10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
12,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Kia Rio:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #1

Sep 222003

(reported on)

Rio

  • 12,000 miles
Vehicle was in a head on collision at 46 mph. Upon impact, passenger side air bag deployed, but driver side air bag didn't deploy. Steering wheel came completely off, and the driver died as a result. Consumer's wife was hit head on while driving at 50 mph by a toota Tacoma. The drivier of the Tacoma was on drugs when crossed over into path of the Rio. The driver of the Rio experienced a severed brain stem, punctured lung from the steering column and a severed arm. The driver of the Rio was wearing the seat belt. During the crash the Rio's driver's seat broke from the mountings and the steering wheel broke off. After the crash the Rio's driver was found under the instrument panel. The Tacoma was bent in half and the trucks bed broke off from the frame. Rio has been notifed of the crash. It was assumed the driver of the Tacoma was travaling atleast 45-50 mph at the time of the crash.

- Hawthorne, FL, USA

Add Complaint