Kia Rio Complaints (2003)
82 consumer complaints on file.
- #10091568January 5, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE TEMPORALLY LOST POWER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10098649November 11, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
203 KIA RIO PURCHASED 12/02 SINCE PURCHASE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH BRAKES, I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HAVE HAD SHOES REPLACED HAVE HAD ROTORS TURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES BY DEALER TO WHICH PROBLEM CONTINUED . ON 11/06/04 CAR WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL LOCKING UP WITHOUT USING THE BRAKES CAUSING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10098452November 8, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN 12/02 THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL REACUURING PROBLEM MOST OF WHICH THE BRAKES VIBRATION AND CAR SHAKEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. IT HAS BEEN BACK TOP DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEM COMPLAINTS MOST RECENT WAS 10/23/03. SO FAR THEY HAVE DPNE NEW PADS IN FRONT WHEELS RESURFACEWD ROTORS MORE THAN ONCE REPLACED WHEEL SEAL AND MOSTLY SAID COULD NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM. ON 11/06/04 AT BETWEEN 10:15 -10:30 THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCEDENT DUE TO A DRIVERSIDE REAR WHEEL FREEZING UP WITH OUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087715September 13, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES GRABBED ABRUPTLY. WHEN SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE BRAKES THEY GRABBED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE LEAST ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE FROM THE PADS GETTING WET BRAKES WOULD GRAB. THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE PADS NO LONGER CONTAINING ASBESTOS. *AK THE BRAKES GRABBED EXCESSIVELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CLIMATE WAS RAINY OR FOGGY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10091734September 9, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SENSOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081669August 20, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS GIVING OUT A ROTTEN EGG ODOR THAT COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ONLY SAYING IT TAKES A YEAR BEFORE THE SMELL GOES AWAY. *AK *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10086602August 11, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE ACCELERATING MY 2003 KIA RIO ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHILE GOING UPHILL, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND HAD NO POWER ON THE INCLINE EVEN WHEN IT WAS FLOORED. IT ALWAYS DOES THIS WHEN PASSING CARS ALSO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN THEY ARE DAMP. I DID NOT THINK THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT IT IS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081915July 14, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10078990June 29, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1/10/04 SATURDAY. AROUND 10:30 AM HOPE CALLS AND SAYS THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN ON THE KIA. I CALLED KIA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. HOPE MEANWHILE HAD TO WALK TWO MILES IN 40 DEGREE BELOW ZERO WIND CHILL TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL ME. 1/12/04 MONDAY I CALLED BORTZ AND TALKED TO DEAN THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE TOLD ME I HAVE A PISTON ROD IN THE OIL PAN AND THE MOTOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE THAT I HAD NO PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIPTS FOR OIL DATING BACK TO JULY 2003 . HE TOLD ME THAT DIDN'T PROVE OIL CHANGES AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I CALLED KIA AND ASKED TO TALK TO THE KIA FACTORY REP BUT WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE DEALER AND SHE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME IF I COULDN'T PROVE MY OIL CHANGES. I WAS TOLD THAT A NEW MOTOR WOULD COST ME $4400 SO I ELECTED TO GET A USED ONE WITH 5000 MILES ON IT FOR $1800. I ASKED FOR SOME OF THE OIL AND ALL RELATED PARTS AT THAT TIME. 1/14/04 WEDNESDAY WHEN I CALLED DEAN AT KIA, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE TWO (2) TO SIX (6) WEEKS BEFORE WE COULD GET THE KIA BACK. WE GOT THE KIA BACK ON 1/30/04. KIA AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THURSDAY 2/5/03 THE KIA STARTED TO MISS SHIFTS AND RUN ROUGH. ON MY WAY TO MY DADS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OUT ABOUT 1/10/04 SATURDAY. AROUND 10:30 AM HOPE CALLS AND SAYS THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN ON THE KIA. I CALLED KIA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. HOPE MEANWHILE HAD TO WALK TWO MILES IN 40 DEGREE BELOW ZERO WIND CHILL TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL ME. 1/12/04 MONDAY I CALLED BORTZ AND TALKED TO DEAN THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE TOLD ME I HAVE A PISTON ROD IN THE OIL PAN AND THE MOTOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE THAT I HAD NO PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIPTS FOR OIL DATING BACK TO JULY 2003 . HE TOLD ME THAT DIDN'T PROVE OIL CHANGES AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I CALLED KIA AND ASKED TO TALK TO THE KIA FACTORY REP BUT WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE DEALER AND SHE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME IF I COULDN'T
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10074617June 1, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EQUIPMENT
SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CONTINUES. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10073400May 10, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10066683April 6, 2004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLS. THERE WAS A LOST TO THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *MR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062248March 15, 2004VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
NUTS ATTACHING THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO THE WIPER DRIVE SHAFT REPEATEDLY COMING LOOSE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE 3-15-04. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE LOOSE UNTIL YOU NEED YOUR WIPERS IN RAIN OR SNOWY CONDITIONS AND YOU TURN THEM ON TO FIND THE DRIVE MECHANISM IS LOOSE FROM THE BLADE AND SLIPS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WIPERS WHEN YOU NEED THEM.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062935March 11, 2004STEERING:COLUMN
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING COLUMN BOLT SNAPPED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10059637February 23, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10057324January 21, 2004WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE LUG NUTS PEELED OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. *PH THE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED. WHEN THEY WERE REMOVED THE LUG NUT(S) PEELED OFF. THE REAR BRAKES WERE LOCKING AS WELL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID SIDEWAYS DURING THE FIRST MILE OR EACH MORNING. *SC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10070790January 15, 2004POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN JUNE I WAS HAVING A OVER HEATING PROBLEM. IF I WENT UP A HILL THE CAR WOULD HEAT UP TO THE PEG. IT NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT. THE ENGINE BLEW UP & I HAD TO HAVE A NEW ONE. NOW THEIR IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, SO KIA HAS SENT FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I'M AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE FOR FEAR THAT SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN TO IT. I'M ALONE, THEREFORE I NEEDED SOMETHING I CAN RELY ON.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10069745January 15, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN APRIL 2003 I BOUGHT A 2003 KIA RIO CINCO FOR MY FAMILY. WHEN I TRY TO START IT IN THE MORNING IT WILL NOT START. IT TAKES ABOUT SIX TO TEN TRIES TO GET IT STARTED. THEN IT RUNS BAD FOR MILES. IT ALSO RUNS VERY HOT AND IT SEEMS THE MORE I DRIVE IT THE LESS PREFORMANCE I BEEN GETING. MY BRAKES ARE ALSO BAD WHEN I FIRST DRIVE IT AFTER IT SITS FOR HOURS. KIA TOLD ME THAT IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE REFORMULADED GAS WE USE IN MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO. AFTER MONTHS OF PEOPLE AT KIA NOT CALLING ME BACK AND TRING TO RESOULVE THIS WITH KIA I AM INTERESTED IN A CLASS ASTION LAW SUIT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10069182January 15, 2004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HAS A HARD START, IT TAKES AT LEAST 3 TRIES FOR IT TO STAY ON THE BRAKES SQUEAK LOUD WHEN COMING TO A STOP
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10053249January 15, 2004STEERING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA RIO IN MAY OF 2003 AND IN A MONTH I HAD HARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT EVERY TIME I WENT LEFT TOOK IN TO DEALER AND THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THE TRIP OVER. WE LEFT AND IT WAS STILL PULLING A LITTLE, WITH IN A WEEK IT WAS THE SAME. VERY HARD TO HANDLE THIS PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN GOING LEFT,AND I HAVE HAD BAD GAS MILEAGE AND HARD STARTS FROM THE BEGINNING,AND HAVE HAD MY HEADLINER REPLACED AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THIS CAR . IT GOES BACK IN TOMORROW HOPE THEY FIX THE PROBLEMS, *CB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0