2002 Kia Rio Engine Problems

I JUST GOT MY CAR FIXED ON MON. 8/25/14. I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS IDLING ROUGH. THE SHOP PUT IN NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. IT COST ME $180. I DROVE IT HOME. IT WAS SMOOTH. THEN I DROVE TO DOWNTOWN AKRON, ABOUT 15 MILES, TO A HIKE. WHEN I WAS ALMOST THERE, MY CAR JUST WENT DEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED OFF THE BUSY ROAD ONTO A PARKING LOT (PART OF/BY AKRON UNIVERSITY). THE CAR WAS DEAD. IT MADE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO START IT. I CALLED AAA AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG (IT HAD A BRAND NEW 6 YEAR BATTERY IN IT). THEY TOWED ME BACK TO THE SHOP THAT HAD WORKED ON IT EARLIER THAT DAY - 15 MILES. THE NEXT DAY, 8/26/14, THE SHOP TOLD ME THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND IT RUINED THE ENGINE. THEY SAID KIA'S HAVE AN INTERFERENCE MOTOR. WHEN THE BELT BREAKS, IT BREAKS OFF ALL THE PISTONS (SOMETHING LIKE THAT) AND RUINS THE MOTOR. IT CAN'T BE FIXED. I HAVE TO BUY A NEW MOTOR $2000 APPRX, OR A NEW CAR. I LIVE ALONE AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR EITHER. I WAS COUNTING ON THIS CAR TO LAST ME 2-3 MORE YEARS. A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT GARAGES TOLD ME IT LOOKED GOOD AND SHOULD LAST THAT LONG AT LEAST. I WAS GOING TO START SAVING FOR A NEW CAR. THIS IS VERY UNETHICAL OF KIA. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE/SELL A CAR THAT HAS A MOTOR THAT SELF-DESTRUCTS. I'VE HAD OTHER CARS AND THE TIMING BELT BROKE, BUT IT DID NOT RUIN THE MOTOR. THEY JUST REPLACED THE TIMING BELT. THIS IS HORRIBLE! I HAD NO IDEA, NO WARNING! ALL THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO NEVER SAID A THING! KIA SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE TO WARN YOU ABOUT IT! I HAVE A MANUAL AND I NEVER SAW ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THERE. MY CHEVY MANUAL HAD THE MILES AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AT THOSE MILES. THE KIA BOOK DOES NOT. I HAD NO IDEA!! THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! TOTAL RIP OFF! *TR

NHTSA ID

10628921

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

2002 KIA RIO. CONSUMER STATES TIMING BELT FAILED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIMING BELT FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME AT 59,059 AND DESTROYED THE SECOND ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL TIMING BELT WAS NOT REPLACED AT THE PROPER MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ORIGINAL TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AT 53,668 AND THE REPLACEMENT BELT FAILED AT 59,059 BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED 60,000. A KIA REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE WARRANTY ONLY EXTENDED TO THE ORIGINAL ENGINE, NOT THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10438436

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

Mileage

53,668 mi

WE WERE JUST 10 MINUTES DRIVING FROM HOME, WHEN WE SAW THE SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT OF THE CAR. WE WERE APPROACHING THE LIGHT SO THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 10 MILES . WITHIN 5/6 METERS WE STOPPED IN TURN LINE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SMOKE GOT MORE AND MORE. SO WE GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WE WERE JUST SHOCKED. SOMEBODY TOLD US CALL 911 AND WE DID AND WE CALLED FIRE FIGHTERS AS WELL. DURING THAT PERIOD FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE BONNET AND OTHER CARS WERE AROUND US. I WAS JUST AFRAID OF EXPLOSION . IN COUPLE OF MINUTES POLICE CAME AND BLOCK THE ROAD. THEN FIRE FIGHTERS CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. BUT OUR CAR WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED AND OUT OF ORDER. WE TOWED IT TO THE AUTO BODY AND SOME DAYS LATER THEY TOLD CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

10371653

Incident

Nov 27, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

I GOT THE SECOND HAND 2002 KIA RIO 4 MONTHS AGO . ME AND MY WIFE WERE DRIVING FOR 1 MILE WHEN THE SMELL OF SMOKE CAME AND IN THE COUPLE OF SECONDS THERE WAS SMOKE CAME FROM THE BONNET. I SWITCHED OFF AND TRIED TO OPEN THE BONNET BUT THE SMOKE GOT MORE AND MORE ,SO WE LEFT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND WE SAW FLAMES CAME FROM RIGHT PART OF THE BONNET. WE WERE JUST SHOCKED AND SCARED OF FIRE. WE CALLED 911 AND FIREFIGHTERS AND IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES FRONT PART OF THE CAR WAS TOTALLY RUINED. LOOKING OPTIMISTICALLY THERE WAS NO INJURY AT ALL . BUT HOW ABOUT THE NEXT ONE! CAN EVERYBODY BE LUCKY AS WE WERE?! WE WERE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN LINE IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET , SO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND US I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAPPENED IF I WAS IN FREEWAY OR IF MY WIFE WAS ALONE!? *TR

NHTSA ID

10368522

Incident

Nov 27, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-5 MPH IN THE RESIDENCE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, PREVIOUSLY THE SPARK PLUGS, AND CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 03/01/11 UPDATED 04/1511

NHTSA ID

10353386

Incident

Aug 3, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2002 KIA RIO, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND WOULD NOT START UP. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG - NO LIGHT OR INDICATORS ON. HAD IT TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC - ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE WHY - OIL AND COOLANT WERE FINE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THE REASON DIAGNOSED, AS IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT CAUSED IT - THE MOTOR IS SHOT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED - OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES, REGULAR SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE BOOK. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO, AS IT JUST DECIDED TO DIE ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277906

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

96,500 mi

KIA RIO 2002 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT I TOOK IT TO GET CHECK OUT.EVERYTHING IS FINE.THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.THEY RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT CAME BACK ON.I WAS TOLD BUY A KIA DEALER SHIP IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE.THIS IS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS NOW. I HAVE TO GET THE CHECK EVERY TIME THE INSPECTION IS DO AND HAVE THE LIGHT RESET. SO I CAN PASS THE INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268470

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

87,253 mi

THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN HOT WHEN I WOULD BE BRIEFLY STOPPED FOR INSTANCE IN A DRIVE THROUGH RESTAURANT OR A LONGER TRAFFIC LIGHT. ONCE THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE THE CAR COOLED DOWN. I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND DO A TUNE UP ON MY CAR. HE SAID THE FAN HAS NO BLADES THEY HAVE DISINTEGRATED. THIS WAS OF CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT THERE HAS BEEN NO INJURY TO MY CAR SUCH AS AN ANIMAL IN THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238342

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

114,000 mi

ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2002 KIA RIO - TIMING BELT FAILED AT 93,000 MILES CAUSING TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE (INTERFERENCE ENGINE). TIMING BELT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 100,000 MILES FOR ORIGINAL OWNER ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. KIA WOULD NOT HONOR WARRANTY. SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER, I HAD A REPLACEMENT ENGINE INSTALLED. IT FAILED 2,300 MILES LATER DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT SHEARING AND THE INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS. AGAIN, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228660

Incident

Dec 10, 2006

Mileage

93,000 mi

I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 KIA RIO TO A CERTIFIED REPUTABLE MECHANIC. HIS DETERMINATION OF THE FAULTY ENGINE WAS DUE TO THE FACT OF A INFERIOR TIMING BELT. HIS STATEMENT WAS THAT THE TIMING BELT GAVE OUT AND THE ENGINE IS DESIGNED SO THAT BASICALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CRANKSHAFT AND VALVES RUIN ITSELF DUE TO THE BROKEN TIMING BELT. THIS HAPPENING LEAVES ME WITH BASICALLY A $2,000 DOLLAR LOSS ALL BECAUSE OF MAYBE A $100 PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210004

Incident

Nov 16, 2007

Mileage

102,500 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE STEERING, THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE LOCKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE OR STOP IT WHICH CAUSED A CRASH WITH A VAN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND LATER CLAIMED IT WAS THE TIMING BELT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE AT COST TO THE CONTACT. THE DEALER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA RECALL#04V179000: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *AK CUSTOMER DID RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. UPDATED 4/9 *TR

NHTSA ID

10185609

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

78,780 mi

2002 KIA RIO - TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSES ENTIRE AND INSTANTANEOUS ENGINE LOSS - CAR COMES TO HALT IN ROADWAY UNEXPECTEDLY. TIMING BELTS ARE COVERED UNDER KIA'S 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT THEY DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175465

Incident

Dec 5, 2006

Mileage

91,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON A SEMIFREQUENT BASIS, EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TWO DEALERSHIPS WHO HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCE A RECALL ON ENGINE STALLING HOWEVER A RECALL NUMBER WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. THE CONTACT IDENTIFIED THE VEHICLE AS UNRELIABLE, AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10164234

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

Mileage

15,000 mi

DRIVING HOME AND CAR SHUTTERED THEN DIED. COULD NOT RESTART. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS A ROD THROWN. IT HAS LESS THEN 73,000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162014

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

72,312 mi

SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IN 2002 IT HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AS OFTEN WITHOUT THE ISSUE BEING RESOLVED. DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM (THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY) AND HAD ANOTHER CLIENT'S CAR THAT DID THE SAME THING AND COULDN'T FIX IT EITHER. WE HAVE USED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER, WHICH WORKED FOR 6 MONTHS UNTIL NOW. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND IS DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS AND ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLS!! LEMON LAW PAPERS WILL BE FILED IF NOT RESOLVED VERY SOON!!*JB

NHTSA ID

10158922

Incident

Jun 3, 2006

WHILE TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD THE CAR BACK FIRED THEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP, THE TIMING BELT WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, BUT BECAUSE IT HAD 60,274 MILES THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID THEY HAVE HAD AT LEAST SIX SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE LAST YEAR, A COUPLE WERE LESS THAN 59,000 MILES AND WERE COVERED. IN TALKING TO KIA DIRECT, THEY SAID BECAUSE WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND HAD NO SERVICE RECORD FROM BEFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IT'S CLEAR FROM THE NUMBER OF FAILURES THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE LOCKUP COULD CAUSE A FATALITY IF IT HAPPENED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS! *JB

NHTSA ID

10156901

Incident

Apr 29, 2006

CAR STALLS AT RANDOM TIMES. WARM OR COLD DOES NOT MATTER. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 8 MONTHS. HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINS ON THE INTERNET, MOST SIMPLY DO NOT TAKE THE TIME TO POST WHERE IT MATTERS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10140348

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO 2002 KIA RIOS, THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASE AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES, DIED. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 14 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING . THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WILL WORK FOR AWHILE, NO SPECIFIC TIME, AND THEN DIE AGAIN. CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ACTUALLY DROVE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LOCATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.*AK THE VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE. THE LIFTGATE LATCH WAS REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131673

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

100 mi

I HAVE A 2002 KIA RIO WITH APPROX. 51,000 MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN AND WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE OIL SYSTEM. I PROVIDED KIA WITH ALL THE OIL MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS EVERY 3000 MILES. KIA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT THE OIL WAS NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE FAKE. BASICALLY, THEY SAY THAT I AND A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (OWNER OF A AUTO AND TOWING SHOP) ARE LIARS. KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION (OIL AND RECEIPTS WERE MAINTAINED PROPERLY). IT HAS BEEN 1 MONTH AGO, I HAVE NO CAR AND SERIOUSLY AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND KIA WILL NOT RECONSIDER ANY INFORMATION I PROVIDE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115931

Incident

Feb 21, 2005

SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR IN NOV. 2001, IT HAS GIVEN ME NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD THE STRUTS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR LEAKING OIL, IT HAS STALLED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, CAUSING CONCERNS ABOUT MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY,AND RECENTLY THE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE ENGINE IS NOW FROZEN AND SINCE I'VE REACHED MY 60,000 MILE MARK, THE DEALERSHIP IS HESITANT TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS TRULY AN EXPENSIVE LEMON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10114768

Incident

Mar 15, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, AND THEN THE ENGINE FAILED. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110985

Incident

Feb 5, 2005

Mileage

31,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40-45MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER. SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *AK VEHICLE KEPT ON OVER HEATING. IT WAS FOUND THAT COOLING FAN ON ENGUAGING CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVER HEAT. TRANSMISSION JERKED AT TIMES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DUPLICATE CONCERN. *LA

NHTSA ID

10059297

Incident

Feb 18, 2004

VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER REPLACED A MODULE. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. *AK VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. AIR CONDITIONER EXHIBIT BAD SMELL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10061287

Incident

Jan 23, 2004

Mileage

33,404 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A ROTTEN EGG ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059562

Incident

May 12, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICE THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057303

Mileage

2,000 mi