Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#10297822January 2, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, EVEN WITH FORCE. I NOTICED THIS ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN IT TO PUT IN PACKAGES. PRIOR TO THAT I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THE PROBLEM OF THE STUCK DOOR EXISTED SINCE I AM A SINGLE PERSON AND RARELY USE IT. I BROUGHT IT TO PHIL SMITH KIA, THEY SAID IT NEEDS A COMPONENT FOR THE LOCKING MECHANISM, IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $300. I SAID I WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NHTSAS(YOU) THEY TOLD ME TO CALL KIA-WHICH I DID, TALKED TO JUSTINE(EXT-45161), SHE SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR PARTS IF I WOULD PAY FOR LABOR. I FEEL THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, I NEVER USE THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR, ITS A DEFECT AND THE REST OF THE DOOR LOCKS MIGHT ALSO BECOME DEFECTIVE. THEN I DID A SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH KIA RIOS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE LOCK JAMS WHEN THERE IS A CRASH, ETC. IF THE LOCK FAILS TO UNLOCK, IT MIGHT ALSO FAIL TO LOCK OR COME UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD LIKE KIA TO REPLACE THE EXISTING REAR DOOR LOCK FREE OF CHARGE AND TO EXAMINE THE REST OF THE LOCKS ON MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294786December 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD A 2005 KIA RIO BURN DOWN FROM AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE DAY FROM WORK AND SMOKE STARTED TO SEEP THROUGH THE SEAL AROUND THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED 911. WITHIN 5MIN MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE WHOLE DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294568December 5, 2009
SEAT BELTS
BACK IN 2006 I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA RIO AND IN AUG 2009 I WAS SENT A LETTER TELLING ME MY REAR SEATBELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO MALFUNCTION WHEN CHILDRESTRANT SEATS WERE USED. THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL IN 2006 ACCORDING TO THE LETTER BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY ME UNTIL 2009, AND I HAVE A 7 YR OLD SON WHO HAS BEEN RIDING IN MY CAR WITH RECALLED SEATBELTS, THIS MADE ME UPSET SINCE THAT'S THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD. THE COMPANY DID REPLACE THE SEATBELTS BUT IT TOOK THEM ANOTHER 3 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS AFTER ME NOTIFYING THEM ABOUT THE RECALL LETTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292631November 17, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291497November 9, 2009
AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS HEADED WEST DOWN A TWO-WAY STREET WHEN A CAR RAN THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO ME AS I WAS ENTERING INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS GOING A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. MY WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS SMASHED IN, MY CAR HAD BEEN HIT SO BAD UNTIL THE GADGETS IN THE CABINET OF MY CAR WERE ALL OUT OF PLACE. MY PASSENGER HEAD WAS BUSTED OPEN AND I SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, BACK AND RIB INJURIES. WE WERE BOTH WEARING SEAT BELTS. MY PASSENGER WEIGHTED OVER 170 POUNDS WHICH MEAN HER AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MINES BUT THEY DID NOT. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE PERSON WHOSE FAULT IT WAS INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAVE DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND REALIZED THAT OTHER KIA CARS DATING BACK TO 2000 MODELS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. I HAVE A 2008 KIA RIO LX I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10290465October 31, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR INSIDE LATCH RELEASE HANDLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO RELEASE THE DOOR LATCH, THE DOOR WAS UNLOCKED AT THE TIME. THIS OCCURRED AT 0445 HOURS ON 30 OCT 2009 WITH APPROXIMATELY 62,200 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. A NEW PART HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BROKEN PART ON THE SAME DAY, THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289413October 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
T PROPORTIONING VALVE IS LEAKING ON MY 2002 KIA, LOOSING ALL BRAKE FLUID. KIA DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY CAN REPAIR FOR $230.00. THE PROPORTIONING VALVE SHOULD NOT FAIL ON ANY CAR. HAS THIS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE? I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM AND POSSIBLY A DEALER RECALL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288617October 16, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY MOM WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 8/24/09 IN A 2007 KIA RIO. SHE WAS HIT BROADSIDE FROM A GMC YUKON AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. SHE DIED FROM INJURIES FROM THE NECK, SHE HAD NO INJURIES FROM THE SHOULDERS DOWN!!! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10286902October 9, 2009
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WENT TO GO AROUND A CURVE AND STEERING LOCKED UP,THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOST. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285207September 25, 2009
SEAT BELTS
OUR SON WAS DRIVING A 2005 KIA RIO 15 MILES SOUTH OF MCMINNVILLE, OR WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED THE CAR. THE FEMALE PART OF THE SAFETY BELT CLASP FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN HIM BEING THROWN AROUND THE CAB. HE ENDED UP IN THE CAB ON THE ROOF IN THE BACK SEAT. HE IS STILL VERY SORE AND HAS BACK PAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10285232September 25, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG REMAINS "OFF". MALFUNCTION OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284768September 21, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT LOWS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RANDOMLY HESITATE. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD OR IT HAS NOT RAINED WITHIN A FEW HOURS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON A THIRD VISIT TO THE DEALER AND STATED THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO SAY WHAT COMPONENT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282077August 28, 2009
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
AIR BAG SERVICE>12/26/05 SEATBELT FAULTY, 7/5/06 DRIVER BELT PRETENSIONER RESISTANCE LOW, 7/24/06 SHORTED SEAT BELT, 8/14/06 HARNESS PINCHED BETWEEN SEATBELT ASSY & BDY, 6/11/07, CODE B1448; STABILANT APPLIED TO OCS CONNECTOR, 7/22/09 CONTROL BOX REPLACED AS POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION; AIR BAG LIGHT CAME RIGHT BACK ON; DRIVER SEAT NOW ON ORDER TO BE REPLACED, 8/11/09 RECEIVED CALL SEAT ARRIVED (21 DAYS WITH NO AIR BAG SERVICE, PER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IT WAS LIKE DRIVING AN OLD CAR), 8/17/09 DROPPED OFF AT 8:30AM, NOT EXACT, (SERVICE 8/17 AS THAT IS MY 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 230PM THAT THE WRONG COLOR SEAT WAS RECEIVED, 8/20/09 I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 5:01PM THAT CORRECT COLOR SEAT HAD ARRIVED SO I SCHEDULED FOR 8/31/09 (MY NEXT 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, WARRANTY IS A SAFETY NET JUST IN CASE, NOT SOMETHING TO BE USED TO COVER A LEMON OF A CAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281226August 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING AND A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST 1000 MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280770August 17, 2009
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT ALL THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSERGER SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280212August 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS A KIA RIO 4 DR. 2001 ..WITH 12,000 APROX MILES WHEN THE ECU FUSE BROKE, ON HWY 127 NEAR DEATH VALLEY ..HAD TO GET TOWED INTO MY DESTINATION.IT TOOK ABOUT 5 DAYS TO GET A PART FROM CALIF,UPS TO ME FROM A FRIEND, I CHANGED THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR,,WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM...THE NEAREST KIA DEALER WAS 80 MILES AWAY IN LAS VEGAS,,,I LATER DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN ECU FUSE..NOT A SENSOR..I THEN DROVE THE CAR APTROX 500 MILES BACK TO CALOIF,WHEN IT BLEW AGAIN ON THE HWY 15 NEAR FONTANA,...I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA DEALER IN ONTARIO CALIF, THEY ONLY DID 2 WARRANTY ITEMS ON THE CAR.#1 WAS AN UPGRADE OF THE ECM.AND #2 REPLACED A FUEL DIST SENSOR////THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD FIX THE FUSE ISSUE,,,WHICH I TOLD THEM UP FRONT. THEY RETURNED THE CAR I WAS GOING BACK TO NEVADA IT BLEW A FUSE ECU ON HWY 15 HAD IT TOWED HOME AGAIN,,,,THE DEALER PICKED UP THE CAR FROM RIALTO 10 MILES AWAY FROM MY PARENTS....THEY HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS AND TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE APROX 600$ TO GET UNDER THE DASH WHERE THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT THAT IS CAUSING THIS ECU TO BLOW,,I HAD THE CAR RETURNED ON MY AAA AGAIN TOOK IT FOR A SECOND OPINION,,,AGAIN THEY ALSO SAID IT COULD BE UNDER THE DASH AND THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED TO FIX IT AND KEEP THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 OR 4 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE DEALER NEVER TEST DROVE THE CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY WORK..AS PER THE INVOICE MILEAGE IN AND MILEAGE OUT...THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM...AGAIN...AFTER THE 2ND OPINION..I HAD TO TOW IT AGAIN WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ON THE STREETS..THAT WAS 55 MILES FROM MY PARENTS HOUSE... I HAVE ALL THE AAA RECORDS ON TOWING ...I'M OUT OF TOWS... THIS CAR COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ....ONLY BECAUSE THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING WITH OUT ANY NOTICE AND SO FAR I WAS LUCKY THAT NOTHING WENT WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279910August 10, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 KIA RIO DOOR OPENING MECHANISM HAS FAILED TWICE. IT WAS REPAIRED IN 2007. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE DOOR SAID THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM INSIDE THE DOOR WAS NOT GOOD QUALITY AND POORLY ENGINEERED ANTICIPATING IT MIGHT FAIL AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENING DEVISE IS TOTALLY DISENGAGED AND THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS TO BE USED TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO KIA THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BUT WOULD COST $250 TO $500 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVENTHOUGH IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER AND HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277906July 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2002 KIA RIO, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START UP. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG - NO LIGHT OR INDICATORS ON. HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC - ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE WHY - OIL AND COOLANT WERE FINE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THE REASON DIAGNOSED, AS IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT CAUSED IT - THE MOTOR IS SHOT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED - OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES, REGULAR SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE BOOK. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO, AS IT JUST DECIDED TO DIE ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273911June 15, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER TBONED ANOTHER AUTO WHO FAILED TO YIELD ON A GREEN LEFT TURN. TOTALED KIA RIO. BUMPER WAS TORN OFF, DRIVE SHAFT ON TOP OF THE RIO. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AT MOVING RATE OF 35-40MPH. DRIVER DID NOT RECEIVE BAD INJURY, BUT DID HAVE WHIPLASH, MILD CONCUSSION, AND DEEP TISSUE TRAUMA TO KNEE. KIA MOTORS WILL NOT RESPOND VIA EMAIL OR PHONE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10273616June 12, 2009
AIR BAGS
ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2009 I WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. THE FRONT END OF MY 2007 KIA RIO SX WAS HIT. MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH 3 AIR BAGS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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