2001 Kia Rio review from North America

The first problem was within the first year. The car made a squealing noise when driving over 60 mph. I thought it was the wheels or something like that. I did not take it to the dealer because I did not have the time, being a full-time student I needed the car to get to school and work 30 minutes from each other. After about 6 months my mom was riding in the car with me and figured out that the problem was the passenger side window dropping a small amount, now I roll up the window when ever I hear this squealing start.

After my first brake change my car made a horrible sound when I stopped. Since the stopping was not effected I did not take it back, but when it was I did, but I did not have the receipt anymore (where it went, I do not know). They said the brakes needed to be changed, but they just had 3000 miles before. So I had them changed. The problem went away. At 60,000 I did my own brakes. (Well my dad did them and I learned). Problem has not come back.

The new problem and the most stressful one to date is the starting, or lack there of. It starts about half the time. This started just before Christmas, and it is now the middle of February. The car has been to the dealer three times for a total of over 2 weeks. They keep telling me it is fixed, but then when I drive it for a few day (sometimes less) it will not start again. They give me a hard time and act like "I'm making it up", they say it has started every time, but once when I dropped it off the second time. Now there is a new service person who is much better. She got me a loner car (after they had had it for 2 weeks) because they told me they would give it back and then called me an hour later to tell me it still was not working. They have no idea what the problem is. I asked the service person helping me, and she told me so.

I wish I could buy a new car, but I work full time and go to grad. school full time and do not have the time and money to do so. And the trade in is only $2000 and I still owe $6000 on it.

I do not recommend this car to anyone, please do not buy one. The dealers (I have worked with several in my problems) are difficult to work with.