2001 Kia Rio from North America - Comments

Oil pan gasket had a hole in it when I bought it found this out with first oil change.

I have had 7 set of spark plugs and wires.

It does not like to start when it rains.

I had the windshield wipers linkage and arms replaced.

The engine jerk between 1st and 2nd gear.

The car itself shakes horribly when you go over 50mph.

The passenger side lock doesn't work half the time and the gas gage is wrong.

This is the worst car I have ever owned. I feel bed because my parents bought one the year after I did and they have nothing, but problems with thier's also.

I can honestly say that there is not one good thing to say about this vehicle.

Why are people still buying Kia Cars? Surely there is now enough bad publicity on the internet to sway people.

When you car shaking badly bring it to Kia and tell them to do a balance. Your car shakes badly over 50 because your wheels are spinning faster and you fell more bumps, than you would at say 20mph, so yoru tires feel mroe and you will also. It is quite possible one of your wheel weights fell off ans that would be causing this problem. I would bring it to Kia sooner rather than later because this could cause premature tire wear.

I'm sorry to hear that you people had such bad luck with your Kia. I bought my Rio in early 2002 (it's a 2001 model, demo) and had great luck with it.

I use it daily for work service trips because it's so great on gas.

The only problems I've encountered were the drivers side door wouldn't open and had to add a spring myself and the airbag light comes on and goes off at will. Also, the top end of the fuel gauge has never worked properly since day 1. It displays 3/4 tank of gas when full, but seems to be quite accurate at the bottom end. The clock flickers during hard acceleration after start up then goes away, but there's a new clock available to cure that problem.

Other than the problems listed above (only small ones for me), I've had nothing, but great luck with my KIA (knock on wood). There's not a cold morning (I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, cold and damp climate) that it hasn't started first turn of the key, and runs fine in the dampness with the original set of plug wires.

I can't understand why you people are having such bad luck with yours and my works so damn good on a daily basis. My vehicles normally do not have an easy life, but so far I've been keeping the oil changed because my mileage racks up quickly. The car is only 2 years old and I have 121,000 Km's of trouble free driving from it so far. I'm assuming the transmission problems are for automatics only, as mine is a 5 speed.

All in all, I wouldn't think twice about buying another when this one is finally run into the ground because the problems encountered so far is only a small price to pay for the service it's given me. It's paying for itself through work mileage and makes me $ besides, still costs next to nothing for gas. The heater will blast hot air great on a cold day soon after start up and I love the trunk space.

I can honestly say, for me this is the best bang for the buck!

For a car that's not taken care of very well, it works like one that's been serviced every day!

Good luck with yours in the future.

P.S. Mine also hasn't seen the dealership since I drove it off the lot...

In your case you have a good car one in how many. I have a Sedona and Rio. The rio was in the shop for stalling and rough idle. They claimed that the car was operating as designed HA. Needless to say a recall came 10 months later for this problem. I don't have this car anymore and my lawyer said I can't tell you why, but lets just say it's not a car anymore. For my Sedona it's a lemon and Kia is geting that one back. I feel that Kia likes to cover everthing up and makes you belive that your crazy. (they have an excuse for everything) Well for Kia you can keep them. Just remember that the way it should be is that most cars work and now and then you have a lemon. In the case of Kia to me it's the other way around. BUYER BEWARE.

I have 30K miles on my 02 Cinco, and I really like this car. No real complaints. Yes, it is noisy at freeway speeds (thank you rubberized pavement), and yes, it doesn't get the mileage of a Honda, and yes, it has anemic power (1.5L with an automatic), but it shifts smoothly, still gets 33 to 36 mpg, keeps up with freeway traffic, even with the AC on, has a very comfortable driver's seat with a well placed arm rest, and is just fun to drive. And it cost very little! The hatch is very convenient and 8 foot pieces of lumber fit inside with the hatch closed (no 4X8 sheets of plywood, please). If you don't want jack-rabbit -start capability, (and you don't need it if you learned to drive with a 67 Bug, or know how to drive, period), I would rather drive this than our 02 Golf and rather own it than my 01 Corolla.

I love my RIO, I have over 121,000 miles on it and up till now have, but on 2 set of tires a new battery last year, 2 sets of spark plus and I set of wires, a speed sensor which was $90.00 and cleaned the radiator and of course the regular oil changes. I love it! The first 6 months were rough, the check engine light kept coming on, after a trip tp the dealer every other week I got really ticked off, when they finally figured out that it was the tranny and they replaced it, I haven't had a complaint since then. Best car I have ever had and I'd buy one again in a heart beat. Mine was the showroom model too, I bought it in Dec. 2001.

I bought my 2001 RIO with 32 km on it and over the past five years have had very few minor problems. However, about two weeks ago the timing belt went on it and totally destroyed the engine. I had the first timing belt replaced at around 100 k and at 160 the new belt went. They tell me that there is nothing that I can do. I have a 5 year old car that is worthless and a company that refuses to help me. Never again!!!

I bought my 2002 kia rio 2nd hand 2yrs ago and it hasn't missed a beat and I am a 22yr old male (need I say more) I feel sorry for all these people that have such problems with their rios, but for now its the best car I have had to date. I service it every 5000km which is normal and I can see it going for years and years thankyou kia for giving me a cheap car to run at a very affordable price.

I bought my Rio and I had some Issues and problem not even dealer know the solution. Buying A Kia is a big mistake I should of buy used Japanese car.

Man! Any car named Kia Rio deserved to vanish from this planet. This car is a piece of crap, this car can't even beat an old grandma in a race even if its life depended on it.

For no reason the locks on the passenger and the rear passenger broke, and now my friends have to enter from my driver side.

And when I try to go to the dealer shop and claim the flaws of this car, they give me the go around and charge me insane prices.

It is a true fact that the Kia organization does not care for their customers, but care more for the customer's money.. I would rather walk or take the bus than pay for little things that drain my money.. And deal with this piece of crap.