2002 Kia Rio 1.5

Summary:

KIA is making a new name for themselves with great cars like this one

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

I got this car for a graduation gift. I never thought it would amount to a great car. I was just a little something to get me to and from college. However, I was wrong. This car has surpassed my expectations immensely. The 2002 KIA Rio really is an excellent buy. It is not a luxury car, but that is not it's intent. For a low price, you get a very reliable car that runs far better than many others I have ridden in. The only small negative that I see about the car is its slower pick-up (which has been corrected in the later models by adding more to the engine). All other aspects of the car seem to outweigh that. It can go very fast without any trouble, it rides smoothly. Overall, a great car. KIA is on the rise.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th June, 2003

2002 Kia Rio cinco 1.5

Summary:

A bargain vehicle you get what you pay for

Faults:

No problems to date. Has been a great and affordable car.

General Comments:

Kia's are an affordable vehicle. They are a great price and have an excellent warranty (if your dealer doesn't try to jerk you around). They can't put a warranty like that on a peice of crap they would go bankrupt.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th May, 2003

21st May 2003, 02:37

These things are a piece of crap!!! you still have low mileage just wait you are almost at the breaking point and you will change your mind, believe me I know my Rio is sitting @ kia right now waiting on its second auto transmission to be installed!!!

16th Oct 2005, 22:02

I have a Rio cinco that just hit 60,000 miles and have had no problems with it! Just replaced the tires at 55,000 and other than that haven't had any problems with it so far. I would definitely buy another Kia of any sort.

2002 Kia Rio Cinco

Summary:

Definitely not for people who like driving fast

Faults:

So far, nothing has gone wrong with it. It starts to shake slightly around 70 mph, but it gets up to 80 and 85 mph without shaking even more. It's 98 horsepower, so that's understandable.

General Comments:

Basically, the Kia dealer didn't know much about the car. The salesman claimed it was under original factory warranty, but the lady who explained the contract said it wasn't. She didn't explain the contract very well. Also, the salesman lied to us saying he reduced the price of the car, but all he did was take off some "life insurance" that was thrown in the price of the car. If/when this car breaks down and there's no warranty as promised, there's going to be heck to pay. It has nice headroom, and is a nice little family car for my wife, but overall, the service of the dealership was unacceptable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 22nd April, 2003

22nd Apr 2003, 21:41

I would have kept the Geo Metro you had before they are much better cars than that Kia's, I'm sure you could have found a 2001 Metro with low miles for a great deal and that would have lasted many years you wouldn't even have needed a warranty.

24th Jan 2004, 17:38

Um...if you bought the vehicle used then it is no longer under warranty. The original owner can only use the warranty. If the car is sold then the 100,000 miles 10 year warranty is terminated. You may want to have a little sit-down with the dealer…good luck.

2002 Kia Rio 1.5

Summary:

A piece of crap

Faults:

Transmission replaced

Clutch replaced

Timing belt replaced

CV joint replaced

Motor mounts replaced

Rubber gutter on roof replaced 3 times

Rides extremely shakey and Kia doesn't know why.

General Comments:

Whatever you do, don't buy a KIA Rio.

My check engine light came on a month after I bought it. They said it was because of something with my gas cap.

Then a couple months later, my car started shifting bad, and I'd heard a grinding sound. The transmission and clutch had to be replaced.

A while later, my engine started sounding like a fan was loose or something. It wound up being the timing belt, and I was hearing a popping, so they also had to replace a CV joint.

Recently I just had to get all three of my motor mounts changed. The car still shakes though. It shakes pretty bad from 55-65 mph, and they say there's nothing wrong.

My brakes suck too. They always did feel soft, and now are really shaky too.

I'm trying to get KIA to buy back the car, but New Mexico's lemon law is not tough enough.

Can anyone help me? I think it's time for a class action suit against Kia for making garbage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 11th February, 2003

13th Feb 2003, 10:21

Does car have leather bra? It will cause vibration that worsens the faster you go, because front of car is flimsy. If it has one take it off.

1st Jul 2003, 18:53

I also have a 2002 kia rio I am trying to get lemon law right now cause my car is having the same problems. I actually wrecked a week ago because the brakes fail too. My check engine light came on too and they also told me it was because of my gas cap. Kia cars are dirt.

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