Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 034 | 01/30/2004 | 10005649 | Voluntary service campaign sc034 to reprogram the engine control module (ecm). vehicles experiencing stalling during idling or at near stopping conditions. letters to kia service managers, dealers and questions and answers sheet. *tt | 03/09/2004 | |
| 034 | 01/01/2004 | 10005653 | This bulletin provides information on service campaign to reprogram the engine control module (ecm) on certain models produced from 5/4/00 through 10/31/02. *tt | 03/09/2004 | |
| 034R | 02/01/2004 | 10005614 | This revised bulletin provides information on service campaign to reprogram the engine control module (ecm) on certain models produced from 5/4/00 through 10/31/02. *tt | 03/08/2004 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||||
| 82 | 01/01/2005 | 10015272 | Improved timing belts for the kia rio and optima. *tt | 07/13/2005 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 07/07/2007 | 60000 | 41 | 10/12/2000 |
| My car had a recall because of stalling issues before also again when i had this problem the fuel injector was unplugged now it stalls all the time engine check light comes on had a airflow sensor light changed and it is still stalling even more check engine light comes on but goes off before i can get it checked and so i am getting nowhere and i am scared too death off having a accident because of this issue i think this is a real safety issue it is a 2001 kia rio can you help me i have contacted kia already. *tr | |||
| 02/16/2007 | 2 | ||
| Two years ago when trying to get into my 2001 rio the drivers side door lock stuck. i took it to the dealership and waited 2 weeks for the replacement part. now i am having the same problem with my passenger door. car is no longer under warranty, so i am unable to use my passenger side door. also car stalls when it rains and shakes really bad when it does run. i have to get a ride when it rains, interior lights don't work, bumper has come loose....continual problems with spark plugs, and leaks oil. *jb | |||
| 11/27/2006 | 25 | ||
| 01 rio is a lemon & safety hazard. many major repairs done including the timing belt & valves rebuilt, new cooling system, both control arms & boots. wheel defect recently recalled caused excess wear/ tear on control arms, boots, alignment, tires, costing thousands of avoidable repairs. fuel intake did come lose, nearly causing an engine fire due to defective part which was recalled. it continuously misfires, engine knocks, stalls. ecm was recalled but didn't fix the problem. replaced spark plugs & wires (3 times in 6 months), ignition coil, sensors (oxygen, knock, crankshaft, temp). it stops for a 1-2 days, then comes back. annoying & dangerous. also has acceleration problem. at times, it won't go over 40 mph & also accelerates by itself. brakes have completely failed, though there's no crack in the line, no leaking fluid. the car is a complete lemon. online, there are hundreds of similar complaints. dealers are aware but conveniently can't seem to diagnose the problems especially misfiring. consumers get nickel & dimed doing needless repairs that don't fix the problem. the optima had similar problems w/crankshaft pos. sensor which was recalled, but dealer denies any relation to problems with the rio. another problem - lack of availability & high cost of parts. its bait/switch to sell a car with known problems, then guess at needless repairs & sell parts at an astronomical markup. it's cheap to buy, but repair costs make it very expensive. research shows misfiring/engine knock has also led to engine fires. also problems with air bags. my airbag light has been on since purchased, but dealer has yet to fix it. also door locking problems, people being locked in vehicles. my drivers door locks by itself (manual locks). in case of engine fire or accident, a lock malfunction could cause unnecessary death/injury. these are known problems with hundreds of complaints, yet kia has done nothing to address them. the 01 rio is a lemon and safety hazard. *jb | |||
| 01/01/2003 | 9999 | 06/01/2001 | |
| 2 years ago i noticed that the car does not want to start when it has not been driven for a long period of time (12 hrs). i took the engine cover off and tried to start the car with the remote starter. i noticed that there were sparks coming from the distributor and the spark plug wires. took car in to dealer and all was done was changed spark plug wire and problem still happens. dealer just wants to change the wire and plugs. *jb | |||
| 11/01/2004 | 4 | ||
| Vehicle was taken to dealer to be serviced four times for the check engine light. since last inspection it could not be determined as to why the check engine light came on.*ak | |||
| 12/25/2004 | 65000 | 3 | |
| Owner was driving at approximately 50 mph and the engine stalled. the owner lost steering and brake power this defect has happened at least 3 times and the dealer has changed the compressor. now the vehicle is still experiencing this defect. owner says the oil was changed every 3000 miles. provide further details. *nm | |||
| 07/01/2004 | 3 | ||
| Problem with 2001 kia rio engine stalled. *mr the engine light had come on due to overheating, and the fuel pump stopped working due to water contamination in the gas tank. the temperature went up once the fuel box was broken due to an accident which caused the radiator fuse to blow. *sc *jb | |||
| 11/23/2001 | 3632 | 12 | 09/21/2001 |
| 2001 kio rio. purchased car new from dealer. shortly after purchase of vehicle it shut itself off while slowed down in traffic. after the dealer checked the car, dealer said they would have to put in a new transmission. problem keeps occurring and dealer kept offering different reasons this is happening: type of gas used, gas cap not completely on correctly. numerous times we have brought it into the dealer, they keep telling us they can not find a problem with it when there obviously is. *jb | |||
| 06/02/2004 | 2 | ||
| Consumer stated while driving at various speeds vehicle stalled. also, a transmission problem. *ak | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 52000 | ||
| Oil leaks at the bottom and the top of the engine. gasket cyl head and head cover slips out. all seal from top and bottom of the car leaks. steering shakes very bad when the ac is running. (head gasket & cam seals leaks) | |||
| 08/15/2001 | 20 | 11/26/2000 | |
| I have a 2001 kia rio - i have had nothing but problems with it since i bought it. the engine shakes ( causing the whole car to shake ) intermittently and it does not shift into gear properly ( it is an automatic transmission ) causing the car to hesitate when i accelerate onto highways. i feel this is a real safety issue as i am afraid of getting into an accident because of this problem. i have taken it to the dealer repeatedly, even while it was actually shaking violently and they have the same answer every time...the computer does not tell them that anything is defective on the car - therefore, they can not fix it. i have asked them to replace the computer chip as it obviously is defective if it can't find anything wrong with a car that is running this poorly ...but they refused to do so. it has also had other problems. the car has stalled several times for no reason as i go around a corner ( also a very dangerous problem ) and they were unable to find anything wrong on those occassions either. the airconditioning had to be totally replaced when the car was only 9 months old. the engine mounts collapsed and had to be replaced after only one year. the molding inside the car is constantly coming off. i know of 4 other kia rio owners who have all had similar problems with their cars and all of them have traded in the rios at a great loss rather than put up with the continuous problems. i also want to get rid of my rio but the value of the car is so much less than what i owe on it ( after 3 years of paying on it ) that i can not afford to do so. i have seen many other similar complaints on your website, yet kia denies that there have been any problems with the rio. *ak | |||
| 09/27/2002 | 3 | ||
| Vehicle fire originating from the vehicle fuel lines. *mr as the consumer was driving, she noticed that something smelled hot in the interior of the vehicle. the consumer then turned the engine off, discovered the smoke coming out of the hood, and saw flames within the engine compartment of the vehicle that continued to grow. prior to the fire, the consumer noticed that the vehicle decreased in power while driving and the check engine light illuminated. the consumer attempted to get the vehicle repaired the next day and the dealer couldn't get to it until the following week, and was told that driving the vehicle wouldn't harm the vehicle. (a similar occurrence of the check engine light happened a year prior to this event) the fire began in the passenger side of the engine near the bulkhead area of the two metal fuel lines that ran along the bulkhead. *scc *nlm | |||
| 08/26/2002 | 12 | ||
| Consumer is reporting premature wear of the engine mounts and a rattling noise coming from the engine area,while idling or driving. dealer notified and had replaced them. nlm the consumer has traded this vehicle in due to all of the mechanical problems and is requesting her money back because when she had taken the vehicle the dealer, they didn't repair the problem which was to be covered by warranty. the vehicle has no power and very poor shifting. the abs and check engine light is on. the left front mirror is not working. the spark plugs are faulty/breaking down. the inner/outer bearing with seals on left rear and right rear-replaced, and the right rear hub assembly-replaced due to over tightening of the spindle nut. there's a noise in the tire(s) the dealer performed a recall that replaced the cooler hose. *scc | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 01/31/2001 | 34000 | 0 | 02/19/2002 |
| I was driving home from work, and when i was approximately 1 minute from my home, my check engine light came on, and my car began chugging. i made it as far as 3 houses away from my driveway when my car just stalled out. rather than re-starting, i decided to roll to my driveway. i didn't even make it as far as my driveway, and my car caught on fire. the black smoke was so thick, you couldn't even see through it. my whole engine went up in flames, and my car is now totaled. i have had absolutely no problems with this car until now. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN | |||
| 04/25/2002 | 9000 | 10 | 04/24/2001 |
| I have had my kia for 3 years now (bought on april 24,2001), after only having it one year(april 25, 2002) my two front tires were shredded all the way to the metal. the dealer said that my tires were only covered for a year so i had to replace them, come to find out it was caused by the alignment that showed no sign of being off. right after that the cooling fan shorted causing the engine to smoke and the car to be in the shop for 2 weeks because kia couldn't order the right part. soon after that both of my sunvisors broke to the point they are not usable. kia told me that it would be $35 each to replace, not covered under warranty considered normal wear and tear. my alignment has been fixed 4 times in 3 years with normal driving conditions and regular maintenance. the shifter ( automatic) has gone out twice. once resulting in kia having to replace the whole shifter. the car is constantly vibrating, really bad when a/c is on. the brakes have always made noise and occasionally stick dealer said there may be a recall coming out, that was 3 years ago, haven't heard anything yet. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE | |||
| 08/26/2002 | 12 | ||
| Consumer is reporting premature wear of the engine mounts and a rattling noise coming from the engine area,while idling or driving. dealer notified and had replaced them. nlm the consumer has traded this vehicle in due to all of the mechanical problems and is requesting her money back because when she had taken the vehicle the dealer, they didn't repair the problem which was to be covered by warranty. the vehicle has no power and very poor shifting. the abs and check engine light is on. the left front mirror is not working. the spark plugs are faulty/breaking down. the inner/outer bearing with seals on left rear and right rear-replaced, and the right rear hub assembly-replaced due to over tightening of the spindle nut. there's a noise in the tire(s) the dealer performed a recall that replaced the cooler hose. *scc | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 09/20/2007 | 58000 | 2 | 01/11/2001 |
| Aside from the fact that we have never received one recall notice from kia or the dealer, on september 12, 2007, my 2001 kia rio (which we bought new in 1/2001) engine light came on after the car engine had warmed up, and the car began to lurch and chug. it stalled at a light and restarted when i turned the key. i applied the accelerator and it revved to a higher gear and lunged forward then immediately tried to stall in the intersection. i nursed the vehicle back home. it was taken to a mechanic where the code claimed an o2 censor was bad. what was found was a plug missing from a panel area (?). thought car was fixed. went to drive it home and again the same identical problem only this time the engine light did not come on, my only indication of the problem was the attempt at stalling again! this happened after the engine was warmed up. same symptoms and problems only no warning engine light. this is a life threatening danger since it happens with no warning and kia has failed to notify us of any recall notices they have issued concerning our vehicle even though they had our address from us paying them for the car note each month! something needs to be done about their lack of notice to owners and warm engine stalling problems. i have no way of getting the car to a dealer since it will not stay running! *tr | |||
| 01/10/2007 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| 2001 kia rio with engine failure**nar**cc *jb | |||
| 03/03/2006 | 1 | ||
| Check engine light seldom goes off. took car to dealership for service and to resolve this problem, light went back on in less than 100 miles after leaving the dealership. same thing happened last time i took it in. *nm | |||
| 12/23/2005 | 74445 | 1 | 02/12/2005 |
| (1) there were no events leading up to the engine failure (2) for no reason what so ever, the engine just seized while i was sitting at a stop sign. there was plenty of oil and water in the engine. all routine maintenance had been performed. i am now being told i will have to replace the entire engine. i am 14,000 miles over the 60,000 mile warranty. i haven't even owned this care an entire year. *jb | |||
| 10/23/2004 | 2 | ||
| Engine check light turned on and off mutiple times within the year. engine finally no longer operated. *ak | |||
| 09/25/2004 | 1 | ||
| The driver noticed that fluid was leaking fluid from underneath the vehicle and the check engine light appeared on the dashboard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the mechanic can not duplicate the problem at this time. please provided further details. *nm | |||
| 09/13/2004 | 66000 | 2 | 08/29/2003 |
| While driving, the consumer heard a loud clinking sound coming from the trunk area. consumer thought that he was hit. however, when turning around to proceed, the engine completely failed. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that it sounded like the starter was gone. the consumer took the vehicle to a private mechanic and was told that the engine needed to be replaced. *ak *jb | |||
| 07/01/2003 | 5 | 12/26/2001 | |
| Rio engine stalling. issues also with warranty.nar 07/28/2003*mr consumers are very disatisfied with dealership and vehicle, please review for further investigations. *cb | |||
| 3 | 08/18/2000 | ||
| The check engine light was on all the time and the vehicle wouldn't go in to overdrive. *ph even after the engine control module was reprogrammed, the vehcile continued to stall. *ph | |||
| 12/09/2003 | 38000 | 1 | |
| The consumer parked the vehicle and left the engine running. after a few minutes, the consumer returned to find the vehicle on fire. the fire department determined the cause of the fire was due to a mechanical failure. please provide any additional information. *nm | |||
| 10/24/2003 | 40000 | 1 | |
| While driving about 65 mph on the highway,the vehicle stalled. the driver tried to restart after pulling over to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to the dealership for an analysis. please fill in additional information. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2003 | 46290 | 4 | 10/31/2002 |
| My car stalled while driving would not restart towed to dealer. found no problem car started for them. retrieved car stopped for gas, car would not restart, was towed back to dealer. found glitch in cpu was reprogramed. got car back, two hours later car would not restart towed back to dealer. replaced fuel pump, car ran for three days then again would not start has now been towed back to dealer.*ak | |||
| 02/22/2003 | 5 | 02/21/2003 | |
| I bought my car used, and have had it for only six months. i read the other complaints filed and feel a little better knowing that it isn't just my car with the problems. but i wish the dealers would recognize that they are ripping us off by not fixing the obviously defective parts. my rio has the check engine light on (not all of the time) but when it does come on it is accompanied by the the flashing overdrive off light. this usually lasts for a couple of days. just when i was getting used to that the engine started shaking with only the check engine light on, it did not stall but it would have if i didn't pull into a parking lot and turn the car off. a few hours later i turned it back on and no problems again until just last week the engine started shaking again. lets not leave out the minor problems though. i also have problems with my interior falling apart and my cover for my fuses falls off every time i get in. my paint is peeling off, i have had to replace my battery that died out of nowhere. my warranty is almost up and i have had no help with these problems thus far. *ak | |||
| 06/04/2003 | 1 | ||
| Intermittently engine check light comes on/off. dealer has inspected this vehicle several times and still problem recurring. *ak | |||
| 03/05/2003 | 1 | ||
| The vehicle stalled without warning. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| The engine light illuminated on the dashboard, the dealer was unable to remedy the problem.*jb | |||
| 01/31/2001 | 34000 | 0 | 02/19/2002 |
| I was driving home from work, and when i was approximately 1 minute from my home, my check engine light came on, and my car began chugging. i made it as far as 3 houses away from my driveway when my car just stalled out. rather than re-starting, i decided to roll to my driveway. i didn't even make it as far as my driveway, and my car caught on fire. the black smoke was so thick, you couldn't even see through it. my whole engine went up in flames, and my car is now totaled. i have had absolutely no problems with this car until now. | |||
| 07/01/2001 | |||
| Vehicle stalled without prior warning. also, engine check light appears on dashboard. dealership is aware of the problem.*ak | |||
| 04/01/2001 | |||
| Vehicle will shutdown without prior warning. consumer will fill in additional information. *ak | |||
| 09/07/2001 | 0 | ||
| Vehicle shakes and vibrates and shuts off without prior warning. dealership is aware of problem.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 04/24/2006 | 15 | 10/08/2000 | |
| Purchased car, 2001 kia rio, in october of 2000. within a few days airbag light came on. this occurred several times over a one year period and had to be taken back to dealer for repair at least four times. recall was received for fuel system. this was replaced without problem. next problem occurred with wheels, which was also a recall. i had to order the wheels which took at least a month to come in leaving me to drive to and from work, 65 miles each way, on violently vibrating wheels. wheels were finally replaced. problem occurred in winter 2005 with door latch. driver side door would lock and stay locked. vehicle was taken to original dealer for repair only to have old part repaired while being charged for new part and labor. within a few days, door latch failed again. took vehicle to another dealer who ordered new part. in the meantime i waited for part to arrive, and drove around in a car whose door didn't lock, leaving my car prey to thieves, who stole things constantly from me. finally this was fixed but, the passenger side door lock did the same thing. i look the car back to the dealer who told me that they could not fix it since my warranty was up and to fix it would cost me $700 or more. i've also noticed a problem with the car stalling in traffic. this is a new problem. example: i stop to get gas, start the car and turn out into traffic and the car shuts down. during the winter of 2005 while waiting for door locks to come in, my driver side wheel bearing went out. this was repaired but subsequently the next day after repair while driving into work, wheel bearing literally crumbled. had car towed to dealer who informed me that an old part was mistakenly put back on the car. this was repaired and replaced with a new part. these are all safety and quality control issues. *jb | |||
| 12/25/2003 | 58000 | 03/08/2001 | |
| Christmas day, 2003 immediate and engulfing engine fire while my car was idling for a very short period of time. | |||
| 09/29/2002 | 3 | 07/01/2002 | |
| Consumer stated the malfunction light came on and the vehicle stalled when the brakes were applied. dealer was not notified at this time. nlm jlg | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer states that the motor locked while driving. the dealer has inspected the vehicle and refused to repair the vehicle. feel free to provide any further information. nlm | |||
| 08/26/2002 | 12 | ||
| Consumer is reporting premature wear of the engine mounts and a rattling noise coming from the engine area,while idling or driving. dealer notified and had replaced them. nlm the consumer has traded this vehicle in due to all of the mechanical problems and is requesting her money back because when she had taken the vehicle the dealer, they didn't repair the problem which was to be covered by warranty. the vehicle has no power and very poor shifting. the abs and check engine light is on. the left front mirror is not working. the spark plugs are faulty/breaking down. the inner/outer bearing with seals on left rear and right rear-replaced, and the right rear hub assembly-replaced due to over tightening of the spindle nut. there's a noise in the tire(s) the dealer performed a recall that replaced the cooler hose. *scc | |||
| 09/14/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that while driving the vehicle cut off. had vehicle serviced. the engine motor was gone, as a result of the no engine compression.*jb | |||
| 08/19/2002 | 15 | ||
| Vehicle has been in repair shop fifteen times with no satisfaction. consumer can be driving on road, and the vehicle cuts off. sometimes can restart it, and sometimes cannot restart vehicle. she is afraid it is going to kill her daughter. mechanic insists there is nothing wrong with vehicle.*ak | |||
| 08/02/2002 | 3 | 01/01/2001 | |
| When i bought the kia it had eicler prob then engien prob and more elic. *ak | |||
| 5 | 11/24/2000 | ||
| While driving at highway speeds, engine stalls out. dealer said it was caused by corroded wiring under the hood. *ak the consumer states that two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle died and would not start when traveling on the highway. a week later the vehicle wouldn't go in reverse, consumer was told that vehicle needed a new transmission. the vehicles airbag and engine light would stay on. replaced/repaired the following; replaced input speed sensor, repaired the open circuit/driverside airbag, replaced left front hub bearings,inner/outer seals, front brakes replaced, and the rotors machined. *scc | |||
| 06/27/2001 | 6 | 07/01/2001 | |
| Engine check light has illuminated 6 times since purcahse of vehicle. vehicle is shaking while sitting still and hesitating when starting up. kia was not contacted. *ak *tt | |||
| 03/14/2002 | |||
| While driving ,engine light came on, vehicle started to vibrate, and 10 minus later caught on fire. dealer contacted.*ak | |||
| 02/01/2002 | |||
| Engine check light will continueously stay on and vehicle will intermittently stalling out. contacted dealer, and the dealer could not find cause. *ak | |||
| 02/09/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving any speed vehicle stalls intermittently dealer has been contacted.*ak. consumer also stated the interior panel around the windshield has broken off, also the vehicle has poor gas mileage, the overdrive light is coming on, the check engine light is on, the steering wheel locks up and is difficult to unlock, and the brake pedal goes too far down.*slc | |||
| 06/12/2001 | |||
| Consumer's brand new vehicle has cut off twice. it doesn't give any warning before it cuts off. dealer has looked at it, and they can't find a remedy. consumer will add more information.*ak | |||
| 06/09/2001 | 1 | ||
| While trying to get out of a parking space steering wheel made a very loud grinding noise when ever turning steering wheel real hard. took to dealer. dealer replaced ball joint and hub. next morning while driving on highway, steering came loose. ball joint and hub disintegrated. *ak tape player inoperatve. vehicle runs rough in mornings. trunk hard to unlock, dealer replaced trunk lock. right rear door lock stuck. rattle was present due to dash rubbing against carrier frame, dealer added insulation, noise ceased. *slc | |||
| 08/18/2000 | 3 | 08/17/2000 | |
| The day after purchase the consumer noticed a significant decrease in power, the vehicle had trouble shifting, the check engine light illuminates and the overdrive light blinks. nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 10/05/2001 | 1300 | 7 | 09/04/2001 |
| Dt: the caller said the dealer made new holes in the frame to put the bolts in. the dealer cut the frame to put smaller bolts and nuts in. another dealer said doing that ruined the integrity of the frame. also, there was an exhaust leak into the vehicle. the transmission bracket was bent and it would not hold the transmission in place. when the dealer fixed it the bolts fell out. the caller had to take vehicle back to dealer. the check engine light was on constantly. vehicle will not pass inspection with the light on. dealer said it will pass inspection with the light on. manufacturer said they could not do anything to help the caller because the warranty expired. the caller said fuses blew out. he replaced the fuses over 200 times. the dashboard lights,headlights and other exterior lights went out. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2005 | 4 | 01/01/2001 | |
| Dt: the consumer owns a 2001 kia rio and is having problems with the exhaust system. the consumer smelled an odor coming from the exhaust system. she has reported this problem to the dealer and they said everything was fine. the hanger under the exhaust system broke and now there is a noise. it was welded back together three times and it has broken again. *jb | |||
| 1 | 08/17/2002 | ||
| Engine check light comes on repeatedly with cause unknown. the only corrective action dealership did was to change a code in the vehicle's computer system. faulure caused vehicle not to exceed 5 mph. *ak the brakes were making a loud noise, the air bag light was on, the left window was acting erractically, the regulator had to be replaced, the rear view mirro was inoperative, all 4 door seals were leaking water, there was a shimmy in the steering wheel, the shift indicator strip was out of poistion, the trim around the windshield was loose for the second time, there was a noise coming from the exhaust due to the shiled on the midpipe being loose.*jb | |||