Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#10184148March 4, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TWO YEARS AGO WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO MY 2001 RIO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK STUCK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITED 2 WEEKS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. NOW I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY PASSENGER DOOR. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SO I AM UNABLE TO USE MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. ALSO CAR STALLS WHEN IT RAINS AND SHAKES REALLY BAD WHEN IT DOES RUN. I HAVE TO GET A RIDE WHEN IT RAINS, INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK, BUMPER HAS COME LOOSE....CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUGS, AND LEAKS OIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182316February 12, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I HAVE A KIA RIO. STOCK #06520901,CASE 0067, MODEL K32B NA3,YEAR 2001, VINKNADC1234165XXXXX RA, MOTOR ASD21403 COLOR BI. THE COMPACT BASE THAT HOLDS THE RADIATOR SPLIT AT THE CENTER. THE TWO SIDES OF THIS BASE BROKE IN TWO. MY HUSBAND TALKED TO VARIOUS PERSONS WHO ALSO HAVE A KIA. TO HIS SURPRISE, THEY ALL TOLD HIM, "THESE CARS MUST HAVE COME WITH A DEFECT BECAUSE THE SAME BASE IS ALSO BROKEN ON MY CAR". SO FAR, 4 PERSONS OWING A KIA HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM . I FELT I SHOULD REPORT THIS BECAUSE AS I WAS RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A CACKLING SOUND. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. HE ARRIVED AND CHECKED THE CAR AND SHOWED ME THE BROKEN BASE. IT SPLIT AT THE CENTER AND BROKE OFF OF BOTH SIDES OF THE BASE. I WAS REALLY HAIR RAISED BECAUSE IF ANY THE PARTS INVOLVED WOULD HAD COME DOWN, DEFINITELY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE MY HUSBAND SENT THE PART TO BE SOLDERED BUT I FEEL UNSECURED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182186February 10, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, MADE RIGHT TURN INTO DRIVEWAY AT 30 MPH AND THE ENGINE DIED, STEERING WAS NOW UNASSISTED. I ROLLED THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE CAR STARTED UPON MY RETURN TO THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 OTHER TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 60, 000 MILES AND HAS AMASSED NUMEROUS REPAIR ISSUES: FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT; DEFECTIVE SIDE MIRROR THAT SCREAMS AT HIGH SPEEDS/FREEWAY DRIVING W/WINDY CONDITIONS; SUN VISORS WHICH DO NOT ADHERE TO PLACEMENT; AND WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILURE. UPON ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE THIS WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR. AND ON SUBSEQUENT VISITS, IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182684February 6, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 KIA RIO WITH ENGINE FAILURE**NAR**CC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178864January 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AUG. 12, 2006 THE HARRELL-SWATTY COS. 6 CONCOURSE PARKWAY NE ATLANTA GA 30328-6117 DEAR MR. X: I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AT ARBOR PLACE. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE IN MARCH BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK THREE MORE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. NOW THAT THE CAR HAS MORE THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT WORK ON IT AGAIN UNLESS I PAID THEM. BUT THEY TOOK IT IN TO DIAGNOSE IT AGAIN AND DID NOT TELL ME UNTIL I CAME TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT IT WOULD COST ME $88 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE TO GET IT BACK. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED ONCE. I WAS FORTUNATE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. I KEEP ADDING BRAKE FLUID WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. EVIDENTLY THERE IS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CAR IS UNSAFE. I WANT MY $88 BACK, AND I WANT THE CAR FIXED, AT NO COST TO ME. YY ZZ HAS NOT REPLIED TO MY TWO PREVIOUS LETTERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
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
#10175594December 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. IT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CLUTCH PLATE WAS REPLACED AND TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS DETACHED FROM THE FIRE WALL. THERE WERE REPAIRS MADE TO REATTACH THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175465December 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2002 KIA RIO - TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSES ENTIRE AND INSTANTANEOUS ENGINE LOSS - CAR COMES TO HALT IN ROADWAY UNEXPECTEDLY. TIMING BELTS ARE COVERED UNDER KIA'S 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT THEY DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174560November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
01 RIO IS A LEMON & SAFETY HAZARD. MANY MAJOR REPAIRS DONE INCLUDING THE TIMING BELT & VALVES REBUILT, NEW COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH CONTROL ARMS & BOOTS. WHEEL DEFECT RECENTLY RECALLED CAUSED EXCESS WEAR/ TEAR ON CONTROL ARMS, BOOTS, ALIGNMENT, TIRES, COSTING THOUSANDS OF AVOIDABLE REPAIRS. FUEL INTAKE DID COME LOSE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART WHICH WAS RECALLED. IT CONTINUOUSLY MISFIRES, ENGINE KNOCKS, STALLS. ECM WAS RECALLED BUT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS & WIRES (3 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS), IGNITION COIL, SENSORS (OXYGEN, KNOCK, CRANKSHAFT, TEMP). IT STOPS FOR A 1-2 DAYS, THEN COMES BACK. ANNOYING & DANGEROUS. ALSO HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEM. AT TIMES, IT WON'T GO OVER 40 MPH & ALSO ACCELERATES BY ITSELF. BRAKES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED, THOUGH THERE'S NO CRACK IN THE LINE, NO LEAKING FLUID. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LEMON. ONLINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. DEALERS ARE AWARE BUT CONVENIENTLY CAN'T SEEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY MISFIRING. CONSUMERS GET NICKEL & DIMED DOING NEEDLESS REPAIRS THAT DON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE OPTIMA HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS W/CRANKSHAFT POS. SENSOR WHICH WAS RECALLED, BUT DEALER DENIES ANY RELATION TO PROBLEMS WITH THE RIO. ANOTHER PROBLEM - LACK OF AVAILABILITY & HIGH COST OF PARTS. ITS BAIT/SWITCH TO SELL A CAR WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS, THEN GUESS AT NEEDLESS REPAIRS & SELL PARTS AT AN ASTRONOMICAL MARKUP. IT'S CHEAP TO BUY, BUT REPAIR COSTS MAKE IT VERY EXPENSIVE. RESEARCH SHOWS MISFIRING/ENGINE KNOCK HAS ALSO LED TO ENGINE FIRES. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASED, BUT DEALER HAS YET TO FIX IT. ALSO DOOR LOCKING PROBLEMS, PEOPLE BEING LOCKED IN VEHICLES. MY DRIVERS DOOR LOCKS BY ITSELF (MANUAL LOCKS). IN CASE OF ENGINE FIRE OR ACCIDENT, A LOCK MALFUNCTION COULD CAUSE UNNECESSARY DEATH/INJURY. THESE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, YET KIA HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THEM. THE 01 RIO IS A LEMON AND SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173765November 17, 2006
STEERING
I PURCHASED THIS 2006 KIA RIO LX NEW FROM GRACIA KIA OF ALBUQUERQUE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO "WALK" OR "WOBBLE" AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR HIGHER ON PRIMARILY CONCRETE FREEWAYS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE ON PAVED ROAD WAYS, JUST CONCRETE FREEWAYS WHICH HAVE BEEN GROOVED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE MOSTLY CAUSE OF THE "WALK" WAS THE NARROW WHEELBASE AND THE SMALL TIRES THAT COME ON THE CAR AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ON THE SERVICE REQUEST, THE FIX WAS LISTED AS "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE SAME AS A NEW 06 RIO. CALLED TECH LINE - NO OTHER INFO. PUT ON ALIGNMENT RACK - NORMAL. NPF". *NM
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
#10172568November 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAILURE OF VEHICLE REPAIR X 3 WEEKS. 3 DIFFERENT REPAIRS, STILL NOT FIXED. KIA REFUSES TO GIVE LOAN/RENTAL TO DRIVE WHILE PERFORMING WARRANTY WORK. CAR WILL NOT RUN, STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE ALMOST KILLING MY COLLEGE STUDENT X 3+.*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
#10172039October 28, 2006
SEAT BELTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I OWN A 2001 KIA RIO, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH ANY OF THEM. I NO LONGER HAVE USE OF MY FRONT DOORS AND HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE BACK DOOR TO GET INTO THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK KEEP DEFRAYING AND ARE NOT SAFE. AND THE SEAT HAS METAL IN IT THAT HAS CUT THROUGH THE FABRIC ON THE SEATS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171998October 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE EVERYTHING TURNS OFF IN CAR AND JERKS AND STARTS HEADING TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ON HIGHWAY 395 AND ONCE ON INTERSTATE 15. ALSO WHILE THE CAR IS IN A DRIVE THROUGH THE CAR HAS STALLED MORE THAN TWICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171094October 17, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE BAD THREE TIMES WITH A YEAR'S TIME. THE LAST BEARING WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 06, AND THE SAME BEARING IS GOING BAD AGAIN (CURRENTLY MID OCTOBER). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170591October 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
JUNE 2006 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2006 MY KIA RIO HAS LOCKED UP IN THE PARKING GEAR NOT ALLOWING TO REMOVE TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. DEALER HAS HAD IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES AND HAS CHANGED BREAKING LIGHT TWICE ALONG WITH GEAR CONSOLE. NOW STATING EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE BEING AT SHOP SINCE THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2006 CAN NOT ENACT PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169555September 28, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOUGHT CAR IN 01-06 STARTED TO GET AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE IN 05-06. FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO MALFUNCTION SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER ORDERED. WENT BACK 06-21 REPLACED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. SECOND TIME ON 07-18 AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WAS TOLD DUE TO SEAT COVERS. AIRBAG WAS RESET, WAS TOLD NO SEAT COVERS. HI-DESERT KIA SELLS SEAT COVERS FOR 2006 RIO. THIRD TIME 07-06 WAS TOLD AIRBAG SYSTEM CONNECTION WAS KNOCKED LOOSE DUE TO ITEMS UNDER PASSENGER SEAT, DO NOT PUT ITEMS UNDER SEATS. AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS RESET. FOURTH TIME 08-06 WAS TOLD AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WAITING FOR PART TO ARRIVE 09-06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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