Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#10371653December 18, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE WERE JUST 10 MINUTES DRIVING FROM HOME, WHEN WE SAW THE SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF THE CAR. WE WERE APPROACHING THE LIGHT SO THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 10 MILES . WITHIN 5/6 METERS WE STOPPED IN TURN LINE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE GOT MORE AND MORE. SO WE GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WE WERE JUST SHOCKED. SOMEBODY TOLD US CALL 911 AND WE DID AND WE CALLED FIRE FIGHTERS AS WELL. DURING THAT PERIOD FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE BONNET AND OTHER CARS WERE AROUND US. I WAS JUST AFRAID OF EXPLOSION . IN COUPLE OF MINUTES POLICE CAME AND BLOCK THE ROAD. THEN FIRE FIGHTERS CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BUT OUR CAR WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED AND OUT OF ORDER. WE TOWED IT TO THE AUTO BODY AND SOME DAYS LATER THEY TOLD CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369219December 5, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND MY 2004 KIA RIO DIED , I PUSHED IT TO THE MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TIMING BELT LOST ITS TEETH AND THERE IS NOW NO COMPRESSION IN 3 AND 4 , THE MILEAGE ON CAR IS 68040. I WAS TOLD BASICALLY THE ENGINE IS TOAST AND I WASN'T EVEN MOVING ,I WAS TOLD BY A COUPLE OF MECHANICS THAT THE BELT THAT KIA USED IS FAULTY . THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS REPLACE 60,000 MILES BUT REPLACE IT 105,000 IN CALIFORNIA. HOW WOULD A BELT BE BAD IN 49 STATES EXCEPT CALIFORNIA. I FOUND ON AUTO MD .COM NHTSA ACTION #10015272 SERVICE BULLETIN # 289221 REPORT DATING JAN 1 2005 IMPROVED TIMING BELTS FOR 04 RIO AND OPTIMA . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368522December 1, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I GOT THE SECOND HAND 2002 KIA RIO 4 MONTHS AGO . ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING FOR 1 MILE WHEN THE SMELL OF SMOKE CAME AND IN THE COUPLE OF SECONDS THERE WAS SMOKE CAME FROM THE BONNET. I SWITCHED OFF AND TRIED TO OPEN THE BONNET BUT THE SMOKE GOT MORE AND MORE ,SO WE LEFT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND WE SAW FLAMES CAME FROM RIGHT PART OF THE BONNET. WE WERE JUST SHOCKED AND SCARED OF FIRE. WE CALLED 911 AND FIREFIGHTERS AND IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES FRONT PART OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY RUINED. LOOKING OPTIMISTICALLY THERE WAS NO INJURY AT ALL . BUT HOW ABOUT THE NEXT ONE! CAN EVERYBODY BE LUCKY AS WE WERE?! WE WERE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN LINE IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET , SO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND US I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPENED IF I WAS IN FREEWAY OR IF MY WIFE WAS ALONE!? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367310November 23, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO 5. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN AND HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO CONTROL IT FROM MERGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTIONED. THE ALIGNMENT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT MORE CONSISTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366782November 18, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN 2006 KIA RIO, RESTRAINED WITH SEATBELT. HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED,DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE HAD A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, INTERNAL INJURIES, CHANCE FRACTURE L3, COMPRESSION FRACTURE L4 OF HER SPINE, BROKE BOTH LEGS. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. ROOF HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO REMOVE HER. ACCIDENT OCCURRED 9/29/10 IN INDIANA SHE WAS AIR LIFTED, REQUIRED 3 SURGERIES, HOSPITALIZED FOR 4 WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10365551November 13, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MY 2006 KIA RIO AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON & STAYED ON. DIAGNOSES-INOPERATIVE SEAT AIR BAG MAT. TO REPAIR, THE COST WOULD BE $1000.00 WITH TAXES. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY KIA VEHICLES CAUSING SOME AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365462November 12, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE SPLASH GUARD UNDER THE VEHICLE HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT TWO COIL PACKS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO PUMP RAW FUEL INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. BOTH THE COIL PACKS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362431October 26, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED BUT WHEN BOOKS WERE PLACED IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT VERIFY THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG. THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS A MAJOR ISSUE AND FEARS THAT SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AS 50 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360357October 13, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359902October 10, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
GOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 4 IN ORLANDO FL MY 2005 KIA RIO BROKE THE TIMING BELT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL ENGINE POWER & ROLLED TO A STOP WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE & BARELY AVOIDED GETTING REAR ENDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359001October 4, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO LX. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE FORCE OF THE CRASH PUSHED THE CONTACTS VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AND FRONT ENDS OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A MONTH BEFORE THE CRASH, A DEER CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10357878September 27, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVE SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, AND THEREFORE, WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356895September 21, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I TRIED BRINGING THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR SPINNING IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN SPINNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN ROLLING MULTIPLE TIMES INTO A DITCH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10356310September 19, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
KIA PLACED A BULLETIN WITH YOU ON 1/1/05,#TSB82,#10015272. APPARENTLY KIA THOUGHT THAT WAS ENOUGH. MY KIA WAS PURCHASED 7/21/05. I WAS TOLD I HAD "BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE IF I PURCHASED THE ADDITIONAL 4,000. EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO FURNISH ME WITH A COMPLETE WARRANTY DISCLOSURE BEFORE PURCHASE. THEY DID FURNISH ME WITH A BOOKLET CALLED WARRANTY AND CONSUMER INFORMATION MANUAL AND A PAMPHLET CALLED START UP TIPS FOR YOUR KIA. I DID READ THESE. AND THE TIMING BELT ISN'T MENTIONED. LATER WHEN I READ MY OWNERS MANUAL I DID NOTICE THAT THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS DID MENTION THE TIMING BELT, IT SHOULD BE CHECKED AT 30,000 MI, 60,000MI AND POSSIBLY CHANGED AT 105,000. KIA DOES CLAIM 100,000 WARRANTY, AND I HAD THE BUMPER TO BUMPER COV, SO I STILL FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT IN MY CAR. IF KIA HAD COMPLETELY DISCLOSED ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WOULD HAVE WALKED. AT 38,000 MI I WAS ON MY WAY TO WA. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO THE TOP OF RICE HILL WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. 6 LANES OF 70MPH TRAFFIC, CONCRETE ON ALL SIDES AND NOWHERE TO GO, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. IT WAS VERY DISORIENTING THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO POWER, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING,I WAS DUMBFOUNDED. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE RT. LANE. WE PUSHED IT OVER THE TOP OF RICE HILL AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED KIA, THEY TOLD ME I HAD NO COVERAGE, BECAUSE MY CAR WAS A WEEK PAST 5 YRS. WE TOWED IT TO KIA WHERE THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T COVERED. SO I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UP TO THE SERVICE MAN.. I WENT BACK TO KIA, AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME I NEEDED TO DO A DIAG TEST ($174.) WHICH I KNEW WAS IMPOS. BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START. AFTERWARD THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME HE HAD LOOKED AT MY CAR AND THE TB WAS GONE BUT THE PISTONS WERE FINE WHICH IS RARE. THEY WON'T FIX IT. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND 100 CONSUMERS WITH BLOWN ENGINES AND DEFECT. TIMING BELTS. WHATS UP? THIS IS DANGEROUS! IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS! I WAS LUCKY! DO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356209September 17, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 KIA RIO TODAY AND SOMEONE TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I REPLACED ALL THE FUSES ONLY TO FIND OUT THE STOPLAMP SWITCH IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I COULD OF BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354082September 7, 2010
SUSPENSION
THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME LOOSE FROM THE CAR, PULLING THE CV AXLE OUT OF PLACE. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BOLTED BACK INTO PLACE AND THE CV AXLE SHAFT WAS REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354151September 7, 2010
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER ALMOST REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT WOULD ONLY COAST VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE HAPPENED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP WAS RUDE AND WAS BANGING HIS FIST ON THE COUNTER. SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT VERY INTIMIDATED BY THE ORDEAL. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OF OWNING OF THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE RADIO/CD PLAYER DID NOT WORK, AND THE SHIFTER LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 04/15/11
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353386September 1, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-5 MPH IN THE RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, PREVIOUSLY THE SPARK PLUGS, AND CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 03/01/11 UPDATED 04/1511
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351438August 24, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH LANES WHEN SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE SIMILAR TO RUMBLING METAL, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD CLUNK. THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE YET WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SPACER WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EIGHT TIMES FOR THE FAILURE SINCE PURCHASE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351205August 23, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 KIA RIO STALLING PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4-5 TIMES OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, AND DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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