2004 Kia Rio Problems, complaints & recalls

I bought this car used a little less than a week ago. There was a thumping noise under the hood so I took the car to the dealer twice for this issue. I looked under the hood tonight and found a bunch of pieces that are not bolted down and the battery is completely unsecured and can move around freely. It's horribly unsafe because the battery being loose can affect the entire car and the parts that aren't bolted in place are causing major issues with the AC and other systems.

My wife got locked in her car in the garage at home. There is a spring on the door latch that holds up a lever, that broke, causing the lever to drop and jam the lock lever. When she tried to unlock her door it would not release and the auto lock function kept the other doors locked too. We were able to use my key to quickly unlock and open the passenger side door and get out by crawling over the center console. A simple google search found a few thousand entries showing this same issue with other kia rios and optimas where people are getting stuck in their cars.

Takata recall 2004 kia rio locks in car broken unable to unlock and get out the car I don't know if there is something wrong with the locking system and it has become a major problem

Driver side door lock does not always work. When locked from inside the car you have to crawl out the passenger side and go around to driver door, put the key in the lock and wiggle the inside door lock lever. Sometimes it takes minutes to get it to unlock. If you were to have to exit the vehicle quickly it would not be possible. This has happened multiple time in this car.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. While driving various speeds, there was an abnormal noise underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics and a dealer on numerous occasions where it was diagnosed that the front driver side wheel bearing needed to replaced. The wheel bearing was replaced multiple times; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The kia was under warranty at this time: it required a new transmission. I was told it was about to 'drop'. Despite being under warranty, I was made to pay for it. 2007 The passenger rear door stopped working and would not open. In 2008 the electrical went. No interior lights, radio and no 'door ajar' warning. 2008 The door behind driver would not open. 2013 The driver door would not open followed by the hatchback. Right now only 2 doors are able to be locked due to this issue. A new clutch was put in during ...

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. While driving approximately 50 mph, the wheel bearing and the hub from both rear wheels detached. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the rear tire bearings were previously replaced multiple times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 163,000.

Ok, my car makes a thumping noise under the tire, thought was the wheel bearing it's not someone said it was the axle I don't know also, the engine light has been on I changed the air filter, I read that someone else had problems with the filter, I read that the axle rusts out, I think this car should be recalled people are complaining about the same problems and kia should fix it for free, I don't think I should pay for that the car doesn't get driven that much and I can't go far places with it in fear that it...

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. The contact stated that the drivers side door failed to open when using the key or by manually pulling the lock. The contact mentioned that in order to enter the vehicle she had to do so through the front passengers door. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 84,000.

Tl-the contact ct owns a 2004 kia rio. The contact stated that the windshield defroster and heating system failed. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the windshield defroster and heat button had to be held in to be able to have the windshield defrost and heat system operate. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The failure and current mileage was 87,050. Li

I was driving with my girlfriend, headed out to dinner, going 15 to 20 mph through town (25 mph speed limit), when suddenly a loud clunking noise started, coming from passenger side rear wheel. I pulled over in a business lot & removed tire to find that the rear axel where the shock absorber connects to had rusted off & the shock absorber swinging, disconnected from the axel mount. I nursed the vehicle home & checked the drivers side rear axle & found that it too was ready to snap off. A slight tap with...

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. The contact stated that the manual door locks on both the interior and exterior front driver's side doors would not release. The contact had to enter the vehicle through the front passenger side door and exit in the same manner. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 21,599.

Vehicle was purchased used approximately 2 years ago. On the approximate incident date, the clutch pedal failed to actuate the clutch after producing a loud noise. Inspection at a repair facility revealed failure in several clutch components and a metal fatigue failure in the clutch and brake pedal support bracket. I am filing this complaint on behalf of my daughter for the failed support bracket, which I have in my possession.

The car caught on fire, kia says they sent a notification to the original owner, years ago. We feel that we were entitled to a recall notice before the car burned down. We feel this is not a small recall, it was a fire, a fire is very dangerous and can burn and kill people. We had 22 kias rios in our fleet and never received recall notices on any of them. Kia did send notices to the original owner however they had the information as to which cars received the recommended repairs and which cars never came in, there needs to be some follow up. *Tr

Our car caught on fire. Kia says that recall notices were sent out to the previous owner to take the car to a kia dealer for repairs. Notice was sent out years ago (2002). Kia knew that the repairs were never done because no dealership had billed kia for repairs. For nine (9) years this car was on the road without a safety recall being performed for fire. For nine years we registered this car and kia made no attempt to find out who owns the vehicle. Kia is being very unethical because they say that a notice was sent out (one notice) and now they have done their obligation. *Tr

I was at a stop sign and my 2004 kia rio died , I pushed it to the mechanic and was told the timing belt lost its teeth and there is now no compression in 3 and 4 , the mileage on car is 68040. I was told basically the engine is toast and I wasn't even moving ,i was told by a couple of mechanics that the belt that kia used is faulty . The owners manual says replace 60,000 miles but replace it 105,000 in california. How would a belt be bad in 49 states except california. I found on auto md .Com nhtsa action #10015272 service bulletin # 289221 report dating jan 1 2005 improved timing belts for 04 rio and optima . *Tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. The contact was driving at various speeds. The engine completely stalled and the entire electrical system failed without warning. The engine would restart after waiting for approximately one minute. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to locate the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

The left lower control arm came loose from the car, pulling the cv axle out of place. The left lower control arm was bolted back into place and the cv axle shaft was repaired. *Tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. When the contact approached a stop light, the vehicle began accelerating and a noise was present in the front of the vehicle. The transmission was replaced on three occasions within the last 1000 miles. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 55700 and the failure mileage was 30000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. While pulling up to a parking lot at 20 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. She was near a tire shop at the time and the mechanic stated that the timing belt failed. She had the vehicle towed to an auto repair shop and was informed that the timing belt failed and the engine valves needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that she would be responsible for the repairs. The vehicle is in the process of being repaired, but the contact believes that the timing belt should not have failed within five years. The vin was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.

I have a 2004 kia rio. I had no problems with this vehicle till the month of october when it failed inspection for emissions. I took it to the shop and it took a while before they found out it was a sensor. So then I had the car back for a week and my husband who drives the car everyday was driving home from work heard a loud noise and the car died. Come to find out the timing belt went on the vehicle. Which come to find out you are suppose to change these at 60,000 according to their book. When we bought the...

Fan control knob for heat intermittently would only work on some speeds and gradually would not work at times. It would "catch" every once in awhile only on high, I could smell something hot, now it does not work at all. After looking behind the cover, the clips that hold the relay switch to the knob are melted, the relay switch is burned and the wire harness is melted. *Tr

On friday, 8/22/08, the vehicle stalled after being driven for less than a quarter of a mile from my home and in a 25 m.P.H. Zone. On monday 8/25/08, I had the vehicle towed to the dealership where I purchased the vehicle. There I met with the service technician. The service technician felt that the timing belt may have failed and that the event would likely not be covered under my warranty because, as the customer, I should have had the timing belt replaced at 60,000 miles. My vehicle had 79,418 miles at the...

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia rio. While driving between 50-55 mph uphill, the vehicle began weaving, vibrating, and shaking. The failure recurred the same day. The dealer confirmed that the lateral stabilizer bar failed. The vehicle is currently at the dealer, awaiting the parts to arrive. The contact has pictures. The current and failure mileages were 76,243.

The car was in an accident and the air bags never deployed on the driver side or the passenger side. Nothing was done to fix it .The car now has to have the whole front end fixed and need to have them checked to see why they didn't deploy. *Tr