KiaRio2002Overview/kia/rio/2002/base/

2002 Kia Rio

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Rio.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Kia Rio is a passenger car equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission and EPA‑rated fuel economy of 22 city, 27 highway and 24 combined miles per gallon. Its reliability record shows 158 total owner complaints, the majority concerning the engine and cooling system, and a single recall, while the model’s complaint history peaks at 227 grievances in 2001 and reaches a low of three in 2000. Consequently, the 2002 model year sits near the lower end of that history, reflecting a reduction in reported problems but still retaining a notable engine‑related complaint profile.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/27/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.1 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase94.9 in
Curb weight2154 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 27 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rio of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.3–10.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.30 sec — 2001 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2001Sedan 1.5L I-49.30 sec17.00 sec96 hpFWD
2001Sedan 1.5L I-410.30 sec17.60 sec96 hpFWD
2001Sedan 1.5L I-410.70 sec17.70 sec96 hpFWD
2004Cinco Wagon 1.6L I-49.80 sec17.40 sec104 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-87 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Gap0.027-0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0-22.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Oil Capacity5.07 oz

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature189-193 °F
Injector Primary Resistance14.5 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket29-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle65-80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.787 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 24,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
At 60,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
At 62,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Kia Rio recorded 158 complaints, one recall, and one investigation—representing a significant decline from 2001's peak of 227 complaints and six investigations, yet remaining substantially elevated above the 84 complaints filed in 2003 and the 50 in 2004 as the generation stabilized. This positions the 2002 model on the descending slope of the first generation's early reliability arc, with complaint volume still reflecting elevated powertrain and safety system concerns including 35 engine-cooling filings and 16 airbag complaints, though the federal data does not specify underlying causes. Relative to the 2001 high-water mark of three recalls, the 2002 model shows reduced regulatory scrutiny, yet it carries more than three times the complaint load of 2004 and nearly five times that of 2005. With 29 crash-related and 10 fire-related complaints on file, the 2002 model presents a moderate-risk profile within this generation's timeline. For a prospective buyer, the 2002 year offers improvement over the problematic 2001 debut but remains less favorable than 2004-2005 examples that demonstrate the generation's maturation with substantially fewer federal filings.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
16
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
158
Owner complaints
29 involved a crash · 10 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 158 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling35
Air Bags16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16
Fuel System, Gasoline14
Seat Belts9
Suspension7
Electrical System7
Power Train5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V179000Fuel System, Gasoline:DeliveryReported 09/04/2004

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… 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
PS5392018-03-02Engine And Engine CoolingPITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R12017-01-18EquipmentTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN0852016-11-04Latches/Locks/LinkagesTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
PS4432016-04-04Electrical SystemTSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rio. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2002 Rio have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rio get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 27 highway / 24 combined mpg.