16 of the
171 complaints about the 2002 KIA RIO are about the
seat belts — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
87,229 miles.
F
16
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Seat Belts
1062.5%
Buckle Assembly
212.5%
Rear/Other
212.5%
Retractor
16.3%
Front
16.3%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 104,000 milesKissimmee, FL
SEAT BELTS
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 complaint #10544190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,458 milesOmaha, NE
SEAT BELTS
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
NHTSA complaint #10413387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,458 milesOmaha, NE
SEAT BELTS
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 complaint #10410720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 182,000 milesMonterey Park, CA
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10348559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gaston, SC
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
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.
NHTSA complaint #10186189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,755 milesTrenton, NCCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10143771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesAddison, TXCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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 complaint #10130095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12 milesWaukegan, IL
SEAT BELTS
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.......
NHTSA complaint #10096581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kenner, LACrash
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10095445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10076090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chipley, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10042442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,000 milesYucaipa, CACrash3 injured
SEAT BELTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10020205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amherst, OH
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BACKWARDS, AND THEREFORE THEY DID NOT LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10016007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flemington, NJCrash
SEAT BELTS
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 complaint #10006148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NYCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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 ...
NHTSA complaint #567843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henderson, NV
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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 complaint #756153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.