2001 Kia Rio Electrical Problems

IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENTER THE CAR WITH THE KEY AND WHEN I PULL THE DOOR HANDLE THE LOCK DROPS DOWN TO THE CLOSE POSITION AND I CAN'T GET OUT THIS HAPPENS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE,I HAVE TO HOLD THE LOCK ON THE UP POSITION WITH A PIECE OF METAL OR LEAVE THE REAR DOORS UNLOCKED IN CASE I HAVE TO JUMP OUT..THIS CAR IS A LEMON I HAVE REPLACED SENSORS ALTERNATOR, STARTER, AC PARTS AND MANY OTHER PARTS THE ONLY THING GOOD IS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE... *JS

NHTSA ID

10545123

Incident

Sep 4, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10136024 COMPONENT: WHEELS GAS IGNITION? YOU TELL ME? WHEN ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THEIR LEMONS KIA-2001 DETAILS: DT: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND A TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING, THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID FIRE STARTED FROM HEAT OF POWER EQUIPMENT AND THE IGNITION BURNED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 6, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL REGARDING THE WHEELS. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER COMPLAINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE SAME TIRE THAT THE BLEW OUT WAS THE SAME ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0 FAIL DATE: 08/06/2005 DEATHS: 0 DATE ADDED TO DATABASE: 9/9/2005 [FILE] YOUR OWN COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471283

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

THIS IS A KIA RIO 4 DR. 2001 ..WITH 12,000 APROX MILES WHEN THE ECU FUSE BROKE, ON HWY 127 NEAR DEATH VALLEY ..HAD TO GET TOWED INTO MY DESTINATION.IT TOOK ABOUT 5 DAYS TO GET A PART FROM CALIF,UPS TO ME FROM A FRIEND, I CHANGED THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR,,WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM...THE NEAREST KIA DEALER WAS 80 MILES AWAY IN LAS VEGAS,,,I LATER DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN ECU FUSE..NOT A SENSOR..I THEN DROVE THE CAR APTROX 500 MILES BACK TO CALOIF,WHEN IT BLEW AGAIN ON THE HWY 15 NEAR FONTANA,...I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA DEALER IN ONTARIO CALIF, THEY ONLY DID 2 WARRANTY ITEMS ON THE CAR.#1 WAS AN UPGRADE OF THE ECM.AND #2 REPLACED A FUEL DIST SENSOR////THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD FIX THE FUSE ISSUE,,,WHICH I TOLD THEM UP FRONT. THEY RETURNED THE CAR I WAS GOING BACK TO NEVADA IT BLEW A FUSE ECU ON HWY 15 HAD IT TOWED HOME AGAIN,,,,THE DEALER PICKED UP THE CAR FROM RIALTO 10 MILES AWAY FROM MY PARENTS....THEY HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS AND TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE APROX 600$ TO GET UNDER THE DASH WHERE THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT THAT IS CAUSING THIS ECU TO BLOW,,I HAD THE CAR RETURNED ON MY AAA AGAIN TOOK IT FOR A SECOND OPINION,,,AGAIN THEY ALSO SAID IT COULD BE UNDER THE DASH AND THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED TO FIX IT AND KEEP THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 OR 4 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE DEALER NEVER TEST DROVE THE CAR AFTER THE WARRANTY WORK..AS PER THE INVOICE MILEAGE IN AND MILEAGE OUT...THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM...AGAIN...AFTER THE 2ND OPINION..I HAD TO TOW IT AGAIN WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME ON THE STREETS..THAT WAS 55 MILES FROM MY PARENTS HOUSE... I HAVE ALL THE AAA RECORDS ON TOWING ...I'M OUT OF TOWS... THIS CAR COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ....ONLY BECAUSE THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING WITH OUT ANY NOTICE AND SO FAR I WAS LUCKY THAT NOTHING WENT WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280212

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

13,007 mi

DASH LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. COME OFF AND ON. CHECK ENGINE ALSO COMES OFF AND ON. REPAIRED TWICE, STILL COMES ON AFTER SHORT DRIVE. WARNED BY POLICE FOR DASH LIGHTS. CAR WILL BE TOWED BECAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. CAN NOT AFFORD COSTLY REPAIR TO WIRING SYSTEM AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216287

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

Mileage

118,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10174560

Incident

Nov 27, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10144508

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

DT: THE CONCUSMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND A TIRE BLEW OUT. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED SPINNING, THE CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BURST INTO FLAMES, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THEY SAID FIRE STARTED FROM HEAT OF POWER EQUIPMENT AND THE IGNITION BURNED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 6, 2005. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL REGARDING THE WHEELS. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER COMPLAINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED FROM THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCAHSED. THE SAME TIRE THAT THE BLEW OUT WAS THE SAME ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136024

Incident

Aug 6, 2005

Mileage

58,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10136333

Incident

Oct 5, 2001

Mileage

1,300 mi

PROBLEMS WITH 2001 KIA RIO.*MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT RELATED. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD OTHER PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE REAR END VIBRATED. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH REAR DAMPERS. THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT HE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE CRACKED. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083897

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

36,279 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON AN INCLINE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND WITHIN A HALF A MINUTE,IT WAS ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080154

Incident

Jun 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073720

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHILE TURNING ON THE VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067386

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UP AN INCLINE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. WITHIN A HALF A MINUTE, VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063028

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 KIA RIO APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO. I HAVE HAD 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE I HAVE INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE VEHICLE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS TO SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL VIGOROUSLY. I COULD USE SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OF THIS. THANK YOU. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043570

Incident

Oct 25, 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

NHTSA ID

10033235

Incident

Feb 22, 2003

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.

NHTSA ID

10005277

Incident

Jan 31, 2001

Mileage

34,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

8019323

Incident

Aug 26, 2002

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND RECHARGED BATTERY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008289

Incident

Apr 17, 2002

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER; DEALER TIGHTENED NEGATIVE CABLE AND RECHARGED BATTERY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008287

Incident

Mar 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAVE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE TOW TO DEALER, BATTERY WAS REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

8008284

Incident

Jul 25, 2001

KEY JAMS IN IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

752265

Incident

Sep 6, 2001

VEHICLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED WITH A HORN, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892869

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

890530

Incident

Jun 9, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS CHANGED BATTERY TWICE, AND ALTERNATOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

887871

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINED ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. WAS INFORMED PROBLEM CANNOT BE LOCATED. MECHANIC DID REPLACE COMPUTER WHICH TEMPORARILY SOLVED PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM HAS COME BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

887531

Incident

Jan 30, 2001