2003 Kia Rio RX-V from North America - Comments

Get a used (of course) Geo or chevy Prizm. Even at 10 years old it is twice the car. I have a '97. It is flawless for a commuter. 36 miles per gallon. It's a rebadged corrolla.

I purchased my 2004 Kia Rio in August 2006, from a small used car dealership in Fresno, which due to our distressed economy, has gone out of business.

The car had 53,000 miles, a mediocre stereo and the speakers vibrated - other than that I couldn't complain, yet.

In 2008 when I turned on the A/C, I had problems with acceleration that would last about 2 days, then everything back to "normal". Three different mechanics couldn't fix the problem, finally it just went away.

My windows get foggy (inside) in damp weather and my windshield wipers click annoyingly when I have them set to intermittent.

The first week of August, 2009 my timing belt broke. I need a 1.6 liter, 16 valve dual overhead cam and I haven't had any luck. I can't afford $1,500.00. Why are these so pricey?

If I had the opportunity to purchase a Kia again - trust and believe I wouldn't.

I have a 2003 Kia Rio RX which was bought second hand. In general not too many problems. Front brakes and back brakes within a year of other and then kaboom, it died and I've been told I need a new engine. At 115,000 the time belt has lost some teeth, bent a couple of pistons and then died. Needless to say at a cost of about $1500 for a used engine and then putting it in, as a working single parent one cannot afford to do this. Everything I have read says Kia's are famous for replacing the timing belt at 100,000 or less. This is the first I've heard.

"I have a 2003 Kia Rio RX which was bought second hand. In general not too many problems. Front brakes and back brakes within a year of other and then kaboom, it died and I've been told I need a new engine. At 115,000 the time belt has lost some teeth, bent a couple of pistons and then died. Needless to say at a cost of about $1500 for a used engine and then putting it in, as a working single parent one cannot afford to do this. Everything I have read says Kia's are famous for replacing the timing belt at 100,000 or less. This is the first I've heard."

Not uncommon, I wouldn't go more than 60,000 miles on a timing belt on ANY car. Timing belts should be replaced around there anyways. Especially if it's an interference engine.