Four problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 2003 Kia Motor RIO. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Kia Motor RIO based on all problems reported for the 2003 RIO.
This 2003 kia Rio was purchased used at a dealership a. V. Kia, palmdale, CA, , but soon developed problems with the transmission. Our insurance company replaced the transmission, citing problems which occurred due to our son, which were allegations made by a. V. Kia. Shortly after the car became inoperable and stopped on the freeway quite suddenly. No one was hurt, but our son and his passengers were rather shook up. Fixed one more time, while our son was driving the car when the left front axle fell off. This happened after a. V. Kia repaired the transmission. After being fixed once again with another new transmission, while my husband was driving the car immediately after picking it up from the dealership it once again developed transmission problems. The car stopped at a busy intersection in rosamond, CA. The car was fixed, (sensor problem, and soon taken to a car dealership in lancaster, CA. To be sold on consignment. While the sales representative was taking it out to show and attempt to sell the car again it stopped, this time on very busy sierra highway. The dealer called us to imform us of the problem with the car. A. V. Kia took the car in for repair once again, replacing the transmission!. With all of the transmission problems this car has had we found it extremely dangerous, not only to our family, but potentially to someone else. A. V. Kia continued to just pass the buck without really getting to the root of the problem. We didn't really know where to turn, but we felt that filing a complaint with the dot was a good start. A. V. Kia and kia of America should be held totally responsible for the dangerous junk that they were selling and manufacturing.
June 2006 through September 2006 my kia Rio has locked up in the parking gear not allowing to remove to reverse or drive. Dealer has had in the shop four times and has changed breaking light twice along with gear console. Now stating even with the vehicle being at shop since the end of September 2006 can not enact problem.
While driving vehicle would run hot. Dealer has replaced the engine once, and replaced automatic transmission twice. However, problem continued. Dealer had not found a solution for the problem.
While driving at any speed the vehicle stalls. There was a lost to the power steering and power brake systems. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection.