Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia rio. The contact stated the brake lights failed to function while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The worst 2003 Kia Rio problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine20
- Electrical15
- Brakes13
- Transmission12
- Fuel system7
- Seat belts7
- Airbags4
- Lights4
- Steering4
- Suspension4
- Body2
- Locks2
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Kia Rio
Recalls 3
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, "occupant crash protection." when used with certain child seats, the automatic locking retractor (alr) function in the rear outboard seatbelt assemblies may disengage.
- Risk
- If a child seat is not properly secured, there is an increased risk of injury to the seat occupant in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both rear outboard seatbelt assemblies free of charge. The recall began on september 15, 2006. Owners may contact hyundai-kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 06V294000 · Recall details
Child seat
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' certain child restraint anchors will not fully latch onto the lower latch anchors located between the rear seat back and rear seat cushion because of interference between the child seat anchors and a metal wire located in the frame of the rear seat back. Until the recall repair is completed, follow the instructions provided by your child seats manufacturer on how to properly install the child seat with your vehicle's rear safety belts rather than using the latch system.
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, if the child seat is not properly installed, personal injury or death could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the lower anchors free of charge. The recall began on january 30, 2006. Owners may contact kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 05V557000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel intake nipple of the fuel distributor is subject to fracture or cracking during removal of the quick connect coupling securing the main fuel tube assembly to the fuel intake nipple, or when force is accidentally applied to the intake nipple during the vehicle assembly process or during engine compartment repairs.
- Risk
- Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel distributor and main fuel tube assemblies. The recall began june 18, 2004. Owners should contact kia at 1‑800‑333‑4542.
Recall number 04V179000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2003 Kia Rio
Defect investigations
Air bag non deploy
This investigation identified a total of 82 reports alleging non-deployment of the dual front air bags.of the 82 reports, only one incident, the fatal crash that was the basis for opening the investigation, has been identified as a moderate to severe crash in which the automotive restraint controller issued a command to deploy but the air bags did not deploy.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. See attached summary report
EA02009
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Kia Rio 16
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Information for headlamp condensation and moisture
- Pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- TSB - use of aftermarket USB charging cables in USB/12V ports
- Automatic transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the...
- Kia: all models. article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear...
- Rio (bc) engine hard to start, runs rough and stalls -- what to check -- crank position sensor (ckp) tone...
- Improved timing belts for the kia rio and optima. tt
- Techline faqs. kia technician times. volume 8, issue 4. tt
2003 Kia Rio fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 22-23 | 30 | 25-26 |
What 2003 Kia Rio owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Seat belts, car seat retaining hooks, ECM, and distributor are recalled. Cheyenne kia had 3 weeks before original appointment to get the parts. I delivered the car for repairs only to get a call 4 hours later that they cannot find the parts. It has now been 6 weeks since picking up my car and they cannot find the parts to do the recall repairs. All I have been able to do is leave a message with jennifer xt 45960 at 800 333 4542 case # k3094095 kia customer care to find out when I can safely put my kids in the backseat of the car.
All of the brake lights quit working at the same time. Done a search to see if there was any other problems like mine and found 3 other owners with the same problem. It has been in a mechanic shop for 2 weeks now and I have just got done talking with him this morning about it and he said that he has not been able to pin point the problem. I feel that this is a safety issue that needs to be dealt with by kia.
Front, right brake rotor separated at the inboard half. Pieces not found. Outboard half remained intact, and is available for study/analysis. Was able to use brakes although extremely spongy and danger of resulting fire from sparks (metal-tometal contact). Replaced rotor and pads. Vehicle is back in service. Photos of old pads and rotor are available.
Going out to dinner, about 1 mile away from home smell coming from car. Turned down a side street, smoke coming from heat/air adjustment area on dash. Stopped car, fire started coming out of the area where you adjust the heat/air. Before fire department could get there the entire car was on fire. This was a total loss. Thankfully we were able to get out of the car. I fear it would have been far worse if we had been on the express way at the time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia rio. The contact stated that the driver side door lock failed and could not be unlocked from the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that in order to exit the vehicle, she had to do so through the front passenger side door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the driver door spring failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and they denied assistance with the repair due to the age and mileage. The failure and current mileage was 85,160.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia rio. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started shaking violently and then crashed into the side of the ramp. When the contact emerged from the vehicle, she noticed the rear passenger tire fractured completely from the suspension system. There were no injuries and the police were notified. A report was available if needed. The vehicle was towed to an auto mechanic shop and the insurance company was also notified. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 85,400.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia rio. The contact stated that the driver side door failed and could not be opened automatically or manually. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing which located the failure at the door actuator. The manufacturer was contacted but denied assistance with the repair because the warranty was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 35,000.
I bought my 03 kia rio in 04 and within a mo. Have had problems ever since. I took it to the dealership every month for the first 2yrs when it was still in warranty. There was always something constantly wrong or breaking. The tail pipe rattled extremely loud to the point of slightly shaking the car, randomly when I would came to a stop. It was so loud that people in other cars could hear it and stare. Of course the repair shops could never find the problem. I finally gave up ever having it fixed. I've paid 7 times to have the auto windows fixed but finally gave up because they would only work about two days before braking again. The car always had issues accelerating and would stain making noises shake a bit then after 10 seconds make a pop pop noise and finally start moving faster. Which again could never be fixed. The car also had horrible suspension. Every little pump made the car bounce and squeak loudly. Also could never be fixed. I think I've spent more time in the shop having the car repaired then I actually did driving it. Every time I blinked something else was broken I replaced almost ever piece of the car; battery twice, all four tires twice, head lights, etc those are just the small things I've also had the car completely brake down about 6 times with major repairs. Now my car is completely dead 4/17/11 the timing belt snapped and destroyed the engine so I have to buy a new engine and timing belt all which cost more then the car itself the car only has 80,000 miles on it so that tells you how much I actually got to drive it in the last 8yrs. I made sure to constantly keep up on maintenance as well. I will never buy a kia again its a weight of my shoulders to get rid of such a piece of [xxx]. Kias are made with such cheap materials and made so poorly that everything on them brakes and falls off. Please anyone reading this don't buy a kia you will regret it. I just want to save someone else from a nightmare. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6
My brake proportioning valve on my 2003 kia rio cracked. My mechanic says it should never crack no matter the temperature climate etc. He says he has never seen a cracked one before and my car would have no signs that it was bad. I would go from perfect brakes to no brakes. That is pretty much what happened. I was lucky and had just got gas and leaving the parking lot. The brakes went out while I driving slowly to the street. I had enough break to stop. My complaint is not for me so much as someone else who may not have been so lucky. I fear for others. Please check this out on further vehicles.
Compare the 2003 Kia Rio
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2003 Kia Rio
Is the 2003 Kia Rio reliable?
Owners have filed 74 complaints about the 2003 Kia Rio, 1.9 times a typical Rio model year.
What is the 2003 Kia Rio year score?
The 2003 Kia Rio scores 51 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Rio: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Kia Rio?
Engine and cooling, with 20 complaints, typically around 11,462 miles. Next is electrical (15).
How many recalls does the 2003 Kia Rio have?
3 recalls, covering seat belts, child seat and fuel system, gasoline.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Kia Rio get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Kia Rio range from 25 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 22-23 city and 30 highway.
VIN decoder
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