2003 KIA RIO

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE ON MY 2003 KIA RIO CRACKED. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT SHOULD NEVER CRACK NO MATTER THE TEMPERATURE CLIMATE ETC. HE SAYS HE HAS NEVER SEEN A CRACKED ONE BEFORE AND MY CAR WOULD HAVE NO SIGNS THAT IT WAS BAD. I WOULD GO FROM PERFECT BRAKES TO NO BRAKES. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD JUST GOT GAS AND LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I DRIVING SLOWLY TO THE STREET. I HAD ENOUGH BREAK TO STOP. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT FOR ME SO MUCH AS SOMEONE ELSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. I FEAR FOR OTHERS. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT ON FURTHER VEHICLES. *TR

• 12/27/2008· POWER TRAIN

  THE CLUTCH IN MY 2003 KIA RIO HAS FAILED/BROKEN FOUR TIMES NOW. MY FATHER AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2003 THE FIRST CLUTCH FAILED AROUND 8000 MILES I BELIEVE, THE SECOND AROUND 24000 MILES, THE THIRD AROUND 40000 MILES, AND NOW IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNABLE TO GO INTO ANY GEAR; THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK SHIFTS FOR 14+ YRS. AND I KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY OPERATE THEM, YET WHENEVER I TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD IT IS DRIVER ERROR AND CHARGED AT LEAST $1000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST THREE OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN/BAD PARTS PROBLEM NOT DRIVING ERROR, HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE WARRANTY BY HAVING IT REPAIRED ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP. WITH THE LAST REPAIR (CLUTCH #3) MY FATHER WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC AFTER THE CAR WAS PULLED APART AND CAUGHT THE DEALERSHIP IN A LOT OF LIES BASED ON THE TOTAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE CLUTCH AND SURROUNDING PARTS. THERE WAS NO WAY THAT MUCH DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE SIMPLY BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THEY GAVE HIM SOME FREE PARTS AND LABOR BUT THE BILL WAS STILL OVER $600 AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AS EVIDENCED BY THE VEHICLE NOT GOING INTO ANY GEAR NOW. I HAVE READ OVER 100 SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR AS MINE. KIA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, NOT THE CUSTOMER. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR AS TO NOT HAVE ANYONE INJURED, I DRIVE MY FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THAT CAR, BUT I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED IN SEVERAL NOT NICE NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE OF THE CLUTCH FAILURE AND HAVE HAD THE CLUTCH GO OUT WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE PROBLEM COMES ON SUDDENLY WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING OF THE CLUTCH HAVING PROBLEMS AND IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD, NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. IF THIS CONTINUES, SOMEONE WILL BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

• 12/24/2003· STEERING

  MY NEW 2003 KIA RIO WAGON WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID FROM DAY ONE, AND THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT,ITS STILL NOT FIXED BUT NOW EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE ENGINE REV UP. *AK I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE CAR ACCELERATE. ITS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN SLOWLY PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPOTS. I AM GOING TO TRY ANOTHER DEALER, BUT IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND THEIR STEARING, REPORTED AND HAVE THER BEEN ANY RECALLS ?? PLEASE LET ME KNOW

• 12/22/2015· SEAT BELTS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  SEAT BELTS, CAR SEAT RETAINING HOOKS, ECM, AND DISTRIBUTOR ARE RECALLED. CHEYENNE KIA HAD 3 WEEKS BEFORE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PARTS. I DELIVERED THE CAR FOR REPAIRS ONLY TO GET A CALL 4 HOURS LATER THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PARTS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 6 WEEKS SINCE PICKING UP MY CAR AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. ALL I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH JENNIFER XT 45960 AT 800 333 4542 CASE # K3094095 KIA CUSTOMER CARE TO FIND OUT WHEN I CAN SAFELY PUT MY KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR.

• 12/15/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  I WAS GOING TO WORK AND HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT SPRING CREEK AND RINGGOLD ROAD. I PUT MY FOOT OF THE BRAKES TO STOP AND THEY LOCKED, PROPELLING THE THE CAR FORWARD (APPROXIMATELY FIVE OR SIX CAR LENGTHS). IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT TOTALED BOTH CARS. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION TWO MONTHS AGO BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD CATCH REAL HARD WHEN IT WAS DAMP OUTSIDE AND ONE OF THE BACK BRAKES HAD A CLUNKING SOUND IN IT. THEY TIGHTENED THE CALIPERS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THEY DID THE FIRST MAINTENANCE INSPECTION TWO WEEKS AGO AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE BRAKES WERE STILL CATCHING REALLY BADLY WHEN IT WAS DAMP OUTSIDE ( NOT NECESSARILY RAINING OUT, IT JUST HAD TO BE DAMP EARLY IN THE MORNING FOR THEM TO CATCH). WE LOOKED AT THE ROTORS WHEN WE WENT UP BY FINES TO GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE CAR. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON THEM (THE CAR ONLY HAS 6,800 MILES ON IT).*AK

• 12/12/2015· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN YOU PARK THE CAR, SHUTOFF ENGINE, PULL UP THE SHORT UNLOCK STICK, THEN PULL THE OPEN BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR. THAT'S NORMAL PROCEDURE. BUT IF YOU ARE IN HURRY, PULL THE DOOR OPEN BUTTON FIRST AND FORGET PULL THE UNLOCK STICK, YOU CANNOT OPEN DOOR ANYMORE, YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND PULL UP THE UNLOCK STICK TO UNLOCK DOOR ANYMORE. IT WILL KEEP LOCKING THE DOOR BACK WHEN YOU PULL UP THE UNLOCK STICK. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR 15 MIN TO OPEN THE DOOR. DANGEROUS IF IN THE EMERGENCY.

• 12/12/2007· POWER TRAIN

  7-THE ENGINE LIGHT IS AGAIN ON AT 89,000. THIS TIME STEVE TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WE KNOW & TRUST, AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. AGAIN, STEVE TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AROUND 90,000...THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. AT THIS POINT, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS COULD NOT DENY THIS WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. NOW, WE WERE FORCED TO JUMP THROUGH SEVERAL HOOPS PROVIDING EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE PROVIDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WHICH WE DID, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT MADE A DECISION TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. 8-THE CAR NOW DOES NOT HAVE REVERSE! WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE IT TO WORK WITHOUT A REVERSE, IT WILL COMES TO A NEAR STOP ON INCLINES. DRIVING AN AUTO WITH NO REVERSE IS DANGEROUS, BUT WE BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND WE REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT. AS I'VE STATED BEFORE, A PERSON DOES NOT GET 300,000 MILES FROM AUTOS ON A REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT PROVIDING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE! MY DAUGHTER'S CAR HAS NEARLY 200,000 MILES, AND SHE'S JUST BREAKING HER CAR IN! WE SOLD OUR FORD IN APRIL 2006 ... IT HAD 297,000 MILES AND WAS RUNNING STRONG. WE HAVE A HISTORY OF TAKING CARE OF OUR VEHICLES! KIA DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT HONORING THE 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *TR

• 12/12/2007· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH KIA. I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK SYNOPSIS OF MY DEALINGS WITH KIA. 1-I WANTED TO BUY THE 2002 RIO CINCO IN AUGUST 2002. I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE, AND PICKED THE ONE I WANTED BEFORE GOING TO A DEALERSHIP. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD BILLBOARDS POSTED ALL OVER GRAND RAPIDS, MI ADVERTISING: $99 DOWN / $99 PER MONTH. I WAITED OVER 2 HOURS TO BE WAITED ON. WHEN THE SALESMAN FINALLY WAITED ON ME, I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO GET THE CAR I WANTED FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND I COULD PICK IT UP IN 2 DAYS. OCTOBER 25TH, 2002, I FINALLY PICKED IT UP (BETWEEN AUG & OCT THE SALESMAN CALLED SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK IF I WOULD ACCEPT A DIFFERENT COLOR, MODEL, FEATURES, ETC., AND OF COURSE I SAID NO ... ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO OFFER A DISCOUNT). THEN, WHEN THE CAR FINALLY ARRIVED IN OCTOBER, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS WHAT I ORDERED, BUT IT WASN'T. MY HUSBAND PICKED UP THE CAR SINCE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO HE DIDN'T KNOW THEY GAVE HIM A 2003 MODEL, AND NOT THE 2002 I ORDERED. THEY HAD HIM SIGN THE PAPERWORK, SO HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PRICE WAS ALSO $4000.00 MORE THAN THE PRICE I AGREED TO PAY! UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM MY BUSINESS TRIP, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO NOTIFY THEM THAT THERE WAS A MISTAKE, AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT VEHICLE. THEIR ANSWER TO ME WAS, THE PAPERWORK IS COMPLETE, THE CONTRACTS ARE SIGNED, AND THE SALE IS FINAL. 2-I WENT BACK SEVERAL TIMES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT EVERYTIME I WENT INTO THAT DEALERSHIP, I HAD TO WAIT OVER AN HOUR, AND ENDED UP LEAVING BEFORE THEY WOULD TALK TO ME.... EVEN WHEN I HAD AN APPOINTMENT! SO I ENDED UP TAKING MY CINCO ELSEWHERE FOR MAINTENANCE. CONTINUED ....2-3 *TR

• 12/12/2007· POWER TRAIN

  CONT...2 OF 3 3-I'VE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, PROVIDED EVIDENCE FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGES, TRANSMISSION FLUSHES, AIR CONDITIONER MAINTENANCE., TIRES, BRAKES, ETC. EVERY AUTO I'VE EVERY OWNED (DATING BACK TO 1976) HAS GIVEN ME IN EXCESS OF 200,000 MILES...AND MY TOYOTA HAD OVER 350,000 ... AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL PURRING (I JUST GOT TIRED OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE FLOOR). A PERSON DOESN'T GET THAT KIND OF MILEAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF IT! 4-THE ENGINE LIGHT FIRST APPEARED IN FEBRUARY 2004. I TOOK IT TO BURLINGAME GARAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO KIA, THAT THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BRUSHED ME OFF BY STATING I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE?THEY WANTED $225. I DECLINED THEIR WONDERFUL ?SPECIAL PRICE, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BURLINGAME GARAGE?THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH FOR $79. 5-FEBRUARY 2006, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD THEIR DEALERSHIP REVOKED, I NOW HAD TO GO TO THE COMSTOCK PARK LOCATION. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR APRIL (THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO WORRIED ABOUT ME DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON). THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BELT, SO THEY CHANGED IT (WHICH WAS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE ($400+), AND THEY ALSO CHECKED THE FLUIDS, AND CHANGED THE OIL. 6-I HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED AGAIN ONCE WE MADE THE FAMILY DECISION TO MOVE TO CALIFORNIA. WE MOVED IN AUGUST 2006. MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ON AGAIN. HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AROUND 79,000 MILES, AND THEY TOLD HIM IT ONLY NEEDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH (BUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME SINCE I HAD IT FLUSHED LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AGO). HE HAD THE FLUSH DONE ANYWAY. CONTINUED....3 *TR

• 12/10/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR A STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUMES/ODORS BECAME VERY HEAVY WHEN DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME ILL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ODOR THE DRIVER WAS SMELLING WAS CALLED KOSMOLINE AND WOULD EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR. *AK THERE WAS A NAUSEATING SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALLERGIC TO THE SMELL AFTER BREATHING THE MELTING KOSMOLINE AND OR UNDERCARRIAGE FOR OVER 3K MILES. THE SMELL HAD COME FROM THE VENTS AS WELL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HARD START FROM A COLD START THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

• 12/05/2009· 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

• 12/05/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE FUEL PUMP AND COMPONENTS EXPLODED IN THE GASOLINE STORAGE TANK. THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V179000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DUE TO THE RECALL. *AK

• 11/19/2013· SERVICE BRAKES

  FRONT, RIGHT BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED AT THE INBOARD HALF. PIECES NOT FOUND. OUTBOARD HALF REMAINED INTACT, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDY/ANALYSIS. WAS ABLE TO USE BRAKES ALTHOUGH EXTREMELY SPONGY AND DANGER OF RESULTING FIRE FROM SPARKS (METAL-TOMETAL CONTACT). REPLACED ROTOR AND PADS. VEHICLE IS BACK IN SERVICE. PHOTOS OF OLD PADS AND ROTOR ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

• 11/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE COILS BURNED OUT. *AK ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH O-RING LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR VENTS. *LA *JB

• 11/11/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  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

• 11/08/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  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

• 11/08/2003· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER PURCHASED A KIA, RIO ON 11-6-03, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO INSTALL CHILD'S CAR SEAT DISCOVERED THAT AUTOMATIC LOCK FEATURE DID NOT WORK. CONSUMER FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL STEP BY STEP, BUT IT KEPT RELEASING THE LOCK BEFORE COMPLETION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED BY ONE SERVICE PERSON THAT THEY ALL WERE LIKE THAT, AND WOULD LOCK IN EMERGENCY MODE. CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS NOT ALRIGHT, AND UPON PERSISTENCE, THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. *AK

• 11/08/2002· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEAT BELTS WAS DESIGNED POORLY, THEY CUT ACROSS THE NECK AND THROAT OF THE DRIVER/PASSENGER. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP FOR SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO INSTALL BELT EXTENSIONS. TS *JB

• 11/05/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES MADE A DEEP DRUM LIKE NOISE THAT LASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE BRAKES STARTED TO REACT NORMALLY. *TC *JB

• 11/03/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. DONE A SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE MINE AND FOUND 3 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN IN A MECHANIC SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS NOW AND I HAVE JUST GOT DONE TALKING WITH HIM THIS MORNING ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BY KIA. *TR

• 10/27/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR ONLY TWO DAYS IT FAILED TO START. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED A TECHNICIAN, AND HE STATED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

• 10/27/2003· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER WILL NOT DRIVE OVER 50 MPH, HAD DIFFICULTY IN CHANGING 5 SPEED GEARS. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT CLUTCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

• 10/24/2011· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE DOOR ACTUATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

• 10/17/2006· SUSPENSION

  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

• 10/14/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TIMING BELT BROKE AT 72000 MILES WITHOUT WARNING. KIA SAYS CHANGE AT 60000 MILES IN KY, BUT WARRANTY IN CA ALLOW FOR 105000 MILE CHANGE. KIA REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. STRANDED FOR 45 MINUTES. HAD TO PAY DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT KIA DEALER. *TR

• 10/11/2006· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 10/08/2003· SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT, AND A LOUD NOISE WOULD BE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WOULD MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD MOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF EITHER PROBLEM.*AK

• 09/30/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD RUN HOT. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE ONCE, AND REPLACED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TWICE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM CONTINUED. DEALER HAD NOT FOUND A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 09/25/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  IN COLD WEATHER THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT TO WARM UP IT WOULD STALL OUT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. *NLM

• 09/24/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE WILL NOT START INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND STATES THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM SOON.*AK

• 09/24/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE SHOP, I FOUND OUT THAT 03 KIA RIOS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULES. AS SOON AS THE WEATHER IS COOL, IT PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM GETTING ENOUGH GAS. THE CAR WON'T START COLD UNTIL IT'S BEEN CRANKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, AND ONCE YOU GET IT STARTED, THE CAR WILL CUT OUT FROM LACK OF GAS IF YOU STOP THE CAR.

• 09/15/2007· STRUCTURE

  HAD A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. TECH CHECKED THE STRUT MOUNTS AND FOUND NOTHING LOOSE. HE THEN REMOVED THE INTERIOR PANELS AND FOUND THE METAL HOLDING THE STRUT TOWER IN PLACE HAD BROKEN BELOW THE WELDS. I WAS IN FORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT WHEN THE DEALER PUT ME IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THE FINANCING OF THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. I ALSO JUST FOUND OUT THE VEHICLE THAT THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS WAS LATER SOLD. *TR

• 09/13/2007· STRUCTURE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AND THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED INSIDE. THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED AS WELL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE DOORS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,800.

• 09/13/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  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

• 09/12/2006· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVING DOWN I-65, AND A SEMI TRUCK TRIED GETTING OVER INTO MY LANE. I DROVE INTO THE MEDIUM, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SPUN OUT AND HIT THE SEMI TRUCK. IT ENDED UP RUNNING OVER THE TOP OF MY CAR. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DESTROYED, MELTED, ETC. LUCKILY I WASN'T HURT, BECAUSE I LOCKED MYSELF AGAINST THE SEAT; HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I LUCKILY ENDED UP ALRIGHT PHYSICALLY; HOWEVER SOMEBODY ELSE WITH THE SAME CAR MAY NOT HAVE MY STROKE OF LUCK THAT I HAD THAT DAY. *JB

• 09/09/2004· ENGINE 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

• 08/20/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 08/15/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY BLOWER (PART # 97251 FD000) CONSTANTLY GOES OUT ON MY 2003 KIA RIO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I REPLACED IT. 6 MONTHS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I REPLACED IT ALONG WITH THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY (PART# 1K552 61C08). 8 MONTHS LATER, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUSE. THERE IS NOT A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM THAT CAN BE FOUND. I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY ANTICIPATING THE COMPANY RECTIFYING THIS. *TR

• 08/11/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  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

• 08/10/2009· 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

• 08/09/2007· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2003 KIA RIO WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN THE CAR IN JUNE 07 BUT IT CONTINUES TO SMOKE, OVERHEAT AND CUT OFF**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERATIVE. THEY REPLACED THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP YET AGAIN BEING FIXED. UPDATED 08/23/07. *TR

• 08/07/2012· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, SHE HAD TO DO SO THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,160.

• 07/27/2011· SEAT BELTS

  THE REAR SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK INTO PLACE RIGHT. NORMALLY, WHEN YOU PULL A SEATBELT THE FULL WAY OUT THEN LET IT WIND BACK IN, IT SHOULD HAVE TENSION ON IT. THE SEATBELTS IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DON'T DO THIS. THEY CAN BE PULLED BACK OUT WITHOUT STOPPING. THEY CLIP INTO THE BUCKLES FINE THOUGH. I HAVE 2 CAR SEATS IN THE BACK, SO I NEED THIS FEATURE TO WORK PROPERLY TO SECURE THE CHILD SEATS. *TR

• 07/24/2003· SEAT BELTS

  THE CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINT SEAT BELT SYSTEM IN THE REAR SEATS OF OUR NEW KIA RIO CINCO DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, NEW PARTS INSTALLED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE KIA REPRESENTATIVE HAS DECLARED NO PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK DOWN TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE LOCKING MECHANISM RELEASES TO EARLY. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE SEATBELT SHOULD LOCK ON IMPACT. THIS IS NOT SAFE FOR INSTALLATION OF A CHILD SEAT.*AK

• 07/22/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

• 07/17/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.

• 07/17/2003· POWER TRAIN,SEAT BELTS,EQUIPMENT

  BOUGHT 2003 KIA ON 11/16/02 EIGHT MON. AGO,SEATBELT LOCK CAME OFF,TRIMMING AROUND DOORS AND WINDOWS CAME OFF,NOW DRIVINGG INTO THE INTERSTATE CAR CUT OFF,TRANSMISSION VERY SLOW IN SHIFTING GEARS.*AK

• 07/15/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CAR LOST TOTAL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STEER AND CONTROL THE CAR AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SEVERAL CARS HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY AS THEY WERE GOING THE SPEED LIMIT BUT THE CAR CONCERNED WAS GOING SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER. UPON INSPECTION, THE TIMING BELT SPROCKET WAS HANGING OUTSIDE OF THE PLASTIC COVER WHICH WAS BURNING FROM MELTED PLASTIC. THE CAR IS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY AND WE ARE AWAITING A FINAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER AND COVERAGE DETERMINATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

• 07/14/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

• 06/29/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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 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 SOM