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.

  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - MARION, IN

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - CHEYENNE, WY

    SEAT BELTS, CAR SEAT RETAINING HOOKS, ECM, AND DISTRIBUTOR ARE RECALLED. CHEYENNE KIA HAD 3 WEEKS BEFORE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PARTS. I DELIVERED THE CAR FOR REPAIRS ONLY TO GET A CALL 4 HOURS LATER THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PARTS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 6 WEEKS SINCE PICKING UP MY CAR AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. ALL I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS LEAVE A MESSAGE WITH JENNIFER XT 45960 AT 800 333 4542 CASE # K3094095 KIA CUSTOMER CARE TO FIND OUT WHEN I CAN SAFELY PUT MY KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 KIA RIO CINCO
    - SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    WHEN YOU PARK THE CAR, SHUTOFF ENGINE, PULL UP THE SHORT UNLOCK STICK, THEN PULL THE OPEN BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR. THAT'S NORMAL PROCEDURE. BUT IF YOU ARE IN HURRY, PULL THE DOOR OPEN BUTTON FIRST AND FORGET PULL THE UNLOCK STICK, YOU CANNOT OPEN DOOR ANYMORE, YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND PULL UP THE UNLOCK STICK TO UNLOCK DOOR ANYMORE. IT WILL KEEP LOCKING THE DOOR BACK WHEN YOU PULL UP THE UNLOCK STICK. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR 15 MIN TO OPEN THE DOOR. DANGEROUS IF IN THE EMERGENCY.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - HENAGAR, AL

    ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. DONE A SEARCH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE MINE AND FOUND 3 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN IN A MECHANIC SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS NOW AND I HAVE JUST GOT DONE TALKING WITH HIM THIS MORNING ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BY KIA. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - OAKRIDGE, OR

    FRONT, RIGHT BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATED AT THE INBOARD HALF. PIECES NOT FOUND. OUTBOARD HALF REMAINED INTACT, AND IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDY/ANALYSIS. WAS ABLE TO USE BRAKES ALTHOUGH EXTREMELY SPONGY AND DANGER OF RESULTING FIRE FROM SPARKS (METAL-TOMETAL CONTACT). REPLACED ROTOR AND PADS. VEHICLE IS BACK IN SERVICE. PHOTOS OF OLD PADS AND ROTOR ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - KENTWOOD, MI

    GOING OUT TO DINNER, ABOUT 1 MILE AWAY FROM HOME SMELL COMING FROM CAR. TURNED DOWN A SIDE STREET, SMOKE COMING FROM HEAT/AIR ADJUSTMENT AREA ON DASH. STOPPED CAR, FIRE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE AREA WHERE YOU ADJUST THE HEAT/AIR. BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET THERE THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I FEAR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT THE TIME. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - RENTON , WA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED AND COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, SHE HAD TO DO SO THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER DOOR SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,160.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - FAIRLAWN, NJ

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE RAMP. WHEN THE CONTACT EMERGED FROM THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE FRACTURED COMPLETELY FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,400.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 KIA RIO
    - LOS ANGELES , CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE DOOR ACTUATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 KIA RIO CINCO
    - WINDBER, PA

    THE REAR SEATBELTS DON'T LOCK INTO PLACE RIGHT. NORMALLY, WHEN YOU PULL A SEATBELT THE FULL WAY OUT THEN LET IT WIND BACK IN, IT SHOULD HAVE TENSION ON IT. THE SEATBELTS IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DON'T DO THIS. THEY CAN BE PULLED BACK OUT WITHOUT STOPPING. THEY CLIP INTO THE BUCKLES FINE THOUGH. I HAVE 2 CAR SEATS IN THE BACK, SO I NEED THIS FEATURE TO WORK PROPERLY TO SECURE THE CHILD SEATS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE