Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#10243041September 22, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES MANY TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10242857September 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. SHE ALSO SMELLS GAS, WHICH REMAINS PRESENT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND CLEANED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,267 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242039September 13, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT COME ON WITH MY WIFE SETTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. SHE WEIGHTS 110# AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT SHE WAS TO LIGHT TO TURN THE AIRBAG ON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A PERSON 110# SHOULD TURN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT YET BUT IF IT DID OCCUR THERE WOULD BE NO AIRBAG PROTECTION FOR THE PASSENGER. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240930September 4, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 KIA RIO. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING AT 50 MPH, CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER WHO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, RUN OVER BY THE OTHER VEHICLE AND IS DECEASED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO ENGAGE REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10240850September 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ON FRIDAY, 8/22/08, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM MY HOME AND IN A 25 M.P.H. ZONE. ON MONDAY 8/25/08, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THERE I MET WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FELT THAT THE TIMING BELT MAY HAVE FAILED AND THAT THE EVENT WOULD LIKELY NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE, AS THE CUSTOMER, I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD 79,418 MILES AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. MY 2004 KIA RIO HAS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE AND NO ADEQUATE WARNING OF THE PROBABILITY OF A TIMING BELT FAILURE WAS EXPRESSED OR POSTED BY KIA. MY ENGINE HAS COMPLETELY FAILED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT STRIPPED. IT WILL COST $1,200.00 TO $2,000.00 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239658August 25, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT INDICATING THAT AIR BAG NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES PER YEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SENSOR, BATTERY, SEAT CUSHION AND THEN TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE COULD NOT FIX IT (CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS SERVICE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES).NO EVENT HAS OCCURRED HOWEVER FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING WITHOUT PROPER RELEASE OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. CAR TAKEN IN 05/22/08, SERVICE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED LIGHT ON INDICATING AIRBAG WAS OFF WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT AND ASKED US TO RETURN AT ANOTHER TIME FOR AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD NOT GIVE US DOCUMENTATION OF VISIT. 2 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH CORPORATE KIA AND STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238421August 15, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO LX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NEVER NOTICED ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238342August 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT WHEN I WOULD BE BRIEFLY STOPPED FOR INSTANCE IN A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT OR A LONGER TRAFFIC LIGHT. ONCE THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE THE CAR COOLED DOWN. I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND DO A TUNE UP ON MY CAR. HE SAID THE FAN HAS NO BLADES THEY HAVE DISINTEGRATED. THIS WAS OF CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURY TO MY CAR SUCH AS AN ANIMAL IN THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237428August 8, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
GOING AT 80KM AN HOUR IN PEAK FRIDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY I REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234644July 17, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232137June 24, 2008
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, TIRES:VALVE, EQUIPMENT
I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AROUND FEBRUARY 2007 FROM SEARS AT THE VIRGINIA CENTER COMMONS STORE LOCATION. WITHIN THREE WEEKS BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY OF 2008 I EXPERIENCED THREE FLATS. TWO OF THE FLATS WERE ON THE SAME DAY WITHIN 2 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. I HAD THE FOURTH ONE REPLACED AT THIS TIME. ALL THREE FLATS WERE BECAUSE OF FAULTY VALVE STEMS. RECENTLY I READ ABOUT A 6 MILLION RECALL OF TR413 VALVE STEMS FROM TECH INTERNATIONAL A DISTRIBUTOR OF SHANGHAI BAOLONG. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS PART OF THE RECALL WHICH NOTIFIED THE CLIENTS BUT NOT THE PUBLIC. FORTUNATELY NONE OF THE FLATS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ON SECONDARY ROADS AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH OR LESS. I DID COMPLAIN TO SEARS ON THEIR FEEDBACK SURVEY BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. I HAD PURCHASED ROAD HAZARD WITH THE TIRES SO I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS BUT AM UPSET ABOUT THE LACK OF REPLY AND THE LACK OF NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. I AM UNSURE IF ANY TIRE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THE FLATS. SINCERELY DENISE BARWICK *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231834June 20, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEAR AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH INJURIES TO MY NECK, BACK, LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT KNEE. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10228660May 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2002 KIA RIO - TIMING BELT FAILED AT 93,000 MILES CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE (INTERFERENCE ENGINE). TIMING BELT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES FOR ORIGINAL OWNER ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. KIA WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER, I HAD A REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED. IT FAILED 2,300 MILES LATER DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT SHEARING AND THE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS. AGAIN, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228612May 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
BOUGHT 2003 KIA RIO NEW. IN JAN 2005 AT ABOUT 53,000 MILES I HEARD A RATTLE AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR. IN A FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE JUST SHUTDOWN (TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE) KIA REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MAY 21 2008 WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR WE HEARD A SQUEAL AND AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN. COASTED TO A STOP, ONCE AGAIN THE TIMING BELT WHICH MEANS ANOTHER ENGINE (58,000 SINCE THE LAST ENGINE) NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY (AN ENGINE COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CAR ITSELF). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228374May 20, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR JERKED REAL HARD. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN IT WENT OUT. SO FAR THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228237May 19, 2008
SUSPENSION
MY CAR PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND I HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THAT. AS SOON AS I PULL MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY GOES TO THE LEFT AND I HAVE TO BRING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE NORMAL POSITION. THIS HAPPENS 100% OF THE TIME. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE TIMING IN ORDER TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY MY LOCAL MECHANIC (I HAVE RECORDS OF EVEN OIL CHANGES) AND EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT AND TIRE CHANGE FOR THE PROBLEM BY A KIA DEALER, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I'VE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A "NORMAL" SITUATION IN THESE KINDS OF CARS AND IT HAPPENS TO "ALL OF THEM AT HIGH MILEAGE". I ALSO TRIED TO REACH THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THERE YET. THE CAR IS AT 98,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT MORE THAN 3 MONTHS. I BELIEVE KIA EITHER SHOULD HONOR THEIR 100K MILE WARRANTY OR IF IT IS HAPPENING TO "ALL OF THEM" AND IT IS "NORMAL" THEY SHOULD MOVE THEIR OFFICIAL WARRANTY LOWER (FOR EXAMPLE 80K MILES ETC.) OR THEY SHOULD WARN THE CONSUMER ABOUT THIS "NORMAL" SITUATION WITH BIG LETTERS IN THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS AND MANUALS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227368May 9, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS, CONCERNING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THEIR 2006 KIO RIO VEHICLE. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227314May 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2006 KIA RIO WITH A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN HIS WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226542May 3, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE THEN DIED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. VEHICLE HAS YET TO DUPLICATE ISSUE. 3 DAYS PRIOR TO RETURN OF VEHICLE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAD FOUND ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER PARTS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED STATING REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THEY HAD DRIVEN IT 300 MILES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE FAULT HOWEVER THEY PUT LESS THAN 100 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225442April 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, SUSPENSION
VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE LIKE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. TURNED INTO DRIVEWAY DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL FELL OFF WITH BRAKE DRUM STILL ATTACHED TO WHEEL . VEHICLE CAME TO STOP. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE CONTACTED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ACTIVE SERVICE BULLETIN OFFERED NO HELP. VEHICLE REPAIRED AT LOCAL FIRESTONE TIRE STORE. WHEEL SPINDLE AND INNER AND OUTER BEARINGS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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