2003 KIA RIO Complaints
View complaints related to 2003 KIA RIO. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 80 complaints submitted for the 2003 KIA RIO. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.
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2003 KIA RIO- CINCINNATI, OH
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE TEMPORALLY LOST POWER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2003 KIA RIO- CITRUS SPRINGS, FL
203 KIA RIO PURCHASED 12/02 SINCE PURCHASE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH BRAKES, I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS HAVE HAD SHOES REPLACED HAVE HAD ROTORS TURNED A COUPLE OF TIMES BY DEALER TO WHICH PROBLEM CONTINUED . ON 11/06/04 CAR WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL LOCKING UP WITHOUT USING THE BRAKES CAUSING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *JB
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2003 KIA RIO- CITRUS SPRINGS, FL
SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN 12/02 THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL REACUURING PROBLEM MOST OF WHICH THE BRAKES VIBRATION AND CAR SHAKEN WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. IT HAS BEEN BACK TOP DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEM COMPLAINTS MOST RECENT WAS 10/23/03. SO FAR THEY HAVE DPNE NEW PADS IN FRONT WHEELS RESURFACEWD ROTORS MORE THAN ONCE REPLACED WHEEL SEAL AND MOSTLY SAID COULD NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEM. ON 11/06/04 AT BETWEEN 10:15 -10:30 THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCEDENT DUE TO A DRIVERSIDE REAR WHEEL FREEZING UP WITH OUT TOUCHING THE BRAKES CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD.*AK
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2003 KIA RIO- HARTSELLE, AL
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES GRABBED ABRUPTLY. WHEN SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE BRAKES THEY GRABBED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE LEAST ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE FROM THE PADS GETTING WET BRAKES WOULD GRAB. THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE PADS NO LONGER CONTAINING ASBESTOS. *AK THE BRAKES GRABBED EXCESSIVELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CLIMATE WAS RAINY OR FOGGY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2003 KIA RIO- ROY, WA
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SENSOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *AK
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
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2003 KIA RIO- BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH
WHEN IT RAINS THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START. ALSO, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR IS GIVING OUT A ROTTEN EGG ODOR THAT COMES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE ONLY SAYING IT TAKES A YEAR BEFORE THE SMELL GOES AWAY. *AK *NM
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE -
2003 KIA RIO- GREELEY, CO
WHILE ACCELERATING MY 2003 KIA RIO ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHILE GOING UPHILL, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND HAD NO POWER ON THE INCLINE EVEN WHEN IT WAS FLOORED. IT ALWAYS DOES THIS WHEN PASSING CARS ALSO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MY BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN THEY ARE DAMP. I DID NOT THINK THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT IT IS. *JB
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2003 KIA RIO CINCO- BRUCETON MILLS, WV
1/10/04 SATURDAY. AROUND 10:30 AM HOPE CALLS AND SAYS THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN ON THE KIA. I CALLED KIA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. HOPE MEANWHILE HAD TO WALK TWO MILES IN 40 DEGREE BELOW ZERO WIND CHILL TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL ME. 1/12/04 MONDAY I CALLED BORTZ AND TALKED TO DEAN THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE TOLD ME I HAVE A PISTON ROD IN THE OIL PAN AND THE MOTOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE THAT I HAD NO PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIPTS FOR OIL DATING BACK TO JULY 2003 . HE TOLD ME THAT DIDN'T PROVE OIL CHANGES AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I CALLED KIA AND ASKED TO TALK TO THE KIA FACTORY REP BUT WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE DEALER AND SHE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME IF I COULDN'T PROVE MY OIL CHANGES. I WAS TOLD THAT A NEW MOTOR WOULD COST ME $4400 SO I ELECTED TO GET A USED ONE WITH 5000 MILES ON IT FOR $1800. I ASKED FOR SOME OF THE OIL AND ALL RELATED PARTS AT THAT TIME. 1/14/04 WEDNESDAY WHEN I CALLED DEAN AT KIA, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE TWO (2) TO SIX (6) WEEKS BEFORE WE COULD GET THE KIA BACK. WE GOT THE KIA BACK ON 1/30/04. KIA AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THURSDAY 2/5/03 THE KIA STARTED TO MISS SHIFTS AND RUN ROUGH. ON MY WAY TO MY DADS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OUT ABOUT 1/10/04 SATURDAY. AROUND 10:30 AM HOPE CALLS AND SAYS THE MOTOR HAS BLOWN ON THE KIA. I CALLED KIA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. HOPE MEANWHILE HAD TO WALK TWO MILES IN 40 DEGREE BELOW ZERO WIND CHILL TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL ME. 1/12/04 MONDAY I CALLED BORTZ AND TALKED TO DEAN THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE TOLD ME I HAVE A PISTON ROD IN THE OIL PAN AND THE MOTOR WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO SAID THERE IS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE THAT I HAD NO PROOF OF OIL CHANGES. I TOLD HIM I HAD RECEIPTS FOR OIL DATING BACK TO JULY 2003 . HE TOLD ME THAT DIDN'T PROVE OIL CHANGES AND VOIDED THE WARRANTY. I CALLED KIA AND ASKED TO TALK TO THE KIA FACTORY REP BUT WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE DEALER AND SHE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME IF I COULDN'T
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2003 KIA RIO- PORTLAND, OR
SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CONTINUES. *AK
Source: NHTSA WEB SITE -
2003 KIA RIO- WAGONTOWN, PA
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE