2001 Kia Rio Complaint Log

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL PROBLEM RECURRING. *AK

MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE IN THE FRONT. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE DIGGING INTO THE ROTOR SO I FIGURED I NEEDED A BRAKE JOB. WHEN I REMOVED THE WHEELS I LOOKED AT MY BRAKES AND THEY WERE FINE, I THEN LOOKED AT MY WHEEL AND NOTICED A VERY LARGE CRACK ALL THEY WAY AROUND. I WENT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY INSISTED THAT WHEN I HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON THAT THEY MUST OF USED TOO MUCH FORCE AND CRACKED THE RIMS. I WENT TO THE TIRE PLACE WHERE I HAD JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED TIRES AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT PUT MY CAR UP ON THE RACKS AND CHECKED THE REST OF MY WHEELS. COME TO FIND THE OTHER THREE RIMS WERE CRACKED AS WELL. I TOOK MY CONCERNS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE AUTOMOTIVE NETWORK I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM AND HE AGREED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS WITH BRAND NEW ONES FROM KIA.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL IT LATER STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION YET NONE THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

MY DRIVERS REAR SEATBELT KEEPS COMING APART HAVE HAD IT CHANGED SIX TIMES INSIDE OSF TWO YEARS AND AM NOW FIGHTING TO GET IT WARENTED AS A SAFTEY DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE NOW REACHED 60,000 MILES. I WANT THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I AM AWARE OF THE FACT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR CHILDREN. DEALER SAYS CAR SEAT BUT I SWEAR TO ANYONE THERE IS NO CAR SEAT ON THAT SIDE OF CAR EVEN IF THERE WAS CAR SEAT BELTS ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD WITH OUT THE WEBBING FRAYING.

THE BRAKE ROTORS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JB

VEHICLE SKIDS REPEATEDLY, DURING NORMAL OPERATION. HANDLES POORLY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HEAD ON COLLISION. *NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, AND HAVE HAD IT FOR ONLY SIX MONTHS. I READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED AND FEEL A LITTLE BETTER KNOWING THAT IT ISN'T JUST MY CAR WITH THE PROBLEMS. BUT I WISH THE DEALERS WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE RIPPING US OFF BY NOT FIXING THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY RIO HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON (NOT ALL OF THE TIME) BUT WHEN IT DOES COME ON IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE THE FLASHING OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT. THIS USUALLY LASTS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. JUST WHEN I WAS GETTING USED TO THAT THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING WITH ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, IT DID NOT STALL BUT IT WOULD HAVE IF I DIDN'T PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURN THE CAR OFF. A FEW HOURS LATER I TURNED IT BACK ON AND NO PROBLEMS AGAIN UNTIL JUST LAST WEEK THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING AGAIN. LETS NOT LEAVE OUT THE MINOR PROBLEMS THOUGH. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY INTERIOR FALLING APART AND MY COVER FOR MY FUSES FALLS OFF EVERY TIME I GET IN. MY PAINT IS PEELING OFF, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY THAT DIED OUT OF NOWHERE. MY WARRANTY IS ALMOST UP AND I HAVE HAD NO HELP WITH THESE PROBLEMS THUS FAR. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB THE WIPERS STOPPED DURING A SNOW STORM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND THAT SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE WIPER MOTOR AND FORMED ICE WHICH FROZE THEM. SCC

I HAVE A 2001 KIA RIO, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AT 32000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT RIM CRACKED, AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD THE RIGHT FRONT CRACK AT 62000 MILES. KIA DID NOT CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT, SO I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW RIM FOR 98.00, AND HAVE IT MOUNTED AT ADDITIONAL COST. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, AND KIA DIRECTLY ABOUT THIS BEING A SAFETY CONCERN. KIA'S RESPONSE WAS SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD ONLY COVER MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THE 13 INCH STEEL RIM HAS NO DAMAGE WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE TEAR IN THE STEEL; CIRCUMFERENCE WITH THE LUG BOLT HOLES. *NLM

2001 KIA RIO TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES. THE COMPANY WON'T REPLACE IT UNLESS WE PAY THEM, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE STILL COVERED BY THEIR 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE WARRANTY.

2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO START WHEN IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME (12 HRS). I TOOK THE ENGINE COVER OFF AND TRIED TO START THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE STARTER. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE SPARKS COMING FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES. TOOK CAR IN TO DEALER AND ALL WAS DONE WAS CHANGED SPARK PLUG WIRE AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. DEALER JUST WANTS TO CHANGE THE WIRE AND PLUGS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55MPH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE'S BRAKE LINE AND AXLE. TS

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. SCC

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE IS AS A RESULT OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CRACKING THROUGH THE MIDDLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FALLEN APART AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP, ALSO 2ND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE VALVE HAS FAILED. DT

VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE. BELT DOES NOT STAY FASTENED AFTER BEING BUCKLED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMBINATION SWITCH. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. CONSUMER STATES' THE FIX FOR THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS INVOVLED IN AN ACCIDENT, MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS FRONT SIDE PASSENGER SIDE. IN RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MR SCC

CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FLAMES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FUEL LINE FAILURE AT THE PASSENGER SIDE FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, BUT DEALERSHIP DIDN'T OFFER ANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO FIX THE CAR. *CB *JB

CONSUMER STATED THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NLM JLG

VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATING FROM THE VEHICLE FUEL LINES. *MR AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING SMELLED HOT IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, DISCOVERED THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE THAT CONTINUED TO GROW. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY AND THE DEALER COULDN'T GET TO IT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK, AND WAS TOLD THAT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T HARM THE VEHICLE. (A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAPPENED A YEAR PRIOR TO THIS EVENT) THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE BULKHEAD AREA OF THE TWO METAL FUEL LINES THAT RAN ALONG THE BULKHEAD. *SCC *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED. THE ENGINE MOTOR WAS GONE, AS A RESULT OF THE NO ENGINE COMPRESSION.*JB

MR

CONSUMER IS REPORTING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA,WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD REPLACED THEM. NLM THE CONSUMER HAS TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN DUE TO ALL OF THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS AND IS REQUESTING HER MONEY BACK BECAUSE WHEN SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE THE DEALER, THEY DIDN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AND VERY POOR SHIFTING. THE ABS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE LEFT FRONT MIRROR IS NOT WORKING. THE SPARK PLUGS ARE FAULTY/BREAKING DOWN. THE INNER/OUTER BEARING WITH SEALS ON LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR-REPLACED, AND THE RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY-REPLACED DUE TO OVER TIGHTENING OF THE SPINDLE NUT. THERE'S A NOISE IN THE TIRE(S) THE DEALER PERFORMED A RECALL THAT REPLACED THE COOLER HOSE. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL STALL WHEN VEHICLE MANUALLY SWITCHES GEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FIFTEEN TIMES WITH NO SATISFACTION. CONSUMER CAN BE DRIVING ON ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF. SOMETIMES CAN RESTART IT, AND SOMETIMES CANNOT RESTART VEHICLE. SHE IS AFRAID IT IS GOING TO KILL HER DAUGHTER. MECHANIC INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30/35MPH AND INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH , CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND REAR ENDED A CAR, CAUSING DAMAGE. *AK

WHEN I BOUGHT THE KIA IT HAD EICLER PROB THEN ENGIEN PROB AND MORE ELIC. *AK

AT 27MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO 70MPH WITH NO DECELERATION,EVEN WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A LITTLE CRACK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT TO THE LEFT OF ROAD, CONSUMER PULLED OVER. A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAD FALLEN THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A PIECE METAL NEAR THE MOTOR. THIS CAUSED BUMPER TO CRACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOT NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY STATED THAT CHUNKS OF METAL FROM WHEEL BEARING WERE IN BRAKE DRUM. CONSUMER STATED WHEEL BEARING HAD BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE HAD MY KIA FOR 3 YEARS NOW (BOUGHT ON APRIL 24,2001), AFTER ONLY HAVING IT ONE YEAR(APRIL 25, 2002) MY TWO FRONT TIRES WERE SHREDDED ALL THE WAY TO THE METAL. THE DEALER SAID THAT MY TIRES WERE ONLY COVERED FOR A YEAR SO I HAD TO REPLACE THEM, COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE ALIGNMENT THAT SHOWED NO SIGN OF BEING OFF. RIGHT AFTER THAT THE COOLING FAN SHORTED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE AND THE CAR TO BE IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS BECAUSE KIA COULDN'T ORDER THE RIGHT PART. SOON AFTER THAT BOTH OF MY SUNVISORS BROKE TO THE POINT THEY ARE NOT USABLE. KIA TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $35 EACH TO REPLACE, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN FIXED 4 TIMES IN 3 YEARS WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE SHIFTER ( AUTOMATIC) HAS GONE OUT TWICE. ONCE RESULTING IN KIA HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SHIFTER. THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY VIBRATING, REALLY BAD WHEN A/C IS ON. THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE NOISE AND OCCASIONALLY "STICK" DEALER SAID THERE MAY BE A RECALL COMING OUT, THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO, HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. *JB

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND RECHARGED BATTERY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE, VEHICLE ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER; DEALER TIGHTENED NEGATIVE CABLE AND RECHARGED BATTERY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FRONT WHEEL RIMS HAVE CRACKED FOR THE 4TH TIME. THE RIMS MAKE A LOUD NOISE, THE VEHICLE DRIVES DIFFERENT, IN REVERSE THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND AND IT HAS PROGRESSED. THE RIM CRACKED 2 DAYS LATER AFTER BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER INDICATED GETTING A SECOND OPINION SINCE THE DEALER ISN'T CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. NLM

MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BLOWN OUT 4 TIMES...THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO AN ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE AND GOT THE FUSE REPLACED...2 HOURS LATER THEY WERE OUT AGAIN...THEN THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER TO GET A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED...TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY IGNORED MY SUGGESTION OF A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED THE FUSE ON MARCH 14...2 HOURS LATER THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN....TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER MARCH 15.....FIXED PROBLEM AGAIN THIS TIME REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH....RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME MARCH 19, BY NIGHTFALL THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN. DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM PROMPTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT I PAID CASH FOR THE CAR AND I DONT HAVE A MONTHLY PAYMENT......ANYONE CONSIDERING PURCHASING A KIA, PLEASE DON'T. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ,ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, AND 10 MINUS LATER CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES IN 6 WEEKS...TWICE RT REAR, ONCE LT REAR...BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE CAR WAS NEARLY NEW, HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED NUMEROUS TIMES

STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. THIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW VEHICLE, BUTPROBLEM STARTED AGAIN, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO HAVE TIE TIRES AND THE SUSPENSION CHECKED. *AK

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT RESTART, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER, INFORMED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED LOSS OF PRESSURE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

RENTAL VEHICLE: BUDGET CAR RENTAL, TAMPA, FLORIDA, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35 MPH, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK ADEQUATELY, THERE WERE 2 INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB *YH

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE PAD,S BUT PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS.*AK

FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE HAVING TROUBLE STARTING. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL CONTINUEOUSLY STAY ON AND VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALLING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED . VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT SIX TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK