Seven problems related to engine and engine cooling 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.
2003 kia Rio with defective engine. Customer states that the dealership told her that a new engine was put in the car in June 07 but it continues to smoke, overheat and cut off* the consumer was told the head gasket needed to be replaced. The tail lights were inoperative. The dealer replaced the bulbs. The lights inside the vehicle were inoperative. They replaced the main wiring harness. The consumer had to place the gear into neutral, in order to start the vehicle. The dealer adjusted the transmission range switch. The consumer stated that her vehicle is at the dealership yet again being fixed. Updated 08/23/07.
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.
While driving up a hill, the vehicle temporally lost power. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
While driving 70 mph vehicle decelerated to 30 mph. No impact reported.
In June I was having a over heating problem. If I went up a hill the car would heat up to the peg. It needed a new thermostat. The engine blew up & I had to have a new one. Now their is something wrong with the transmission, so kia has sent for a new transmission. I'm afraid to go anywhere for fear that something else will happen to it. I'm alone, therefore I needed something I can rely on.
In April 2003 I bought a 2003 kia Rio cinco for my family. When I try to start it in the morning it will not start. It takes about six to ten tries to get it started. Then it runs bad for miles. It also runs very hot and it seems the more I drive it the less preformance I been geting. My brakes are also bad when I first drive it after it sits for hours. Kia told me that it all has to do with the reformuladed gas we use in milwaukee and chicago. After months of people at kia not calling me back and tring to resoulve this with kia I am interested in a class astion law suit.
The car cuts off while driving the car has a hard start, it takes at least 3 tries for it to stay on the brakes squeak loud when coming to a stop.