22nd Jul 2006, 16:37
100-150,000 miles before you change your timing belt?! Who are you kidding? You should change your timing belt every 50-60,000 miles on ANY car. Kia are right in refusing to honour your warranty as you have obviously not been maintaining your car properly.
6th Nov 2006, 09:23
I have a 2002 Kia Rio Cinco and have never had any problems with it ever. In fact, it is the most reliable car I have ever owned! I've already put over 100,000 miles on it and it just keeps on going. Very safe and reliable car!!!
12th Jan 2007, 18:53
My 202 Rio also just destroyed its engine, and I did all the proper maintenance, so don't be too hard on this guy, please. He was mistaken saying the timing belt gets changed every 100-150,000miles... more like KMS (as in my case). Kia even OK's the timing belt at the 80,000KM mark, and it snapped at 101,000KMS...right after the guarantee was up, surprise surprise!
My Kia's radio was also defective and replaced with the same defective model (Kia even told me that it was a defective model, but since they got a deal on them for my model Rio, they couldn't change brands or models...thanks!)
Also, alternator went after 2 years, which is a little off, had the same stalling effect everyone else seems to talk about, mags desintegrated (so they repainted them... cheap mags, so they're painted instead of the metal through and through), they delivered my car without the rain flow rubber in the trenches on the roof, my tire iron broke (yes, the metal actually broke) when trying to change a tire, engine light constantly on, and had to have the brakes "shaved down" because they were making too much noise (dealer said they have TOO MUCH metal in them!?)
... I feel you pain with Kia's... never again!
14th Jan 2007, 07:37
I had my timing belt break at 45k. On the freeway I might add. When I called kia they said that they would replace the timing belt... what good does that do with a blown engine!?! They did end up replacing the engine for me, but it was not without a fight. Not to mention that I knew someone that worked there. I have had so many problems with this car other than this its not even funny!
15th Jan 2007, 01:05
I agree that the Rio is rubbish, but you can't blame Kia for a timing belt breakage at 80.000 when they explicitly specify change every 60.000. Most manufacturers specify 60.000, some even at 40.000 (at least in the nineties). It's only on newer Honda and Toyota models that these belts lasts 100.000. There's even a new generation of belts lasting 150000 miles, but this is new technology that you probably won't be seeing on a Kia for a decade or two. So in the meantime, change those belts at specified intervals.
15th Jan 2007, 11:12
Nissan offers timing chain with life time warranty instead of timing belt, no maintenance needed! In addition to that 105'000 miles first engine tune up!!! Absolutely Maintenance free vehicle!!!
15th Jan 2007, 11:14
Just to inform the last reviewer is Chrysler warranty the timing belts for 105k miles. And I'm talking about '95 models and over. Please read the owner manuals for these cars. And also to put some weight on, I replaced to my '99 Intrepid the timing belt at 167k kilometers and at least at the first look, the old belt had no damage at all. Of course that I performed this maintenance issue just to respect the manual. So please, stop worship the japanese expensive crap...
11th Apr 2007, 09:04
I own a 2005 Rio Cinco and it is a very reliable car. I follow the maintenance schedule closely and my dealer reminds me of those maintenance intervals not on the "maintenance card" they provide, like the timing belt and transmission flush. I waited until 72,000 to change the belt. I think any car is only as good as you take care of it. I put Slick 50 in at 30k and 60k...I know it helps as I feel the engine run smoother after putting it in. I live in LA and still haven't had to change the brakes!...I knew a guy with a brand new Mercedes that ran it for 2 years w/o any maintenance and it died on him on the road. I did smile as I passed him by in my Rio Cinco... (the tow truck was there already)...So to the upset guy,"fix the problem not the blame",and the problem is you not caring about your car enough.
14th Jul 2006, 14:07
Upon first reading, I knew the timing belt had to have been changed, but was amazed that you had not (this from a 63-year-old woman). Of course, you have to keep up with manufacturer's recommendations about such things. It is your fault if you do not maintain a vehicle. Sorry.