2003 Kia Rio Base review from North America

Check engine light came on one week after owning car.

Clutch went out after persistent problems at 20,000 miles (manufacturer would not fix the clutch).

Now the brake light stays on when it is cold outside.

The interior of the car has worn badly. The side of the seat has formed a hole that appears as though it has been ripped.

Overall the car is a good little car. The little problems are what have made me mad.

I was not happy when I had to take my car to get the clutch adjusted at 8,000 miles and then again at 14,000 miles. It made me mad when I took it in again at 20,000 miles and they said the clutch was burned out. I thought because it was a persistent problem they would fix the clutch at no cost to me, but it is considered a ware item and it was only covered for one year and 12,000 miles. So I had to pay to get the clutch fixed which cost me over $800.

The seats of the car are very uncomfortable and it makes me mad that the interior appears to be wearing faster than I would like. I take pride in my car and I wanted it to stay nice for a long time, now it looks nice on the outside, but like trash on the inside.

I have decided to sell the car and upgrade to a Jetta I hope my new car will last longer, the resale value of the Rio also sucks, and my car is worth only $4,500. I would recommend paying a few more dollars for a car that works and has a higher resale value.