Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Kia Rio Cinco. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–12 of 12
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.
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 2012. THE SHIFTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE STICKY WITH IRREGULAR TIMING. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THE DOORS, ABOVE ALL. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I BOUGHT THE ONLY 'LEMON'..OR AM AMONG A FEW KIA RIO CINCO OWNERS FACING THESE PROBLEMS.
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 MIGHT BREAK DOWN SOMEWHERE, I FEEL LIKE SUING KIA FOR MAKING A CRAPPY CAT THAT DOESN'T LAST. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR LIKE THIS BEFORE, THE DOORS ARE BROKEN EVEN THE HATCH WON'T OPEN ANYMORE, WHAT THE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
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
WHILE ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH ON MY 2004 KIA RIO CINCO. AT HIGHWAY SPEED I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A TRUCK WHEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CLUTCH PARTIALLY DISENGAGED CAUSING MY ACCELERATION TO CEASE. I LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND WHEN RE-ENGAGING THE THROTTLE, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AGAIN. I HAD TO LET OFF,APPLY BRAKES, AND SWERVE IN BEHIND THE TRUCK I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING TRUCK. THE CAR SEEMED TO OPERATE PERFECTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT BUT I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY A DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I FINALLY FOUND A DEALER THAT HAD THE TIME TO LOOK AT IT A DAY LATER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THEIR POLICY TO NOT REPAIR CLUTCH PROBLEMS SINCE THEY ARE CALLED A "WEAR ITEM". THEY ALSO TOLD ME THE CLUTCH PLATE LOOKED TO BE BADLY BURNED BUT I COULD FINISH THE TRIP IF I BABIED IT. I CONTINUED ON TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION AND HAVE DECIDED TO SELL THE CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED, THE CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON IT. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND AM ALMOST THE SOLE DRIVER SO THIS WASN'T CAUSED BY DRIVER ABUSE. I GUESS THEIR ARE LOOPHOLES IN THE WARRANTY THAT KIA ADVERTISES SO HIGHLY AND THEY AREN'T AFRAID TO LOSE CUSTOMERS WHEN THEIR PRODUCT FAILS. *NM
CAR IS A KIA RIO CINCO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT SEEMS TO BE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN ALL GEARS. CAR WILL ONLY ACCELERATE ABOUT 10 MILES IN EACH GEAR, THEN BEGINS TO STALL AND THEN DECELERATE, UNLESS I MOVE IT TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN I REACH 5TH GEAR AT ABOUT 42 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR WILL DRIVE OK UNTIL I REACH 50 AND THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE, STABILIZING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. *JB
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN ACCORD FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LANE TO THE OTHER, AND STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. PUMPING THE BRAKES MADE THE REACTION WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE , SLOWING THE CAR,AND STEERING ENGAGED AGAIN. PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY.*AK
SINCE DAY ONE THIS CAR HAS HAD A SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SPEED OF 55 - 65 MPH. THIS CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I REQUESTED A REPRESENTATIVE COME AND CHECK THE CAR.THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT WAS, "WHAT YOUR FEELING IN YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS COMMERCIALY ACCEPTABLE TO THE INDUSTRY." AS A TECHINIAN MYSELF, I BELIEVE THAT NO NEW CAR SHOULD SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DECLINED MY REQUEST TO BUY BACK MY CAR. I NEED SOME HELP. ALL OF THE SAME CARS THAT I DROVE FROM THE DEALER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN DRIVE IN THIS CAR AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK, WHAT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS CAR HAD I KNOWN THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS MUCH TROUBLE. I WOULD LIKE THE CAR TO BE REPURCHASED .
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. A POLICE OFFICE HAD TO USE HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OF THE HIGHWAY, THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN.*AK
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
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
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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