2001 KIA RIO Complaints

SINCE DECEMBER '03, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES. ON 2 OCCASSIONS, CAR BUCKS WHILE DRIVING AND STALLS. HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR IT WILL BREAK DOWN AGAIN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE BY USING THE KEY. WHEN THE CONSUMER ENTERED VEHICLE FROM THE UNLOCKED BACK DOOR IT WAS STILL NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM INSIDE. *AK

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THINKING IT MAY JUST BE THE BRAKES THAT WERE GOING OUT, RETURNED VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE SHOP FOUND THAT ALL 4 OF THE 13 INCH WHEELS HAD STRESS FRACTURES. THE FRONT 2 WERE THE WORST AS THEY HAD BEGUN TO SPLIT. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLITY OF A FATAL CRASH HAD THIS NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THERE ATTENTION WHEN IT WAS.*AK

OIL LEAKS AT THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. GASKET CYL HEAD AND HEAD COVER SLIPS OUT. ALL SEAL FROM TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE CAR LEAKS. STEERING SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN THE AC IS RUNNING. (HEAD GASKET & CAM SEALS LEAKS)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2001 KIA RIO AND IT STARTED TO RUN REALLY FUNNY AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND THE WASN'T ACCELERATING ANYMORE SO I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND THE CAR WAS ON FIRE SO I GOT OUT AND CALLED 911. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION RIGHT REAR WHEELS HAD SEVERE CRACKS IN THE WALLS. THE CRACKS WERE SUCH THAT ONE COULD ACTUALLY HOLD THE WHEELS TO THE LIGHT AND SEE THROUGH THEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BAD RIM UNDER WARRANTY AND KEPT THE BAD RIM. *AK

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO FIND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

CHRISTMAS DAY, 2003 IMMEDIATE AND ENGULFING ENGINE FIRE WHILE MY CAR WAS IDLING FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

NHTSA RECALL 03-V-352-000: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUEL LEAKS MAY DEVELOP AT THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY, EITHER AT ITS SERVICE PORT OR AT THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY INTAKE PORT BECAUSE OF QUALITY DEVIATIONS IN THE SERVICE PORT VALVE OR MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND FUEL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES. "KIA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE". OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-222-5500. MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL. *AK RECALL#03V352000 *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERABLE, AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY. AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, REAR SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY, HALF OF THE BELT WAS TORN . *AK