2001 Kia Rio from North America - Comments

The day I drove it off the lot, looked to my right and found the adjuster for the side mirror broken.

Within months I had warning lights flashing, I brought it right in and was told it was a sensor chip.

A few months later I was in a parking lot and simply could not shift the car out of Park.

A couple of weeks after that, I had backed the car out of my drive-way and could not shift out of reverse.

Check air-bag light comes on for the first time shortly after 1yr of purchase. This will happen no less than half a dozen times over the next 2 years.

Year 2, shifter sticking again.

I notice a whistle from the windshield at highway speeds.

More warning lights flashing on and off -- especially if it rains.

Year 3, car difficult to start in rain or extreme cold.

Driving on highway is deafening -- car shakes and is so loud I can't hear the radio.

Alternator goes, needs replacing, and battery too.

More warning lights, check-airbag and the O/D off light flashes constantly, I'm told this is the shifter again. It's completely replaced this time, but the problem happens again less than two months later.

Almost without fail I am at the dealership every 3 months -- and not just for an oil change. All work so far has been covered under warranty, but the warranty does not cover my time or frustration.

This is without a doubt THE worst car I have ever driven -- and it's not that cheap either -- apparently a single woman doesn't get the advertised deals at a KIA dealership.

I'm sick of the KIA service folks telling me how much everybody else loves their Rio.

I also have a 2001 Rio and almost everything described has happened or is happening to mine. P.S. I do NOT love MY Rio. Mike S. from MD.

Everything you list above has happened to my Kia Rio, along with the transition going twice on the car and being replaced. I have to also mention that all though most things have been covered in the warranty, it never seems to fail that it costs me an additional approximately $800 on top each time I am there. I also have had to have my brakes fixed twice and this is not a cheap job with kia since you do not have a warning strip on the pads and it ends up being a complete brake job whenever you go. This car has cost me more money to own and run; I owe more on the car than it is worth. I beg anyone reading this posting who is thinking of purchasing a Rio DON'T. The upfront cost of purchasing it is cheaper then average, but it will cost you more money to keep it on the road. I have owned my car now since 2001 and on top of the warranty work completed on the car, I have dished out an additional 3K in expenses for problems not covered in the warranty.

My kia dealer service department has most recently as today informed me when I called about my transmission going again that the Rio is the most dependable car that Kia makes. I say to you what I expressed to the service manager: "That is a very sad statement since this hunk of metal is a piece of sh*t"

Too bad my 2004 Rio is a perfect car. Good gas mileage, cold A/C, easy to park, and a quality look. What else could I ask for.

I don't know where you brought your 2004 Rio from. Mine has got a cracked block and the whole engine needs replacing - of course this is 6 months after the warranty has run out! What a piece of crap.

I am new to owning the Rio. I have had it less than 2 years and now the thing won't start on occasion. I have been told by my wonderful service department that there is nothing wrong with the alternator or the battery and that they 'can't duplicate the problem'. So I am stuck. I guess I will just have to have it happen again, not jump it and have the service come and haul my ass into the shop before they can 'see' the problem. Argh. I wonder... they have had it less than one day and claim there is nothing wrong with the alternator... which is less than the amount of time it would take to remove the engine and look at the alternator...hmm..

We own a 2001 KIA Rio (purchased new).

Almost 65,000 miles later, we have had very few problems. A few batteries, belts (replaced by choice), starter, alternator, two sets of tires, all to be expected as normal wear and tear.

Engine Tune-up (spark plugs, ignition wires and set timing). Also at 60,000 miles the timing belt was replaced according to the recommended service items.

The following were repairs covered by the warranty:

Transmission leak, which required a gasket and fluid replacement.

Bad vibration - 3 of 4 motor mounts cracked and were replaced.

No issues other than door locks sticking - oil has seemed to solve that (so far).

Would not hesitate to recommend a KIA - we are happy :)

We will consider purchasing another KIA!

Good Luck!

I have had my 06 Rio for 2 years now. Bought it brand new and have had 0 problems with it. I get almost 43 mpg highway and 35 city. I will recommend Kia to anyone who asks.