2002 Kia Rio vs 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Kia Rio | 2002 Pontiac Grand AM |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 128 | 395 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 16 | 457 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–26 | 21–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 50,000 mi | 73,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Rio | Pontiac Grand AM |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 148 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 97 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 54 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 | 29 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 19 |
| Visibility | 3 | 23 |
| Steering | 1 | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 23 | 35 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 5 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 33 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 8 |
| Overheating | 0 | 8 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
2002 Kia Rio
2002 Pontiac Grand AM
Compare all Kia Rio vs Pontiac Grand AM years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.