2003 KIA RIO

CHILD SEAT

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." WHEN USED WITH CERTAIN CHILD SEATS, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) FUNCTION IN THE REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES MAY DISENGAGE.

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.

Mileage: 150,000

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.

Mileage: 58,000

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.

Mileage: 58,000

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.

Mileage: 58,000

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

Mileage: 100,000

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

Mileage: 78,000

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

Mileage: 77,000

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.

Mileage: 85,160

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.

Mileage: 85,400

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.

Mileage: 35,000

I BOUGHT MY 03 KIA RIO IN 04 AND WITHIN A MO. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY MONTH FOR THE FIRST 2YRS WHEN IT WAS STILL IN WARRANTY. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING CONSTANTLY WRONG OR BREAKING. THE TAIL PIPE RATTLED EXTREMELY LOUD TO THE POINT OF SLIGHTLY SHAKING THE CAR, RANDOMLY WHEN I WOULD CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER CARS COULD HEAR IT AND STARE. OF COURSE THE REPAIR SHOPS COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GAVE UP EVER HAVING IT FIXED. I'VE PAID 7 TIMES TO HAVE THE AUTO WINDOWS FIXED BUT FINALLY GAVE UP BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY WORK ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE BRAKING AGAIN. THE CAR ALWAYS HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AND WOULD STAIN MAKING NOISES SHAKE A BIT THEN AFTER 10 SECONDS MAKE A POP POP NOISE AND FINALLY START MOVING FASTER. WHICH AGAIN COULD NEVER BE FIXED. THE CAR ALSO HAD HORRIBLE SUSPENSION. EVERY LITTLE PUMP MADE THE CAR BOUNCE AND SQUEAK LOUDLY. ALSO COULD NEVER BE FIXED. I THINK I'VE SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP HAVING

Mileage: 80,020

I BOUGHT MY 03 KIA RIO IN 04 AND WITHIN A MO. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY MONTH FOR THE FIRST 2YRS WHEN IT WAS STILL IN WARRANTY. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING CONSTANTLY WRONG OR BREAKING. THE TAIL PIPE RATTLED EXTREMELY LOUD TO THE POINT OF SLIGHTLY SHAKING THE CAR, RANDOMLY WHEN I WOULD CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER CARS COULD HEAR IT AND STARE. OF COURSE THE REPAIR SHOPS COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GAVE UP EVER HAVING IT FIXED. I'VE PAID 7 TIMES TO HAVE THE AUTO WINDOWS FIXED BUT FINALLY GAVE UP BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY WORK ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE BRAKING AGAIN. THE CAR ALWAYS HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AND WOULD STAIN MAKING NOISES SHAKE A BIT THEN AFTER 10 SECONDS MAKE A POP POP NOISE AND FINALLY START MOVING FASTER. WHICH AGAIN COULD NEVER BE FIXED. THE CAR ALSO HAD HORRIBLE SUSPENSION. EVERY LITTLE PUMP MADE THE CAR BOUNCE AND SQUEAK LOUDLY. ALSO COULD NEVER BE FIXED. I THINK I'VE SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP HAVING

Mileage: 80,020

I BOUGHT MY 03 KIA RIO IN 04 AND WITHIN A MO. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY MONTH FOR THE FIRST 2YRS WHEN IT WAS STILL IN WARRANTY. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING CONSTANTLY WRONG OR BREAKING. THE TAIL PIPE RATTLED EXTREMELY LOUD TO THE POINT OF SLIGHTLY SHAKING THE CAR, RANDOMLY WHEN I WOULD CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS SO LOUD THAT PEOPLE IN OTHER CARS COULD HEAR IT AND STARE. OF COURSE THE REPAIR SHOPS COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GAVE UP EVER HAVING IT FIXED. I'VE PAID 7 TIMES TO HAVE THE AUTO WINDOWS FIXED BUT FINALLY GAVE UP BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY WORK ABOUT TWO DAYS BEFORE BRAKING AGAIN. THE CAR ALWAYS HAD ISSUES ACCELERATING AND WOULD STAIN MAKING NOISES SHAKE A BIT THEN AFTER 10 SECONDS MAKE A POP POP NOISE AND FINALLY START MOVING FASTER. WHICH AGAIN COULD NEVER BE FIXED. THE CAR ALSO HAD HORRIBLE SUSPENSION. EVERY LITTLE PUMP MADE THE CAR BOUNCE AND SQUEAK LOUDLY. ALSO COULD NEVER BE FIXED. I THINK I'VE SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP HAVING

Mileage: 80,020

MY BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE ON MY 2003 KIA RIO CRACKED. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT SHOULD NEVER CRACK NO MATTER THE TEMPERATURE CLIMATE ETC. HE SAYS HE HAS NEVER SEEN A CRACKED ONE BEFORE AND MY CAR WOULD HAVE NO SIGNS THAT IT WAS BAD. I WOULD GO FROM PERFECT BRAKES TO NO BRAKES. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD JUST GOT GAS AND LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I DRIVING SLOWLY TO THE STREET. I HAD ENOUGH BREAK TO STOP. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT FOR ME SO MUCH AS SOMEONE ELSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. I FEAR FOR OTHERS. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT ON FURTHER VEHICLES. *TR

THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY BLOWER (PART # 97251 FD000) CONSTANTLY GOES OUT ON MY 2003 KIA RIO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I REPLACED IT. 6 MONTHS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. I REPLACED IT ALONG WITH THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY (PART# 1K552 61C08). 8 MONTHS LATER, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUSE. THERE IS NOT A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM THAT CAN BE FOUND. I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY ANTICIPATING THE COMPANY RECTIFYING THIS. *TR

BACK IN 2006 I PURCHASED A 2003 KIA RIO AND IN AUG 2009 I WAS SENT A LETTER TELLING ME MY REAR SEATBELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO MALFUNCTION WHEN CHILDRESTRANT SEATS WERE USED. THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL IN 2006 ACCORDING TO THE LETTER BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY ME UNTIL 2009, AND I HAVE A 7 YR OLD SON WHO HAS BEEN RIDING IN MY CAR WITH RECALLED SEATBELTS, THIS MADE ME UPSET SINCE THAT'S THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD. THE COMPANY DID REPLACE THE SEATBELTS BUT IT TOOK THEM ANOTHER 3 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS AFTER ME NOTIFYING THEM ABOUT THE RECALL LETTER. *TR

2003 KIA RIO DOOR OPENING MECHANISM HAS FAILED TWICE. IT WAS REPAIRED IN 2007. THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE DOOR SAID THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR OPENING SYSTEM INSIDE THE DOOR WAS NOT GOOD QUALITY AND POORLY ENGINEERED ANTICIPATING IT MIGHT FAIL AGAIN. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENING DEVISE IS TOTALLY DISENGAGED AND THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS TO BE USED TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO KIA THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL BUT WOULD COST $250 TO $500 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVENTHOUGH IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER AND HAD BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 84,256

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND STALLED. THE CAR CURRENTLY WONT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, WE JUST HAD ALL OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO THE CAR LESS THEN 300 MILES PRIOR TO THE ENGINE SEIZING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. AS OF TODAY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS EXCEPT THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INCIDENTS WITH THE CAR AND IT WAS ALWAYS SERVICED ON TIME. *TR

Mileage: 11,462

TRAVELING APROX 30 MPH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK ON ANY PASSENGERS, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

THE CLUTCH IN MY 2003 KIA RIO HAS FAILED/BROKEN FOUR TIMES NOW. MY FATHER AND I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2003 THE FIRST CLUTCH FAILED AROUND 8000 MILES I BELIEVE, THE SECOND AROUND 24000 MILES, THE THIRD AROUND 40000 MILES, AND NOW IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNABLE TO GO INTO ANY GEAR; THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK SHIFTS FOR 14+ YRS. AND I KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY OPERATE THEM, YET WHENEVER I TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD IT IS DRIVER ERROR AND CHARGED AT LEAST $1000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST THREE OTHER MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN/BAD PARTS PROBLEM NOT DRIVING ERROR, HOWEVER I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THE WARRANTY BY HAVING IT REPAIRED ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP. WITH THE LAST REPAIR (CLUTCH #3) MY FATHER WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO THE DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC AFTER THE CAR WAS PULLED APART AND CAUGHT THE DEALERSHIP IN A LOT OF LIES BASED ON THE TOTAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE CLUTCH AND SURROUNDING P

Mileage: 64,263