2002 Kia Rio Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2002 KIA RIO WITH APPROX. 51,000 MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN AND WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE OIL SYSTEM. I PROVIDED KIA WITH ALL THE OIL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS EVERY 3000 MILES. KIA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE OIL WAS NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE FAKE. BASICALLY, THEY SAY THAT I AND A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (OWNER OF A AUTO AND TOWING SHOP) ARE LIARS. KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION (OIL AND RECEIPTS WERE MAINTAINED PROPERLY). IT HAS BEEN 1 MONTH AGO, I HAVE NO CAR AND SERIOUSLY AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND KIA WILL NOT RECONSIDER ANY INFORMATION I PROVIDE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK

THE KIA RIO WAS STOPPED BEHIND A MINIVAN WHEN IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER MINIVAN TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH BEFORE BRAKING. THE KIA RIO WAS PUSHED INTO THE MINIVAN IN FRONT. THE RIO WAS NOT SEVERELY DAMAGED, HOWEVER, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE WAS TO THE REAR TRUNK LID AND THE FRONT RIGHT RAIL WAS SLIGHTLY . COMPROMISED. NO LIGHTS WERE BROKEN, NOR WAS THE BUMPER EVEN CRACKED. BOTH THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE BODY SHOP WERE SURPRISED THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF BASED ON THE DAMAGE (OR OVERALL LACK THEREOF) TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE OTHER PIECES OF AND INSIDE OF THE DASH AS WELL, CAUSING OVER 2/3 OF THE COST OF REPAIR (TOTAL COST WAS AROUND $7000). PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE.*AK

PURCHASED A 2002 KIA RIO CINCO ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. AFTER THREE WEEKS IT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MAROONE KIA PELPACED A NUMBER OF THE BRAKE COMPONENTS ADFTER DECIDING THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKING UP. THE DAY AFTER GETTING IT BACK THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAY THAT IT MUST BE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SINCE IT IDS INTERMITTEN THEY CANNOT FIX IT. THEIR ADVICE WAS TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT "TEARS UP" AND THEN THEY CAN FIX IT. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW USES THE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT HER 3 MONTH OLD CHILD AND TO GET TO WORK. THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO 25 MILES AN HOUR, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER STOPPING IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

OVER THE LAST MONTH MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT OVER TEN TIMES, USUALLY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT NEEDS TO BE ON; ONCE IT STALLED AND THE LIGHT CAME ON, I IMMEDIATELY DROVE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS SAID IT WAS NOT ON WHEN THEY RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO RUNS ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AND WORRY ABOUT WHERE AND WHEN IT MAY STALL OUT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND RESPECTFUL BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME SO BAD I MAY NEED TO FILE LEMON LAW PAPERS. *JB

VEHICLE REPEATED STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE DRIVING, TOOK IT TO DEALER THE REPLACED HARNESS. DURING A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ONCE AGAIN CAR SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD HAD THE CAR TOWED SPENT 24 HRS WITH DEALER, DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TEST RUN AND CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR. TOOK THE CAR HOME TODAY, DEC 1, CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN AND WILL NOT START. CAR RUNS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHUT OFF

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BEARINGS, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINED UNDETERMINED. OWNER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THE FRONT BEARINGS WERE FAULTY, AND THEY WERE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THEY REPLACED THE FRONT RIGHT BEARINGS WHICH WERE REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BUZZING SOUND FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AFTER THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SHE FOUND THE RIGHT TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE RESTED ON THE TIRE WHICH WAS 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SEEPING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY HOME AND HEARD A LOUD POP AS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AT SPEEDS OF 25 OR GREATER. *TC THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED.

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE GAS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE SMELL WAS HYDROGEN SULFIDE (KIA RECALL SC034). *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED DRIVER'S SEAT PROBLEMS , ENGINE PROBLEMS, THE ALLOY WHEELS RUSTED AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES PROBLEMS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED CORRECT THE VEHICLE AND COME BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY , THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE BARRIER THE DRIVER MADE A HARD TURN AND OVER CORRECTED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE EDGE OF THE BLACK TOP INTO THE BOTTOM OF A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ROOF CAVED IN ABOUT A FOOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS LEFT LEG, NECK PAIN AND SLIGHT BLURRED VISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED EVERY TIME IT WAS FILL UP . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE SEAT BELTS WHICH WERE VERY LONG AND WILL NOT ADJUST. THE DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB.......*AK

BRAKE PROBLEMS, COMMENTS FROM ODI WEB USER. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL SERVICE TWICE. BESIDES THE RECALLS ( # 04V179000). THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR THREE TIMESFOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING GASKETS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON, AND AIR FLOW METER SENSOR DAMAGED. *TC

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V179000 CONCERNING FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THIS RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT PURCHASE VEHICLE FROM THEM. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATED AFTER DRIVING 45 MPH OR MORE. THE FASTER VEHICLE WAS GOING THE MORE IT VIBRATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO HAD THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ABS BRAKES, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHAKE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO CINCO. ON JULY 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE SUSTAINED PERMANENT INJURIES TO HER OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA FROM SNAPPING HER HEAD FORWARD. A SPEC SCAN SHOWED THAT SHE RECEIVED SOME BRAIN DAMAGE, LOWER BACK HERNIATION, A TEAR IN THE ROTATOR CUP, PAIN IN HER RIGHT LEG, AND NEUTRAL HERNIA IN HER CHEST WHERE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR, THE COMPRESSOR, THE HOOD, AND THE FRONT AXLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/24/07.8JB

VEHICLES STALLS AFTER MOVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAR HAS BEEN OWNED FOR A YEAR AND HAS BEEN SERVICED TOO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE RECALL AS IF IT WERE NEVER FIXED. DEALER WANTS TO EXCHANGE THE CAR AT MY EXPENSE FOR THE PROBLEM. HOW IS THIS FAIR???? THEN THE CAR WILL BE PUT BACK ON THE MARKET FOR SOME OTHER SUCKER TO PURCHASE. SOME THING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND FOR THE BEST INTEREST IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR SOMEONE DOESN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR-ENDS THE VEHICLE.......WHOSE FAULT WOULD IT BE?????*AK *TR

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE IN. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PART WAS NOT IN AFTER THEY SET UP THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTUER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION AND FUEL ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. CONSUMER IS AWAITING CONTACT FROM THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DEFECTS CORRECTED. *JB AS OF 7/14/04 THE CONSUMER STILL HASN'T RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE DEALER ABOUT PARTS AVAILABILITY. *NM

DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO GIVE CONSUMER AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 REPAIRS PERFORMED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO LEAVE VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR A MINIMUM OF 3 DAYS.*AK *LA

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. REPLACED THENTWICE, BUT EACH TIME THEY CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME. SHE JUST HAD ONE OF THEM REPLACED ON 6/5/04, AND WHEN HER HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE HER CHILD IN THE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP. SHE STATES THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN ONE OTHER PROBLEM LIKE THIS. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *AK

VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVEN, THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE RIM WAS BENT. *AK THE FRONT END SHIMMIED AT 55 MPH. *SC *JB

RECALL NO.#04V179000, FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE DELIVERY: WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. AFTER CROSSING THE INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER LEFT THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK AREA WAS ACTUALLY ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISN'T GOING TO ISSUE THE RECALL NOTICE UNTIL JUNE OF 2004. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION KIA RIO CINCO BACK TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE ITS PURCHASE (07/02) FOR THE SAME REASON. THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR DOES NOT SEEM STRONG ENOUGH TO WORK. I DRIVE APROX 60 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK, AND RARELY USE THE CLUTCH. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS ALL MY LIFE, AND MY OCCUPATION IS A TRUCK DRIVER. THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN COMPLETLY REPLACED 2 TIMES (APROX. EVERY 30,000 MILES) AND THE DEALER HAS ACTUALLY TOLD ME ITS NORMAL FOR THE CLUTCH TO SLIP. THE CAR NOW HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT (PAST THE 60,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY) AND THE CLUTCH HAS STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. THE CLUTCH SLIPS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE WHEN IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY INGAGED, AT FIRST IT IS NOTICEABLE IN 5TH GEAR, THEN THE CLUTCH GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.*AK

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED ON A WET SURFACE. DEALERSHIP DEGLAZED AND LINED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM SINCE IT DIDN'T RAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE LINED. THIS VEHICLE WAS A PROGRAMMED VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *AK

CAR LOSES POWER. BELT CONTINUOUSLY BURNS AND SNAPS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENGINE, ALTERNATOR, TWO TRANSMITTIONS, 10 BELTS AND NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEMS. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK ON FRIDAY, TUESDAY OT BROKE AND IS NOW SITTING WORTHLESS IN MY YARD. I STILL HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF PAYMENT ON IT. AM NOW GOING THROUGH LEMON LAW PROCESS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK VEHICLE KEPT ON OVER HEATING. IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLING FAN ON ENGUAGING CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. TRANSMISSION JERKED AT TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. *LA

VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER REPLACED A MODULE. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. AIR CONDITIONER EXHIBIT BAD SMELL. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A REAR ENF COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *MR

I PURCHASED MY KIA 02 IN 8/02, I HAD IT LESS THAN 5 MONTHS AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN 1/03. IN 11/03 THE FIRST GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. MY KIA NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO AND WAS AGAIN REPAIRED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION, SO I WAS TOLD. IT TOOK TWO AND A HALF WEEKS FOR MY CAR TO BE REPAIRED. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE PAPER WORK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP THEN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE MAILED TO ME. FEW WEEKS PASSED AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO GIVE PROBLEMS AGAIN, THIS TIME THE SHIFTING OF GEARS WERE COMPLETELY OFF AND MY OVER DRIVE DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP OF WHICH I DID ON 1/07/04. I LEFT TWO MESSAGES ASKING FOR THE STATUS OF MY CAR AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. AS OF TODAY I DO NOT HAVE MY CAR.*AK

I HAVE A KIA RIO WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKES ARE SHOT. THE OTHER BRAKES ARE NOT SHOT. THEY ARE LIKE BRAND NEW. IF THIS WOULD BE WEAR AND TEAR IT WOULD BE ALL AROUND. THIS IS POOR MAKE OF THIS VEHICLE AND KIA DOES NOT CARE. THE FRONT BRAKE BROKE AND DUG INTO THE ROTOR CAUSING MUCH DAMAGE. AND THE CALIBER IS ALSO SHOT. NOT A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM AND KIA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THIS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. BOY WAS I WRONG. *LA

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR STALLS RANDOMLY SINCE FIRST BOUGHT AND HAS DONE SO TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. CAR HAS STALLED ON MY DAUGHTER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH AN 18 WHEELER ON HER TAIL, SHE HAD TO SWERVE INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT WITH A 5 1/2 POT HOLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE 6 - 8 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNLESS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 3 TIMES IN 8 MONTHS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THEY ONLY REPLACE THE GAS CAP ASSEMBLY EVERY TIME AND THE CAR STILL CONTINUES TO STALL AT RANDOM. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND DAUGHTER IS DUMB BLONDE! THE CAR ALSO HESITATES WHEN DRIVING AND RUNS ROUGH LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL JUST STOP ON YOU. THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO HAVE ON THE ROADS. I AM FILING LEMON LAW PAPERS ON IT TODAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS A LOT SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISES FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HUB CAP AND THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE BODY WERE NOTICEABLY DISCOLORED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT SEEMED THAT A WHEEL BEARING WAS WEARING OUT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WASN'T DOING WARRANTY WORK AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER GO TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICE BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE BARE METAL WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS STILL AT 25% THICKNESS. AT THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST THE DEALER INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE LEFT SIDE TO WEAR SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THE RIGHT BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR THAT HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *NM

KIA RIO CINCO RANDOMLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *LA

THIS VEHICLE HAS A HAZARDOUS STALLING PROBLEM THAT SURFACED WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 49,986 AND 52,281. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED FROM INTERMITTENT TO CHRONIC. THE VEHICLE STALLS AFTER STOPPING AT STOPLIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS OR UPON RESUMING DRIVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION (STALLING HAS OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION). THE PROBLEM BECAME CHRONIC WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 73,241 AND 74,727. THIS IS WHEN THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20 MILES WITHOUT STALLING. THE PROBLEM WAS MORE PRONOUNCED IF ANY PART OF THOSE 20 MILES WAS HIGHWAY DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. THE CAR WILL USUALLY RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING. OCCASIONALLY UPON RESTARTING, IT WILL STALL AGAIN. USUALLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT WILL CONTINUE RUNNING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE STALLING PROBLEM COULD ONLY BE ADDRESSED BY THE KIA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF IT COULD BE REPEATED BY THE TECHNICIAN OR IF IT OCCURRED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR IF ERROR CODES WERE STORED. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 52,281) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE STALLING PROBLEM THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, THE ECM WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 55,966) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM ERROR CODES INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WHICH WAS THEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 64,287) WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THE RECALL THAT SUPPOSEDLY ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE THAT TIME, THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN (MILEAGE 72,416), THE ECM HAS BEEN REPLACED AGAIN (MILEAGE 73,241), AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED (MILEAGE 74,727). THE VEHICLE (MILEAGE 75,135) CONTINUES TO STALL REGULARLY. THE NEXT REPAIR RECOMMENDED BY THE KIA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MP AND TURNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION , AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AGAIN, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THEN, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY MRS. SIKAKOY'S DAUGHTER LESLIE SANCHEZ.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT OF CAR SO HAD IT LOOKED AT. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING. THIS CAUSED THE DEFROSTER IN THE CAR TO NOT WORK. BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO BE REPLACED, STARTED HEARING A STRANGE NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. CALLED TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY ABOUT THE AIR AND THE NOISE. THAT DAY, WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE, THE NOISE BEGAN TO GET WORSE. I THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND, AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS "FLOATING" ALONG THE INTERSTATE. HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND THAT IT DAMAGED SOME THINGS UNDER THE CAR.

UPON COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND ENGAGING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DEALER CLAIMED THAT MASTER CYLINDER WORE OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES EARLIER. *AK

FAXED FOIA REQUEST A COPY OF THE ENTIRE FILE FROM THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED DEFECT RE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF THE 2002 KIA RIO, ATTY REPRESENT DRIVER OF A 2002 KIA RIO INJURIED WHEN HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK *TS

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

ASPERGILLUS FUNGI PRESENT IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE'S STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION SHUTS OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS IN FIRST AND THIRD GEAR. *AK VEHICLES ALSO DIES WHEN IN NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLES DIES OR LOSES POWER, CONSUMER LOSES POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. *LA

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BRAKES GAVE OUT, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT COLLISION WHILE DRIVING. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *SCC *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO 2002 KIA RIOS, THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES, DIED. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 14 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING . THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WILL WORK FOR AWHILE, NO SPECIFIC TIME, AND THEN DIE AGAIN. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DROVE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.*AK THE VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE. THE LIFTGATE LATCH WAS REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *CB *NLM