Kia Rio Complaints (2002)
149 consumer complaints on file.
- #10147089January 6, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. WHILE STOPPING, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AND THEY DETERMINED THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE PIPES TO THE HEAT SHIELD AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BURNED OFF. ALSO, THE LUGS: NUTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FIVE TIMES BECAUSE THEY WERE CORRODED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10146405December 14, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER 2002 RIO CINCO WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES , CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING . *TS *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10144595December 6, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 KIA RIO ON MY LUNCH BREAK GOING TO MY HOME. A YOUNG LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I WAS GOING AROUND 45 WHEN SHE PULLED OUT. MY CAR HIT HERS IN THE SIDE NEITHER MY AIR BAGS OR SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T EVEN DEPLOY MY SEAT BELT ALLOWED ME TO GO INTO THE WINDSHIELD. AS MY BODY WAS THROWN FORWARD THE UNDERSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE MY FEMUR IN 3 PLACES. I FILLED A COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA ABOUT THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT THEY CLAIMED THE CAR UNDER ROLLED THE OTHER CAR TO ME THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED BACK AND IT WAS FLAT. KIA NEEDS TO HOLD UP THEIR END 2 ITEMS IN THE CAR FOR SAFETY FAILED. SOME PEOPLE ASK DID YOU HAVE YOUR SEAT BELT ON THE ANSWER IS YES I HAD 2 PEOPLE SHOW UP AT THE WRECK AND SAW IT ON ME AND IT BURNED THROUGH 2 SHIRTS I HAD ON AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10144610December 6, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LESS THAN ONE MINUTE LATER THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THIS TIME. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V179000 IN OCTOBER OF 2004 FOR THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND FUEL TUBE ASSEMMBLIES. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10143771November 28, 2005AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
HIT DEER AT 55 MPH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING HEAD TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND BOUNCE BACK AND HIT SEAT WHOLE FRONT OF CAR WAS TORE UP. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10141462November 1, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT:THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FIRST ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY OF 2003 WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT DURING THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. THE SECOND ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH. SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10140348October 20, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS AT RANDOM TIMES. WARM OR COLD DOES NOT MATTER. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 8 MONTHS. HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET, MOST SIMPLY DO NOT TAKE THE TIME TO POST WHERE IT MATTERS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10137815September 27, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: IN THE HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN THE REAR BRAKES LOCK. IT MAKES A SCRAPING AND SCRATCHING NOISE, WHEN THE BRAKES DRY OUT. THERE IS NO FOREWARNING; NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2002. HAVE CONTACTED THREE DEALERS, AND A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. ONE DEALER DID REPLACED THE BRAKE LINES. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10131673September 9, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, VISIBILITY, PARKING BRAKE, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO 2002 KIA RIOS, THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES, DIED. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 14 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING . THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WILL WORK FOR AWHILE, NO SPECIFIC TIME, AND THEN DIE AGAIN. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DROVE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.*AK THE VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE. THE LIFTGATE LATCH WAS REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10133166August 17, 2005TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: THE CONSUMER STATESDTHE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON APRIL 23, 2005. THEY SPLIT IN HALF AND CHUNKS WERECOMING OUT OF THE TIRES. ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. WIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TIRES. THE AIR PRESSURE IWAS CHECKED. THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THESE TIRES STARTED FALLING APART AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10130095July 26, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 360 IN GRAND PRAIRIE TEXAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH AND AN OTHER VEHICLE WAS CROSSING THE LANES TOWARD HER AND HIT HER VEHICLE AT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE). SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND SO WAS THE PASSENGER.THE SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT WORK AND AIRBAGS ON NEITHER SIDE DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WENT FORWARD STRIKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SUFFERING HEAD AND BODY INJURIES.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126905June 28, 2005VISIBILITY
NO ACCIDENT YET ON THIS DEFECT. WE HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE WAY THE DASH IS CONSTRUCTED THAT SERIOUSLY OBSTUCTS BOTH VIEWING OF THE ROAD THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD BY THE DRIVER AND VIEWING THE DASH INSTRUMENTATION (SPEEDOMETER, ETC) VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON A SUNY DAY, THE BLACK PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE DASH CONSTRUCTION AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS SO REFLECTIVE, THAT OFTEN WITH THE SUN COMING IN THROUGH THE REAR OR A SIDE WINDOW, IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENTATION IN THE DASH DUE TO REFLECTIVE GLARE OFF THE BLACK PLASTIC IN FRONT OF THE CLEAR PLASTIC THAT COVERS THE SPEEDOMETER, ETC. IT IS SO BAD THAT OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE TO PUT A PIECE OF PAPER OR ANOTHER NON-REFLECTIVE OBJECT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND IN FRONT OF THE SPEEDOMETER IN ORDER TO READ THE INSTRUMENTATION. EVEN MORE DISTURBING IS THE SAME PHENOMENON WHEN THE SUN IS STREAMING INTO THE CAR, PARTICULARLY FROM THE FRONT OR A SIDE WINDOW, THAT THE REFLECTION OFF OF THE BLACK PLASTIC ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD IS SO BAD THAT WE OFTEN CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT PUTTING A PIECE OF PAPER OR SOME OTHER SUBSTANCE DOWN TO CUT THE GLARE DOWN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF BEING UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10126598June 26, 2005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR HESITATING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP (HAMILTON, ON) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE SENSOR (250$CAD) AND DO A 300$ TUNE UP ON THE CAR. TWO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I BROUGHT IN BACK TO THE DEALER. BY THE TIME I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER THE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WAS ON. FINALLY AFTER A NUMBER OF VISITS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ECM NEEDED A FLASH. THEY FLASHED THE ECM AND THE CAR SEEMED FINE. APPROX 3 WEEKS AGO THE CAR STARTED HESITATING AGAIN AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND A BULLETIN FROM KIA THAT STATED A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN KIA'S (WHICH MINE FELL UNDER) WHERE THE ECM WOULD INCORRECTLY INTERPRET RESULTS FROM THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING THE ECM AND REPLACED IT, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. THEY FINALLY FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INCORRECT READING FROM THE ECM WOULD HAVE MADE THE CAR SEND UNSPENT FUEL THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEREBY CAUSING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO FAIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10124375June 6, 2005FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2002 KIA RIO STALLING DURING DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. THREE TIME COMPLIANT TO EL CAJON MAZDA KIA, FIRST TIME THEY SAID(NOTHING WRONG) 2ND (THE COMPUTER NEED REPROGRAM) TODAY AGAIN BACK TO DEALER, I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10118901April 18, 2005AIR BAGS
FAXED FOIA REQUEST A COPY OF THE ENTIRE FILE FROM THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED DEFECT RE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE 2002 KIA RIO, ATTY REPRESENT DRIVER OF A 2002 KIA RIO INJURIED WHEN HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10116284April 3, 2005AIR BAGS
THE KIA RIO WAS STOPPED BEHIND A MINIVAN WHEN IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER MINIVAN TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH BEFORE BRAKING. THE KIA RIO WAS PUSHED INTO THE MINIVAN IN FRONT. THE RIO WAS NOT SEVERELY DAMAGED, HOWEVER, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE WAS TO THE REAR TRUNK LID AND THE FRONT RIGHT RAIL WAS SLIGHTLY . COMPROMISED. NO LIGHTS WERE BROKEN, NOR WAS THE BUMPER EVEN CRACKED. BOTH THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE BODY SHOP WERE SURPRISED THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF BASED ON THE DAMAGE (OR OVERALL LACK THEREOF) TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE OTHER PIECES OF AND INSIDE OF THE DASH AS WELL, CAUSING OVER 2/3 OF THE COST OF REPAIR (TOTAL COST WAS AROUND $7000). PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10115931March 28, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 KIA RIO WITH APPROX. 51,000 MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN AND WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE OIL SYSTEM. I PROVIDED KIA WITH ALL THE OIL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS EVERY 3000 MILES. KIA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE OIL WAS NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE FAKE. BASICALLY, THEY SAY THAT I AND A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (OWNER OF A AUTO AND TOWING SHOP) ARE LIARS. KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION (OIL AND RECEIPTS WERE MAINTAINED PROPERLY). IT HAS BEEN 1 MONTH AGO, I HAVE NO CAR AND SERIOUSLY AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND KIA WILL NOT RECONSIDER ANY INFORMATION I PROVIDE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10114768March 26, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR IN NOV. 2001, IT HAS GIVEN ME NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR LEAKING OIL, IT HAS STALLED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, CAUSING CONCERNS ABOUT MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY,AND RECENTLY THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE ENGINE IS NOW FROZEN AND SINCE I'VE REACHED MY 60,000 MILE MARK, THE DEALERSHIP IS HESITANT TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS TRULY AN EXPENSIVE LEMON.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10113501March 4, 2005STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AND SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THEN, DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OR MOVE ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME WAS BEND, AND TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107272March 2, 2005SUSPENSION
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BEARINGS, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED UNDETERMINED. OWNER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THE FRONT BEARINGS WERE FAULTY, AND THEY WERE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT RIGHT BEARINGS WHICH WERE REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BUZZING SOUND FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AFTER THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SHE FOUND THE RIGHT TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE RESTED ON THE TIRE WHICH WAS 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SEEPING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY HOME AND HEARD A LOUD POP AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AT SPEEDS OF 25 OR GREATER. *TC THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0