Two problems related to brake disc pads 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.
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.
My kia Rio has 15000 miles on and the brakes went in the car. I called the dealer heritage Ford and they did not want to cover this. It was only the passenger side in the front. So that meant a faulty part in my eyes. I called kia also who did not care. So I had the brakes replaced and when taking them off on the passenger side the pad itself was there but the brake fell off the pad. And most normal cars the brakes are held on with a pop rivet. Not this car. They are held on with thin pieces of aluminum which everyone knows how easy aluminum bends and twists exactly how mine were. And the brake is held onto the pad with glue!!! these cars should be recalled for faulty manufacturing. I am very dissatisfied with this car and with the way kia handled this situation.