Kia Rio Complaints (2004)

50 consumer complaints on file.

#10249072November 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2004 KIA RIO. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE TILL THE MONTH OF OCTOBER WHEN IT FAILED INSPECTION FOR EMISSIONS. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS A SENSOR. SO THEN I HAD THE CAR BACK FOR A WEEK AND MY HUSBAND WHO DRIVES THE CAR EVERYDAY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR DIED. COME TO FIND OUT THE TIMING BELT WENT ON THE VEHICLE. WHICH COME TO FIND OUT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO CHANGE THESE AT 60,000 ACCORDING TO THEIR BOOK. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE RIO WE ALSO BOUGHT A KIA SPECTRA. SO OF COURSE WE TOOK THE SPECTRA IN RIGHT AWAY TO GET A NEW BELT SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE 2 CARS DOWN. THAT COST 677.00. I HAD 78,000 ON THE SPECTRA AND THERE WAS 83,000 ON THE RIO. I INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM COME TO FIND OUT ALOT OF PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM SO KIA KNOWS ABOUT IT. I THEN CHECKED THE TECHNICAL BULLETINS AND FOUND THAT IN JANUARY 0F 2005 THERE WAS A BULLETIN ITEM NUMBER 10015272. IT SAYS THEY IMPROVED THE TIMING BELTS FOR THE KIA RIO AND OPTIMA. WELL THEY DIDN'T IMPROVE IT FOR MY CAR. WHEN THE TIMING BELT WENT IT BLEW THE ENGINE. WE ARE SO MADE AND WHEN WE TOOK MY SPECTRA IN TO BE DONE AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RIO THEY SAID THAT'S TO BAD. WE NOW HAVE OUR CAR AT ANOTHER GARAGE AND ARE TRYING TO GET KIA TO PAY FOR ANOTHER ENGINE. WHAT DO YOU THINK MY CHANCES ARE? I AM AT WORK NOW AND I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER, IF YOU EMAIL ME THEN LATER TONIGHT I CAN FORWARD THE VIN NUMBER TO YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246561October 23, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAN CONTROL KNOB FOR HEAT INTERMITTENTLY WOULD ONLY WORK ON SOME SPEEDS AND GRADUALLY WOULD NOT WORK AT TIMES. IT WOULD "CATCH" EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE ONLY ON HIGH, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING HOT, NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. AFTER LOOKING BEHIND THE COVER, THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE RELAY SWITCH TO THE KNOB ARE MELTED, THE RELAY SWITCH IS BURNED AND THE WIRE HARNESS IS MELTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240850September 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ON FRIDAY, 8/22/08, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM MY HOME AND IN A 25 M.P.H. ZONE. ON MONDAY 8/25/08, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THERE I MET WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FELT THAT THE TIMING BELT MAY HAVE FAILED AND THAT THE EVENT WOULD LIKELY NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE, AS THE CUSTOMER, I SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. MY VEHICLE HAD 79,418 MILES AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED. MY 2004 KIA RIO HAS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE AND NO ADEQUATE WARNING OF THE PROBABILITY OF A TIMING BELT FAILURE WAS EXPRESSED OR POSTED BY KIA. MY ENGINE HAS COMPLETELY FAILED BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT STRIPPED. IT WILL COST $1,200.00 TO $2,000.00 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222564March 28, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN WEAVING, VIBRATING, AND SHAKING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE SAME DAY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE LATERAL STABILIZER BAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, AWAITING THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,243.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220143March 5, 2008
AIR BAGS
THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX IT .THE CAR NOW HAS TO HAVE THE WHOLE FRONT END FIXED AND NEED TO HAVE THEM CHECKED TO SEE WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204856October 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO CINCO. WHILE DRIVING 30, 45, OR 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED SINCE THE DEALER COULD FIND NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,015. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AND THE DRUMS WERE ROTATED. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10194775June 27, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES WHILE WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10175941December 12, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS A LOST OF ENGINE POWER WAS NOTICED. THERE WERE NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT OF AN ENGINE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE BLEW OUT DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF COOLANT MIXED WITH THE ENGINE OIL AND RECOMMENDED ENGINE PEPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDER REGULAR MAINTENACE SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172888November 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER SIX TIMES BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172536November 3, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING SEVERE HESITATION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. 11/30/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172592November 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE'S TIMING BELT CHIPPED AND DENTED AN ENGINE PISTON. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172443November 2, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:REAR, WHEELS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED UPON EXAMINATION THAT BOTH ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE BEARING WAS BAD AND THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE BENT. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE VEHICLE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION OF ONGOING PROBLEMS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 09/25/07 *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
#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
#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
#10150163February 13, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED DOWN FOR A DISTANCE. THE LEVER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING BLOCK WAS MANUALLY PUSHED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE HOUSING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149813February 8, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE RETAINING NUT ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LOOSENS, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND TIGHTENED THE RETAINING NUT, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER, NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143539November 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION AT THE ENGINE BULK. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137887September 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CAR IS A KIA RIO CINCO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT SEEMS TO BE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN ALL GEARS. CAR WILL ONLY ACCELERATE ABOUT 10 MILES IN EACH GEAR, THEN BEGINS TO STALL AND THEN DECELERATE, UNLESS I MOVE IT TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN I REACH 5TH GEAR AT ABOUT 42 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR WILL DRIVE OK UNTIL I REACH 50 AND THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE, STABILIZING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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