Comments: 1-15, 16-18
What has not gone wrong with this car? Its the worst car I have ever driven in my entire life.
1. Transmission replaced after about months of driving it. My car would suddenly start to slow down as if it was dying and then it would rev up really high, then it would go "clunk" then it would be fine.
I took it to the dealership, in Mississauga, the guy told me it was just fluke that the transmission was doing that and he could not look at it until the check engine light came on. If that is not the biggest load of... I have ever heard.
2. So then my emergency brake didn't work. Like it hasn't worked since day one I guess. So I took it to the same dealership and the guy said "What do you need it for" I'm not sure if he was joking or not, but I just turned around and walked away. You have got to be kidding me.
3. New Throttle body Sensor to maybe make the car stop shaking, but it still shakes.
4. New O 2 sensor, for the egg smell. But it still makes that smell.
5. My car has locked me in so many times I can't count. So I took my car back to KIA this time in Hamilton and asked them what they would do If I were to get into an accident on the highway and my little nephew was in there and they couldn't him out because the doors locked him in. They couldn't answer that, but they ordered some part in that was suppose to fix it and make it better, but... low and behold it still locks me in from time to time.
6. The seat belts have frayed, to pieces in the back. So once again I asked KIA what they would do if I had my nephew in his car seat back there and we got into an accident that seatbelt just snapped because it was fraying to pieces. They had no response, they fixed it.
7. Lack of power when anything is turned on while the car is running. Such as, the windows going down my car makes this loud rattle noise and all the light dim, its kinda funny. Its like it can't handle the power or something.
8. I have the worst smell, like stale coming out of my A/C. SICK!
9. My Transmission is going again I think. Its very hard to get it out of first gear (its automatic). Sometimes it just keeps revving higher and higher in first gear.
10. The pain it chipping everywhere. They just blamed it on the manufacturer and sent it in to get fixed.
11. The little teeny spoiler on the trunk cracked one day in the cold. HELLO plastic on cars, stupid, when plastic gets cold it cracks...
12. Every time I put gas in the car now it stalls. That's not normal. Sometimes It won't start back up for a couple minutes, sometimes right away.
13. Oh and not good on gas at all.
You cannot tell me that I got what I paid for. This is far from what I paid for. I paid $17,00 for a brand new car, not for a lemon. I don't drive it hard or let the maintenance slip.
My 1991 Ford Taurus ran better than this. And that was a piece of junk.
I am trading it in this week for a Ford. Thank God!
I don't even get upset about this anymore, I just laugh. Because it such a piece of junk.
We had a Kia Rio and experienced identical problems with the O2 sensor, as well as the dying of engine and stalling out. We would be doing 90km and the car would start to die. Talk about dangerous. The way to temporarily correct this would be to switch off the engine and wait a couple of minutes for the computer to reset (apparently) and then no problems starting up and going! Bizarre behaviour. 'Luckily' for us we got into an accident and the car was written off. No one was hurt and our insurance rate increased, but it was worth it to get rid of the headache. After 13 visits to the garage the problem still hadn't been fixed and the accident was the only thing that 'saved' us from pouring more money into the mechanic's hands.
Dec. 31, 2004
While I have not yet reached 13 visits to the dealer, I am well on the way.
4th time since Dec. 8th, 2004. (Numerous times in the preceding, years... might just BE thirteen, or more, now that I think about it.
Problems with this Rio still not resolved.
Check engine light.
Same problem as you describe regarding sensor and bad smell.
Car had the "brain" replaced when it last did what you describe -- it is now doing similar again.
Not fun, except for the dealer and employees.
I completely agree with your comments and understand the misery that this little car can give the owner. I had the exact same problem with the egg smell! Also, whenever I went to get gas, my car would stall right there at the station. I eventually had to start leaving the car running while I pumped gas to ensure that I would be able to drive it away. I know it's dangerous to keep a car running while pumping gas, but I had no choice.
My sister devised this process of turning the car off to pump gas, but then pushing both the gas peddle and brake peddle a little bit at the same time to make the car turn back on.. I mean COME ON!!! Who should have to play tricks on your car to make it start? I bought the car brand new and it was such a nightmare. I was also "lucky" and my car was totalled in an accident. I'm going to buy a 99 Prizm with 70,000 miles on it already, and I know it will be way more reliable than my 2001 28,000 mile Kia Rio.
I have experienced these problems also. My full sympathies, except for the person that got the insurance (you lucky things). However, my 2001 Kia Rio is exhibiting new and unusual behaviour above the other rubbish. I was driving back from Sydney coming into Tamworth when the rpm started mimicking my indicator when it was on. The needle would go up to 3000 revs per minute to 0 revs per minute in time with the indicator. It eventually died just as I reached Tamworth only to have the breakdown service guy tell me there was nothing wrong with it and I should be on my merry way. Oh my goodness I get so angry with these guys, he didn't even attach anything to it. He let it sit there for no more than 3 minutes and sent me off. I miraculously got 40 minutes further when the km's started mimicking the indicator as well. Then the whole car died. I'd have to pull over and start it up. I figured out that I would have to turn all electrical stuff off in order to get further without it dying. I made it to a place called Uralla when it completely died and wouldn't go back on at all. Huge drama because they don't get mobile signal there and there's only 1 petrol station. Anyway breakdown service guy said my alternator died and I would need a new one. After days of trying to get another 4 hours home, the car eventually got towed back some bits and pieces had been replaced and it's still doing the same thing. After 4 mechanics have looked at it and said there is no problem, I feel I have only one option. SELL IT.
I thought I was the only one who had all these symptoms!
It's amazing how many problems I have had and they were all real! I thought I was going crazy!
1.Had car for about 2 weeks and every rainfall my fuses for the taillights/signals/parking lights would randomly pop and I learned the fuse locations in a hurry.
2.Driving into Hamilton one morning I could not shift out of 5th gear and limped my car about 30-35 city blocks in traffic in 5th gear. I had it towed to the local mechanic in which I was told because my tires were losing the tread I must have been "blowing doughnuts" and he will not replace my transmission under warranty. I told him that I work on Cadillac's, Land Rover's, etc and I understand that I bought a pile of junk and why beat on my car when I have access to much nicer toys that can actually "blow a doughnut". After verifying my story I was given my rental car and apologized to.
3.My check engine light came on after filling with gas and started running badly. I phoned my dealer to inquire and was told to over-tighten the gas cap and it will go away. It did.
4.Put on new tires, Brakes, tune up, and all relevant work to stop the shaking at 100kmh, but no success.
5.Drove to Alberta and held on for dear life. The wipers only had like 3 settings and the fastest one still was not good enough. Still shaking which is a fun trip! Started to notice fuel economy going down.
6.Once in Alberta the car went for another once over tune up, check this check that still no cause for the shaking or the fuel problem.
7.Tried to pay off my lease at the local dealer! My cheque for $7000 was lost twice and returned to an old address twice because there was no communication between the staff. I was told these were all my fault?
8.Finally get my credit fixed from 4 month's of missed lease payments (I was only trying to make it easier by buying it not harder). My car started to rev really low and stall out. I would try to compensate and give it more gas, but made it worse. It would then stall out while doing 80-100 when applying the gas. Nobody could tell me what the problem was.
9.Driving home one night in the snow a transport blew my car into the ditch and mt air bag did not deploy. Because I did not get the plate # The accident was my fault. Who knew that a transport can force you off the road by the air barrier he creates. Pay attention to all plate #'s.
10.Had my oil changed at local big box store and car began to run horribly. I knew I should have had my timing belt changed at 90000kms and was going to do in the next week or so.
11.On my way into work when I hear a metallic chain sound come from my motor. I start to slow down when I hear a loud noise my rpms go right up and the car slows so fast I am almost ejected through the windshield. A transport swerved around me just in time and I made the shoulder.
When I got my car towed to the dealer he said while it's still on the truck did you have your timing belt replaced. I told him no and he already knew what happened. I was told it will cost almost $3000 to get it back up and running.
In conclusion if you have a death wish, a lot of time and money to be spent at the dealer, or just no other options the Rio is my choice.
These cars should be taken off the market!!!
Oh I feel for all of us.
I currently now own a 1994 Beretta and what a dream this car is. I started this original post and I am glad that everyone has the same problems and its not in my head. We should sue them :)
Cmilwain@sympatico.ca.
I bought a new Kia Rio Cinco in August of 03 with 24 miles on it. Shortly after I bought the car the fuses in the windows started blowing completely snapping the fuse in half and shocking the driver of the car. I took the car in 5 times in the first month, and the dealership said they fixed a short in the door, but the fuses were still blowing sometimes every day. Then my locks started locking and unlocking themselves. When I told the dealership about this they told me that Kias don't just lock and unlock themselves and that my keys had to have been in the ignition. I have taken my car in at least 15 - 20 times in the last 3 years 10 with in the first year, and always with a complaint about the windows fuse blowing and receiving a shock every time I open the door. Every time I hear the same thing from the representitives " It didn't do it while we had it. I have been to every dealership in my state and have been told that top kia mechanics have been brought in because they have never heard of a car doing this. I have even called main offices after I was told that a rep that dealt with electrical problems would be out and then never showed up, and I was told that "what you want and what you get are 2 different things." WHAT!!! My car is still blowing fuses and my car doors lock every time I shut my passenger door and just when it wants to and sometimes will lock and unlock itself constantly over and over again trapping my children and I in the car. The only other remedy that the dealership has had since the first week of buying this car has been to trade it in. IN THE FIRST WEEK!!! the car depreciated $5000 in the first week.
I bought an 04 Rio Cinco on Aug of 04. 5 months after I bought it, dealers all over Texas were selling my car for half of what I paid to unload their 04 stock. When a manufacturer can afford to discount their unsold inventories by 50% at year end, that should be a big red flag to everyone! The car ran well for the first 20,000 then it started dying at stoplights. Seems to be especially sensitive to hot days which here in Texas often get well over 100. I had 3 dealers looks at it, including the one that sold it to me. The original dealer wanted to replace the injectors (at my expense!) The other 2 couldn't find the problem because the check engine light wasn't on. None of them would test drive the car long enough to have the problem appear for them. Takes about 45 minutes. One dealer told me that I voided the warranty by doing my own oil changes! So Kia wasn't gonna fix this regardless of the problem. The car then began to die while driving down the road. I took it to a mechanic who used to work for a Kia dealer and he told me the entire electrical system on these cars is junk. Cheap components and just plain bad engineering. How did I think they could afford to sell a car so cheap? He told me I could change the components myself, but be prepared to break things like plugs and wires as I work because they aren't very well made. He was right. I broke two plugs and a wire literally fell out of another as I was replacing the throttle position sensor. Even the battery went bad after less than 2 years. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of aftermarket parts for Kias for I have to replace with factory parts. This car is junk! Right up there with early Hundai Excels. I just wish someone would do me a favor and total it.
I understand COMPLETELY!!!
My girlfriend's 2001 Kia Rio spends more time in the garage then in MY garage. We have had all of the problem above. With the power dying off when opening or closing the windows and so forth. The biggest probleme right now is the first gear revVVvvVvving all the way up, it's scary. And then sometimes it won't go past 20 clicks... talk about a death wish. Good luck to all!!! If anyone has any ideas or any questions... e-mail us @ sir_tchez@hotmail.com.
Thanks Chad Ontario, Canada.
Thank you for saving us from buying this car. I appreciate it a lot!!! I'm still looking for a good car...
Hi all, my wife has a 2002 kia Rio which we bought new. I wish
I would have found this forum when we first bought it. Anyway has been a okay car so far. So thankful that I insisted on a 5sp manuel. Currently has 80thousand miles and has this horrible smell of acetone. Dosent smell like antifreeze, but almost. Have checked heater core. Mechanics don't know what it is. Odor makes you sick. Drive it around in the winter with the windows rolled down, and heater off. Help, Help.
I have a 2001 kia spectra. I turned the key off and put it in my pocket, and the engine is still running. I had to disconnect the battery and a large vacuum hose to get the engine to stop. What is the problem?
My Grandmother bought a 2001 KIA RIO in 2001, Since buying it she has gone through 6 transmitions ans 3 sets of front Brakes. Keep in mind that she is 86 years old and does not beat on the car. The mechanic told us this afternoon after picking it up from getting trany # 6 that "from 2000 - 2002 KIA made faulty transmitions" I talked to KIA and they told me that was untrue and asked for his name and place of work. I have done most of the work myself cause we do not trust the dealership. When we brought it in for the first trany to be replaced I marked the old one before leaving and when they called the next day saying it was ready to be picked up and they had replaced it, I looked at the trany and showed them the mark I left on it to prove they did nothing to it.
It has also Had about 10-15 tuneups and the O2 sensore replaced 3 times. My Grandmother bought the car outright cash for about 11,000 with the life insurance from my Grandfather. She feels very bad for using his life insurance on a car that seems like it is trying to kill her.
I purchased an 04 kia rio. it was my first new car and I was super excited to get something I thought I could rely on. the first year was good, not too many problems. just normal car things. then I started noticing the loss of power and if I dared turn a corner with my ac on. my car with only 30,000 miles on it was doing the same thing that my 1988 honda civic did at 200,000 miles. lack of power, yet somehow I trusted my honda more. now a year later and I was driving my car up to my dad's in sacramento from where I live in LA. I put gas in my car and tried to start it up to get back on the road when it just dies... I start it back up and it dies again. I start it, leave my foot on the gas reving my engine.. after 3 minutes it's idling again.. I get up to my dads and tell him about it. I thought fuel injection cleaner would have helped and it did nothing. I take it to the dealership an hour away (LA people are shady) I dropped my car off on a tuesday night cause I was leaving town till saturday. they tell me friday that it's my gas tank, it was assembled incorrectly so they're gonna replace that. I get back saturday and they told me that the car isn't finished, they're still working on the problem. so they put me in a rental car till it's finished. they paid for that. I get the car back on tuesday. I went and put gas in the car and same problem! so I take it back the following friday and leave them a message telling them it's not fixed. I get put in a rental car again. they have my car for a week, no updates. they said they couldn't repeat the issue I was having and they gave the car back to me. the same day I pick up the car I go get gas and IT STALL AGAIN! So this friday (2.15.08) I have to take the car back for a 3rd time.. There has to be something that protects a consumer from even purchasing used lemons..
Has anyone had this problem?
Hi all.
I was doing a search to find out why the gear shift on my 2001 Rio would be so hard to move. This was one link I clicked on and I am amazed to find so many problems with the Rio.
I bought my Rio in 2002 with 28,000 km on it. It now has 115,000 (mostly highway).Shortly after buying my Rio I was very disappointed with waiting 1 1/2 hours on an oil change that I have never gone back to them. I do my own oil changes and just recently I started thinking that I better do some preventative maintenance to avoid a major breakdown.
After reading all these posts I think I will do that sooner than later!! (gone to garage)