Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#10168261September 14, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE. THE REPAIR SHOP TIGHTENED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER THE INITIAL FRONT WHEEL BEARING TIGHTENING, DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS LOOSE AS WELL. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS TIGHTENED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNING INDICATORS FOR THE WHEEL BEARING LOOSENESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168104September 12, 2006
AIR BAGS
DRIVING DOWN I-65, AND A SEMI TRUCK TRIED GETTING OVER INTO MY LANE. I DROVE INTO THE MEDIUM, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SPUN OUT AND HIT THE SEMI TRUCK. IT ENDED UP RUNNING OVER THE TOP OF MY CAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DESTROYED, MELTED, ETC. LUCKILY I WASN'T HURT, BECAUSE I LOCKED MYSELF AGAINST THE SEAT; HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I LUCKILY ENDED UP ALRIGHT PHYSICALLY; HOWEVER SOMEBODY ELSE WITH THE SAME CAR MAY NOT HAVE MY STROKE OF LUCK THAT I HAD THAT DAY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164234August 2, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A SEMIFREQUENT BASIS, EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWO DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCE A RECALL ON ENGINE STALLING HOWEVER A RECALL NUMBER WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE CONTACT IDENTIFIED THE VEHICLE AS UNRELIABLE, AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163150July 22, 2006
SEATS
WHILE PULLING REAR SEATS BACK UP INTO POSITION I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE HOLE WHERE THE SEAT LATCHES CAUSING A SEVERE CUT WHICH TOOK 5 STITCHES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10163708July 19, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER 2006 KIA RIO AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *TS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE RADIATOR CAP WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162588July 17, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 19TH 2005, IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR AND A BAD ODOR THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO SOLD TO THE CONTACT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF RECALL DEFECT TO THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE A PART REPLACED TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR BUT VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON TEN OTHER OCCASIONS FOR SERVICES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A REFERRAL TO ANOTHER DEALERS FOR SERVICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE RECOMMENDED DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A WIND NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. UPDATED 08/01/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162472July 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER AND CONTROL THE CAR AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SEVERAL CARS HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY AS THEY WERE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT BUT THE CAR CONCERNED WAS GOING SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER. UPON INSPECTION, THE TIMING BELT SPROCKET WAS HANGING OUTSIDE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WHICH WAS BURNING FROM MELTED PLASTIC. THE CAR IS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY AND WE ARE AWAITING A FINAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER AND COVERAGE DETERMINATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162145July 11, 2006
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 A KIA RIO WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER WRECK THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ONE TEENAGER WHO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE ROLL OVER AND THERE WERE INJURIES TO OTHER PASSENGERS AS WELL. ON OCTOBER 19, 2005, AN INVESTIGATING OFFICER WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOWED AND REMOVED THE THREE BACK SEAT BELTS BECAUSE HE DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE BACK SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT HOLD THEIR BUCKLE. THE TEENAGER WHO WAS EJECTED AND DIED WAS IN THE SEAT WHERE ONE OF THOSE TWO BELTS WERE LOCATED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
1
#10162014July 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DRIVING HOME AND CAR SHUTTERED THEN DIED. COULD NOT RESTART. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A ROD THROWN. IT HAS LESS THEN 73,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160987June 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH ON MY 2004 KIA RIO CINCO. AT HIGHWAY SPEED I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A TRUCK WHEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CLUTCH PARTIALLY DISENGAGED CAUSING MY ACCELERATION TO CEASE. I LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND WHEN RE-ENGAGING THE THROTTLE, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AGAIN. I HAD TO LET OFF,APPLY BRAKES, AND SWERVE IN BEHIND THE TRUCK I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING TRUCK. THE CAR SEEMED TO OPERATE PERFECTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT BUT I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I FINALLY FOUND A DEALER THAT HAD THE TIME TO LOOK AT IT A DAY LATER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THEIR POLICY TO NOT REPAIR CLUTCH PROBLEMS SINCE THEY ARE CALLED A "WEAR ITEM". THEY ALSO TOLD ME THE CLUTCH PLATE LOOKED TO BE BADLY BURNED BUT I COULD FINISH THE TRIP IF I BABIED IT. I CONTINUED ON TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION AND HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED, THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON IT. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND AM ALMOST THE SOLE DRIVER SO THIS WASN'T CAUSED BY DRIVER ABUSE. I GUESS THEIR ARE LOOPHOLES IN THE WARRANTY THAT KIA ADVERTISES SO HIGHLY AND THEY AREN'T AFRAID TO LOSE CUSTOMERS WHEN THEIR PRODUCT FAILS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160791June 26, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2004 KIA RIO STARTED TO STALL AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS @ 24,000 I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TACHOMETER READINGS (UP AND DOWN) AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUED ROUGH IDLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER ON MORE THAN 6 OCCASIONS AND AT THAT POINT THEY ONLY RETURNED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND TOLD ME THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AFTER HIRING A LAWYER AND CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM THEM TO FIX THE CAR, THEY ORDERED A THROTTLE ARM AND AGREED TO TRY IT OUT. ON JUNE 23, 2006 BEFORE THEY PUT THE THROTTLE ITEM IN, I STALLED @ 30 MPH MAKING A TURN ONTO TO A STREET FROM A INTERSECTION. A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND STOPPED INCHES SHORT OF HITTING ME ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. AT THIS POINT EVEN WITH THE NEW PART PLACED IN MY CAR, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR SINCE THEY SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159351June 8, 2006
TIRES
AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW KIA RIO FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO TIRES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO BOTH KIA AND KUMHO WHO ARE BOTH WHOLLY UNCONCERNED WITH THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158922June 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IN 2002 IT HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS OFTEN WITHOUT THE ISSUE BEING RESOLVED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM (THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY) AND HAD ANOTHER CLIENT'S CAR THAT DID THE SAME THING AND COULDN'T FIX IT EITHER. WE HAVE USED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, WHICH WORKED FOR 6 MONTHS UNTIL NOW. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND IS DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLS!! LEMON LAW PAPERS WILL BE FILED IF NOT RESOLVED VERY SOON!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157410May 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING MY 2002 KIA RIO, I HAVE HAD ON-GOING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION 'SLAMS' INTO GEAR, OR SHUTTERS. ALTHOUGH I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND KIA CORPORATE, THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE OR THAT THEY CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED AT ONE POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DIRTY (ALTHOUGH IT WAS WELL BELOW THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE MILEAGE), SO I HAD A THIRD PARTY SERVICE STATION PERFORM A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FLUID/FILTER CHANGE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED, AND NOW A YEAR LATER THE DEALERSHIP IS AGAIN TELLING ME THAT IT IS THE FLUID - WHICH I HAVE NEVER HEARD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BEING CAUSED BY FLUID, BUT IF THIS IS TRUE, THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE IN THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 6-12 MONTHS. I RECENTLY BROUGHT MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, AND HE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AS A TORQUE CONVERTER AND A TCC PREMATURELY ENGAGING, AS WELL AS A TRANSMISSION 'SHUTTER'. HE PROVIDED ME WITH WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF THE ISSUE, AND I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE 'NORMAL'. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON, AND I AM UNABLE TO OBTAIN PROPER SERVICE FROM KIA, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE, OR THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156901May 6, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD THE CAR BACK FIRED THEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP, THE TIMING BELT WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, BUT BECAUSE IT HAD 60,274 MILES THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THEY HAVE HAD AT LEAST SIX SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE LAST YEAR, A COUPLE WERE LESS THAN 59,000 MILES AND WERE COVERED. IN TALKING TO KIA DIRECT, THEY SAID BECAUSE WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND HAD NO SERVICE RECORD FROM BEFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IT'S CLEAR FROM THE NUMBER OF FAILURES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE LOCKUP COULD CAUSE A FATALITY IF IT HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155956April 24, 2006
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, WHEELS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PURCHASED CAR, 2001 KIA RIO, IN OCTOBER OF 2000. WITHIN A FEW DAYS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD AND HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. RECALL WAS RECEIVED FOR FUEL SYSTEM. THIS WAS REPLACED WITHOUT PROBLEM. NEXT PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH WHEELS, WHICH WAS ALSO A RECALL. I HAD TO ORDER THE WHEELS WHICH TOOK AT LEAST A MONTH TO COME IN LEAVING ME TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK, 65 MILES EACH WAY, ON VIOLENTLY VIBRATING WHEELS. WHEELS WERE FINALLY REPLACED. PROBLEM OCCURRED IN WINTER 2005 WITH DOOR LATCH. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD LOCK AND STAY LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ORIGINAL DEALER FOR REPAIR ONLY TO HAVE OLD PART REPAIRED WHILE BEING CHARGED FOR NEW PART AND LABOR. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, DOOR LATCH FAILED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO ORDERED NEW PART. IN THE MEANTIME I WAITED FOR PART TO ARRIVE, AND DROVE AROUND IN A CAR WHOSE DOOR DIDN'T LOCK, LEAVING MY CAR PREY TO THIEVES, WHO STOLE THINGS CONSTANTLY FROM ME. FINALLY THIS WAS FIXED BUT, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK DID THE SAME THING. I LOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND TO FIX IT WOULD COST ME $700 OR MORE. I'VE ALSO NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STALLING IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM. EXAMPLE: I STOP TO GET GAS, START THE CAR AND TURN OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. DURING THE WINTER OF 2005 WHILE WAITING FOR DOOR LOCKS TO COME IN, MY DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. THIS WAS REPAIRED BUT SUBSEQUENTLY THE NEXT DAY AFTER REPAIR WHILE DRIVING INTO WORK, WHEEL BEARING LITERALLY CRUMBLED. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT AN OLD PART WAS MISTAKENLY PUT BACK ON THE CAR. THIS WAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. THESE ARE ALL SAFETY AND QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154924April 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MY 2002 KIA RIO CINCO'S TIMING-BELT BROKE AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN A $2500 FEE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE MY TIMING-BELT WAS NOT CHANGED AT 60000 (WE HAVE 61000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THESE VEHICLES AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154732April 6, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO CRACK UNDER LONG TERM DRIVING FATIGUE. IF CRACKS OCCUR, WHEEL NOISE AND VIBRATION WILL RESULT AND BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V159000 - CALLED KIA TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS UNDER THIS RECALL AND THEY SAID ONLY CARS BUILT IN 2000. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF WE GOT ALL THE CARS BECOUSE MY 2001 RIO IS DOING THE SAME THING THAT IS LISTED ABOVE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152976March 17, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CALIPERS WERE BLOWN OUT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152072March 7, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME UNBOLTED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE SEAT BELTS FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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