Electrical line from rear of brake switch is short in length and unsecured resulting in wire damage that shorts electrical fuse to switch. Results in brake light failure and possible rear end collision due to no brake lights. New switch from factory was installed by kia dealership- but problem persists. The vehicle is a 2002 kia rio cinco. I'm worried for my family's and others safety. This is a design defect, that I feel the consumer should not have to bear the expense. *Tr
Electrical system
2002 Kia Rio Electrical problems
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2002 Kia Rio's electrical system with NHTSA - 8% of all its complaints, most recently on August 31, 2007. They describe 0 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Electrical complaints
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...
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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
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia rio. The contact smelled something burning and noticed the vehicle was on fire while parked. The fire was contained to underneath the hood and was extinguished by the contact. The vehicle was destroyed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed by the dealer/manufacturer. The purchase date and engine size were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 60,000.
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
Approximately 1.5 Years ago I was having a problem with the car hesitating on the highway and the check engine light coming on. I brought my car to the kia dealership (hamilton, on) for diagnosis and they diagnosed the problem as being the mass airflow sensor. I had them replace the sensor (250$cad) and do a 300$ tune up on the car. Two days later the check engine light came back on and I brought in back to the dealer. By the time I had the car at the dealer the light had gone off and they said to bring it back...
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when it was on. Finally after a number of visits they determined that the ecm needed a flash. They flashed the ecm and the car seemed fine. Approx 3 weeks ago the car started hesitating again and I brought it back to the dealer. They found a bulletin from kia that stated a problem with certain kia's (which mine fell under) where the ecm would incorrectly interpret results from the mass airflow sensor and turn on the check engine light. They diagnosed the problem as being the ecm and replaced it, but the problem remained. They finally found that the problem was the rear catalytic converter. The problem is that the incorrect reading from the ecm would have made the car send unspent fuel through the system and into the catalytic converter thereby causing the catalytic converter to fail.
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
St: 8th of 2004 the battery started to die,\. Dealer told caller to shut the alarm system off when not driving. Vehicle battery was checked by kia, and reported no problems with battery. However, battery had to be charged numerous times in driveway. On may 2005 the locks began to go on and off, and all lights came on the dash. Took the car to dealer, who checked the battery, but dealer reported the car needed a new battery. 05/05/05 As contact was driving on a main road and all sensor lights came on, and locks came on and off, and car shut off. After restarting vehicle was taken to dealer again for repair.*Ak
Vehicle repeated stalls in the middle of traffic while driving, took it to dealer the replaced harness. During a sudden stop vehicles check engine light came on, took it to dealer cannot find anything wrong with it. Once again car shuts off in the middle of the road had the car towed spent 24 hrs with dealer, dealer cannot find out the problem diagnostic test run and cannot find anything wrong with car. Took the car home today, dec 1, car shuts off again and will not start. Car runs like it wants to shut off
Car loses power. Belt continuously burns and snaps. Dealership replaced engine, alternator, two transmittions, 10 belts and nothing fixed the problems. I just got my car back on friday, tuesday ot broke and is now sitting worthless in my yard. I still have three more years of payment on it. Am now going through lemon law process.*Ak
While driving at 50 mph vehicle caught on fire. There was a lot smoke and flames under the hood. *Ak
Due to an electrical problem the dealer had my vehicle for approximately 25 days. The car just shuts down. Dealer placed four fusible links on line that leads to fuse #13. The dealer had spliced into wiring harness, and they a did sloppy job. The dealer and manufacturer refused to correct this defect. My wife and family are now fearful of driving this vehicle due to unpredictable nature of defect and potential for serious physical harm to us. *Jb
The car has been towed on 9/2 and 9/6 due to the car shutting down they said first it was the alternator and fuel pump now they say it is the battery cable today is the 15th of sept. And I still do not have the new car I bought please help before it shuts down in highway traffic and I get killed. Nlm
Kia Rio electrical complaints by year
Rio electrical problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data