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Engine & cooling

2004 Kia Rio Engine problems

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2004 Kia Rio's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 28% of all its complaints, most recently on December 5, 2010. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10369219
Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10260541
Engine & cooling

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...

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rio we also bought a kia spectra. So of course we took the spectra in right away to get a new belt so we wouldn't have 2 cars down. That cost 677.00. I had 78,000 on the spectra and there was 83,000 on the rio. I investigated this problem come to find out alot of people had this problem so kia knows about it. I then checked the technical bulletins and found that in january 0f 2005 there was a bulletin item number 10015272. It says they improved the timing belts for the kia rio and optima. Well they didn't improve it for my car. When the timing belt went it blew the engine. We are so made and when we took my spectra in to be done and told them what happened to the rio they said that's to bad. We now have our car at another garage and are trying to get kia to pay for another engine. What do you think my chances are? I am at work now and I do not have the vin number, if you email me then later tonight I can forward the vin number to you. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10249072
BrakesEngine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia rio cinco. While driving 30, 45, or 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and shut off without warning. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the diagnostic showed that nothing was wrong. The manufacture stated that the investigation was closed since the dealer could find no failure with the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 53,015. Updated 01-14-08. *Kb the rotors were resurfaced and the drums were rotated. Updated 12/12/07. *Jb

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10204856
Engine & cooling

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 mph on normal road conditions a lost of engine power was noticed. There were no engine warning lights to alert the contact of an engine problem. The vehicle was taken to an independent certified mechanic who determined the engine blew out due to the presence of coolant mixed with the engine oil and recommended engine peplacement. The dealership and manufacturer have not been contacted. The vehicle remained inoperable. The contact was concern because the vehicle has been under regular maintenace since the purchase date

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10175941
Engine & cooling

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle continuously stalled. The vehicle was taken to the service dealer six times but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. Updated 12/01/06. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10172888
Engine & cooling

Dt*: the contact stated the engine's timing belt chipped and dented an engine piston. The service dealer determined the engine needed to be replaced.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10172592
SuspensionBrakesEngine & coolingFuel systemBody, doors & structure

Dt*: the contact stated that since the vehicle was purchased on january 19th 2005, it has been experiencing problems with the carburetor and a bad odor that comes from the engine. The vehicle was also sold to the contact without notification of recall defect to the carburetor. The vehicle was taken to the dealers to have a part replaced to remedy problems with the carburetor but vehicle consistently experiences the same problems. The vehicle was taken back on ten other occasions for services related to the...

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problem. The vehicle was than taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the problem was related to fuel injection system. The manufacturer was notified and provided a referral to another dealers for service. The vehicle has been taken to the recommended dealer for service. The engine light illuminated, however the dealer refused to address the problem. The vehicle was pulling to the right, an alignment was performed. The consumer heard a wind noise while driving. The brakes were making a loud noise. Updated 08/01/06. *Jb

Filed Incident Suspension · Service brakes, hydraulic · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · StructureNHTSA 10162588
Engine & coolingElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

My 2004 kia rio started to stall at stop signs and lights @ 24,000 I am also experiencing erratic tachometer readings (up and down) and I have had a continued rough idle. I have brought the car to my dealer on more than 6 occasions and at that point they only returned the computer chip and told me there seems to be nothing wrong with my car. After hiring a lawyer and constant pressure from them to fix the car, they ordered a throttle arm and agreed to try it out. On june 23, 2006 before they put the throttle item...

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in, I stalled @ 30 mph making a turn onto to a street from a intersection. A car coming the other way and stopped inches short of hitting me on my drivers side door. At this point even with the new part placed in my car, I do not feel safe driving this car since they said there is no way to guarantee the problem will be fixed. *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10160791
Engine & coolingFuel systemElectrical system

Dealer changed computer, wiring harness , 2 injectors, plug, timing belt, sensor and replaced comes switches . Bought a 2004 kia rio in march 2005. It has been in the shop for the past 3 weeks. The consumer picked the car up at the shop, and it didn't make it off the lot before the car broke down again. Dealer offered me a rental car. Went back one week later to pick up the car and only went two miles before the car broke down again. Took the car back to dealer, and requested another car just like the one...

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that I had a 2004 kia rio. Dealer said could not trade the car without refinancing it. They did finance the house for the first car but refused to with the second car. Why cant the dealer finance the second car as they did the first? *Ak *nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical systemNHTSA 10118855
Engine & cooling

Check engine soon light came on and there was not acceleration while in 1st gear. Replaced fuel injector harness. *Bf the dealer also replaced the air cleaner lid with a newly designed one, mass air flow sensor and tightened pin connectors. *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10099686
Engine & cooling

While driving check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Vehicle overheated. This caused the vehicle to stall. Consumer was unable to restart vehicle, and had it towed to the dealer for inspection. Mechanic determined that the cam sensor, and other parts needed to be replaced. Consumer informed the mechanic that a ticking problem occurred, and the problem was resolved. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10090029
Engine & coolingFuel system

Car has stalled numerous times. Vehicle would not accelerate unless the gas pedal was depressed completely to the floor. The car has been into the dealer on 4 different occasions and three of the four times they have replaced a different part. The vacuum seal on the fuel line, the catalytic converter, and a part with a o2 sensor. Each time they tell me that the problem is fixed. Now there is a vibration when the car idles and a scraping sound when the car accelerates from a complete stop. The car will be in for the 5th time for this problem. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 10086878
Engine & coolingAcceleration & cruise control

Check engine light continued to stay on. Dealer stated mass air flow sensor failed. This part had been replaced six times. However, problem recurred. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10068683

Kia Rio engine complaints by year

Rio engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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