2002 Kia Rio from North America - Comments

Gas guage quit working at about 2000 miles. Took it in twice to have it fixed. They fixed the gas guage, but then something in the fuel line broke. I left the dealership and got about ten miles down the road - with gas pouring out of my car - watching the newly fixed gas guage go from full to completely empty. The dealership would not come get me or the car, they made me call a tow truck and tow it in, then get my own ride back to work. I was told that if I would give the dealership all 10's on the customer survey, they would give me a free oil change. Right...

Have had to put four new tires on the car twice in 2 1/2 years.

Factory recall to address some problems with the heat sensors in the engine (causing stalling).

Rain strips in the roof keep blowing out.

There was a second factory recall to fix the fuel distribution system.

Now, for the REAL problem. My car is 2 1/2 years old and has 60,005 miles on it. It needs a whole new engine because it has a "knock in the lower engine compartment". The service department cannot tell me what is causing the knock, what went wrong, or whose fault it is, just that I need a new engine. However, KIA is refusing to honor the warranty because I did not keep my oil change receipts. Without these receipts, they do not have to honor the warranty ("as clearly stated on page 17 paragraph 2 of your owners manual, therefore, KIA is legally covered and does not have to honor this warranty"). The cost to replace my engine? $3310.00! for a car that's only worth about fifty bucks now.

The reason I bought this car was the warranty. I, too, am a single mom on a very tight budget. I cannot afford to have a car in for repairs all the time. I was told at the dealership that if anything ever went wrong, the engine and transmission would be completely covered for 100,000 miles. No on ever disclosed to me that without receipts, the warranty would be void. Furthermore, what kind of cheap piece of junk car can blow an engine at 60,000 miles?!

It doesn't sound as if they have a leg to stand on.

There will be a service book with the car, and this should be stamped every time the car is serviced. KIA has to accept their own service book as being proof that the vehicle was serviced to their schedules.

We have these cars in the UK as well and they are generally regarded as being a waste of money and road space.

Well if you had managed to keep your Oil Change Receipts then you would have been in a much better position with regards to your Warranty Claims for your blown Engine. I might suggest that you find yourself a guy who will be able to run your Vehicle in and out of the Dealership and who will not be as intimidated by Dealer Small Print. I always take my Daughters Vehicles into the Dealership for her because otherwise they will turn an Oil Change into a three figure adventure. That is how the World works. They are much less inclined to try and rip my family off when I have my Friend show up and give me a ride home in his Hunting Rig.

Did you get the oil changed at the dealership? They would have their own records, and are obliged to provide them. If you took it to an independent shop, they will likely provide you a record. I know mine did. If you are on a tight budget, you can still get a lawyer at little or no cost at some law schools. They can help. Don't let them trample on you.

I agree with the last person, don''''''''t let them trample you. However, even if you had spent six times as much and bought a brand new Honda, then missed one service or had it go over the schedueled kms, then nineteen months later the engine seizes without warning, the selling dealer tells you you are not covered by the warranty and want almost half of what the cars worth to do the repairs. This can happen in a Merc. I think you must have not had it serviced or there would be a way for you to prove you have. To the turkey who says most people think Kias are crap and a waste of road space... yeah...then most people are ignorant and like you need to direct your negative attitude in the right place.

Turkey here... in fact most UK customer surveys rank Kia very poorly, as do many people on this site.

I too had a 2002 kia rio, but mine was a cinco. My KIA "seized" at just under 65,000 miles. I followed the manufacturers suggested maintenance schedule, I even surpassed their suggestions! BTW, here in California, the warranty manual states that the maintenance schedule is suggested, but not following it is not in itself reason to deny warranty coverage... so they found another reason to do so! I had "someone other than a 'Kia authorized technician' perform work on the car" and this somehow voided the warranty!?! I showed them where their manual stated I could have anybody, including myself, perform the work... the responded with "We can't be certain if it was the engine that failed, or if your mechanic sabotaged it." Has anyone ever heard of anything quite so laughable? So here I sit, almost 8 months later with a $12,000.00 paperweight parked in my front yard, (the painted advertisements all over it explaining why nobody has seen it move from its current position makes for original yard decor! lol) finally going to BBB arbitration in 4 days, or, at least I hope they'll show up at this one! Hmmmmm, coincidence? - Last Friday I was contacted by a "KIA representative" who offered to cover the cost of "tear down" if I would cover the cost of getting it to the dealership! More like let us try to create some other (non) reason to justify denial of an undeniable warranty which they would undeniably tout at the BBB mediation! Long an short of it is... do your research, and you'll find that the "warranty" is little more than type on paper!

I have had 2 starbust Kia Rios auto and manual trans. The auto did have the fuel problems. I drove it from Seattle to Redding Ca. and back in less than 20 hours. That's over 100 mph. Stopping only for gas ups. But after I let the dealer look at it,Bam!, the lite came on, the axle started to make noise. I let the bank have it back Ha Ha.

My 2nd Rio a manual made it down to Redding only one time before the sencer that opens and closes the flow of cool coolant into the engine and heater core malfunctioned. The dealership in Corning tried their best to help. However I ended up putting the car on a trailer and hauling it back to Seattle for the same cost as fixing it, $1200 bucks I think that sense the warranties are not wearth their words on paper. I will put my own motor type in the car and to heck with Koreans words of Honor! Thank you for your att.

"As clearly stated on page 17 paragraph 2 of your owners manual, therefore, KIA is legally covered and does not have to honor this warranty"). The cost to replace my engine?"

YES it is clearly stated so you have no one to blame, but yourself. My friends that have Hondas, Mazdas and Mercedes cars tell me does those manufacters require the same thing. EVERYONE should know you have to change oil no less than 3,000 miles! What do you think the owners manual is for. It tells you that. Lastly why should Kia pay for a new engine just because you didn't properly maintain it? The owner has responsibilty to maintain the car, not the dealer. Why didn't you keep records of oil changes in the first place?

My KIA Rio seized today, at 82,000 miles. I maintain it meticulously. I pulled the spark plugs and the third one was not only coated in oil, it was smashed from the bottom and looking down the cylinder you can see the valve tweaked up. Of course I have no warranty as I am the second owner. KIA sucks!

I don't know what happened to your Kias I guess I got lucky. The first day I had it, it just stalled and wouldn't start again, the dealership did something and the same car, it is now at 255,000 kms and I've only had to do regular maintenance to it. The gas gauge is broken, it went at about 200,000 kms, but I just go by my kms. The only major work I've had to do was the timing belt, which has to get done eventually, and I had to replace the alternator and get some muffler work done which was only like 200.00. It's a junk car, but it gets me from A to B and I haven't had to do any major work to it. I feel bad for you guys. Every car company has its lemons. I remember my mom getting a lemon truck from Ford, and they wouldn't stand by their warranties either.

I have a 2001 KIA Rio that I had just bought from the previous owner, and she had replaced all the parts in the car from wires to spark-plugs, and she never had a problem with the car. She had it for 7 years and no problems.

So then I bought the car for a decent price, and I was happy up until 2 weeks later it broke down; the engine was locked up. My uncle took apart the car and the spark plugs were pretty much not there, and the pistons were damaged and the valves were damaged. I was told that I needed to buy a new engine for the car, and those don't come easy. So now I am paying for something that I can't drive. So I am a little frustrated.

I have a 2002 Kia Rio that I bought new off the lot. The only problems that I've had with her is that her fuel gauge doesn't work. I keep track of my mileage on a notebook in the glove box and don't care about the stupid gauge. I have no problems with the car and have enjoyed driving it so much that I've considered getting another. The new ones with that Black body contour down the side are HORRENDOUS? YUCKERS!!! I'll keep this one til I find another one I like or they decide on a better body style!

Well, lol, I bought a new 2001 Kia Rio and never had any real problems. That is until I hit 103,000 and was driving down the freeway when I heard a click and the engine died. I had it towed to my mechanic and they told me the engine had seized. I had regular oil changes, etc. I called Kia Corporate thinking they might want to honor the warranty even though it is 3000 miles over. Nope. So instead I will post this every where I can. Buyer beware. Besides being junk, the car is generally quite uncomfortable and those 103,000 miles took at least 5 years off my life.