2002 Kia RIO Cinco Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 14%of 21 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 27,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2002 Kia RIO Cinco, 14% of the 21 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 27,000 miles.
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.
“I have had my manual transmission Kia Rio Cinco back to the dealer 6 times since its purchase (07/02) for the same reason. The clutch in this car does not seem strong enough to work. I drive aprox 60 miles each way to work, and rarely use the clutch. I have been driving manual transmissions all my life, and my occupation is a truck driver. The clutch has been completly replaced 2 times (aprox. Every 30,000 miles) and the dealer has actually told me its normal for the clutch to slip. …”
NHTSA complaint #10072654, filed 2004-05, 27,000 miles“Purchased a 2002 Kia Rio Cinco on november 30, 2004. After three weeks it began to experience a loss of acceleration while driving the vehicle. Maroone Kia pelpaced a number of the brake components adfter deciding that the brakes were locking up. The day after getting it back the same thing happened again. This time they say that it must be the transmission, but since it ids intermitten they cannot fix it. Their advice was to drive it until it tears up and then they can fix it. My daughter-in-law uses the vehicle to transport her 3 month old child and to get to work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10106100, filed 2005-01, 31,014 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2002 Kia RIO Cinco
8 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsElectrical system
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 30, 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