14th Jan 2006, 12:30
You get what you pay for, huh? Look at the reviews for the Mercedes M-Class. They're not all very positive. As a matter of fact, it looks like the European brands are lagging behind the US makes. Before making ignorant comments about a particular make or it's national origin, at least sit in one or take it for a test drive. You can't rely on a dust-covered issue of Car and Driver from 1992. Get into the modern world.
30th Mar 2006, 15:18
Actually, Check engine lights coming on for reasons of misplaced gas caps or the gas cap being dirty are very common in all makes. I work at a dealer my self and one of the most common reasons behind check engine lights are gas caps and O2 sensors. Just for your own knowledge.
23rd Apr 2006, 01:08
Had a check engine light come on and it was right after I filled up with gas that morning. I did not have any previous work done on my car.. tightened cap and no more light issue.
2nd May 2006, 03:33
Bought a sedan Feb 2005 - Have done 68000 kilometres to date - May 2006.
Only problem is a surging on light throttle applications.
Can't seen to kill it.
TOP CHEAP CAR.
20th Nov 2006, 14:25
I purchased a 2004 Kia Rio three days ago. It is a an automatic 4 door sedan, and had 9500 miles on it when I drove it off the lot. Only 5 hours after I purchased the car, the check engine light came on, and the car sputtered and died. The dealership has been great- they towed the car back to do repairs and provided me with a rental- however, they cannot seem to find the problem. They replaced the Oxygen flow sensor, but the problem persists. They are running more tests and assure me that all will be well, but it worries me to hear that this has happened to someone else and may be a recurring issue.
9th Apr 2007, 13:30
I bought my 2004 KIA Rio from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in November 2005. For the first year, I had no problems with the car, but in January of 2007, I was driving down I-20 in Columbia, SC, when my timing chain apparently jumped. I was traveling at 65 mph on the Interstate and had to maneuver over two lanes of traffic to get the car off the highway. It simply stopped on its own.
I eventually got the car towed back to my house until I could get it looked at. My first stop was Pep Boys. They thought it might be my battery and starter, but when I explained to them that the car began slowing down on the Interstate and the engine shut completely off, they called the KIA Dealership, who in turn said that my engine would have to be replaced because the timing belt jumped or popped.
To make a long story short, I finally took my car to the dealership on 3/23/07, and they built me a new engine. Once they put the new engine in on 4/4/07, I still had problems. I picked the car up on 4/6/07 and test drove it on 4/7/07 for about two miles, but the check engine light came on and would not go off. I learned that the dealership only replaced my oil when they put the new engine in. They did not replace the thermostat, gasket, coolant or water pump. I took the car back on 4/9/07 and they put on a thermostat and gasket and put coolant in and flushed the system. I was called by the dealer and told that the car was running fine, but I will be the judge of that when I pick up the car after work today (4/9/07). There should be a recall on KIAs since so many buyers are having the very same problem with the timing chains jumping/popping early and the check engine light coming on.
16th May 2007, 00:55
I just bought a 2004 KIA Rio (25000 miles) about a week ago and the day we drove it off the lot we started having problems. Yet during the test drive there were no problems to speak of. While driving, the lights on the dash would dim. The radio would turn off and the check engine light would come on. Finally it died while we were driving back to the dealer to report the problem. We assumed it was the battery. Though after replacing the battery that was found to not be the problem by the dealer. They sent the car to KIA to have them fix it and gave us a temporary replacement.
At this point I am hoping we will be able to get a different vehicle. A car having these kind of problems this early on is a very bad sign. It does have a good warranty, but what good is that if you are without a car half the time due to it being in the shop.
28th Mar 2008, 00:42
If your lights start dimming and stereo shuts off, it is an alternator problem 9/10 times. Aftermarket alternator would fix that, provided they are made for Kia's.
6th Jun 2008, 20:51
Have had an 03 Optima, 03 Rio, 07 Rio, and 08 Sorento, and have not had a problem with any of them.
15th Oct 2008, 09:49
"13th Jan 2006, 03:29.
Why would you EVER buy a korean car if you are looking for reliability? that's my question."
I own a Hyundai Elantra 2002, Hyundai = Korean.
Guess what, it is as reliable as a Honda...
My ownership is now 4 years, from 75 000km to now 150 000km and I have had NO Problems.
(Well, I have some repairs to do such as hand break cables, rear shocks are dead, I did some bearings... but it's normal with that mileage... specially with 17" Wheels on low profile tires in Montreal Streets...)
My fuel consumption is 550km on a full tank of 45 liters.
It's better now then it was when I originally bought it somehow.
My check engine light has been on for the last 40 000km And I don't care... If the car runs normally... Ignore the stupid light... it's just an excuse to give money to crappy dealerships.
Advice on Korean cars... Bring them to your local garages... It seems Hyundai and Kia Dealerships have terrible mechanics.
Again, Hyundai is reliable... Kia, same engines unfortunately for me... does NOT have the same built quality. (they spend all their money on great commercials during hockey games)
11th Feb 2009, 15:29
So I have a 2004 Kia Rio with about 92000+ miles. A few months ago it started idling rough but no other issues, there wasn't even a check engine light. We took it to Auto Zone anyway to get the OBD checked and the code for the Mass Airflow sensor came up... So we had that replaced to no avail. It got a little better as we put gas cleaner in it but still a little rough. Over the past couple weeks it has gotten horrible. If I push the accelerator from zero or while I am moving, it bogs down. If I run the A/C while in idle, the car completely bogs out and turns off. Has anyone had this problem and gotten it fixed or have any idea what it could be?
13th Jan 2006, 23:36
You get what you pay for. I'm pretty sure the quality has improved, as far as the 06's go, but other than that, its just cheap transportation.