2003 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 2003 Kia Rio
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2003 Kia Rio |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 678 | 74 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 477 | 16 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 25–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 63,250 mi | 49,349 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Kia Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 340 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 106 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting | 57 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 12 |
| Visibility | 37 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 37 | 0 |
| Power Train | 16 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 27 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 19 | 6 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
2003 Kia Rio
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier vs Kia Rio 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.