2002 Kia RIO Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 13%of 128 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,229miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the seat belts of the 2002 Kia RIO, 13% of the 128 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,229 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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, filed 2005-07, 81,000 miles“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. .......”
NHTSA complaint #10096581, filed 2004-10, 12 miles“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, filed 2005-11, 53,755 miles“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, filed 2003-05, 27,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10186189, filed 2007-03Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 7% |
| 2020 | 1 | 4% |
| 2017 | 1 | 3% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 6% |
| 2009 | 2 | 5% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 4 | 11% |
| 2004 | 1 | 3% |
| 2003 | 7 | 9% |
| 2002 | 16 | 13% |
| 2001 | 15 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2002 Kia RIO
39 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsTires
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsEquipment
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Kia RIO
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