2002 Kia RIO Cinco Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 14%of 21 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 37,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Kia RIO Cinco, 14% of the 21 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 37,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving, the consumer lost control of the vehicle. When the driver tried correct the vehicle and come back onto the highway , the vehicle almost crashed into the concrete barrier. To avoid crashing into the barrier the driver made a hard turn and over corrected. This resulted in the vehicle going off the edge of the black top into the bottom of a ditch and rolled over 3 times. Upon impact none of the frontal air bags deployed. The roof caved in about a foot on the passenger side. The driver sustained bruises to his left leg, neck pain and slight blurred vision. …”
NHTSA complaint #10092243, filed 2004-09, 40,000 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Kia Rio Cinco. On july 14, 2004, while driving 35 MPH, another vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. She sustained permanent injuries to her occipital neuralgia from snapping her head forward. A spec scan showed that she received some brain damage, lower back herniation, a tear in the rotator cup, pain in her right leg, and neutral hernia in her chest where the seat belt retracted. The vehicle sustained front end damage to the radiator, the compressor, the hood, and the front axle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10196679, filed 2007-07, 35,000 miles“Faxed foia request a copy of the entire file from the NHTSA investigation into the alleged defect re the air bag system of the 2002 Kia rio, atty represent driver of a 2002 Kia rio injuried when her air bags did not deploy.***no answer required***.”
NHTSA complaint #10118901, filed 2005-04Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2002 Kia RIO Cinco
8 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Kia RIO Cinco
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology