RoadVitals

2004 Kia Rio Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Dec 5, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 38 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Kia Rio submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10369219
Incident
Nov 6, 2010
Mileage
68,040 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2009

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.

NHTSA ID
10260541
Incident
Feb 21, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 18, 2008

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 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

NHTSA ID
10249072
Incident
Nov 10, 2008
Mileage
83,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Oct 4, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10204856
Incident
Aug 18, 2007
Mileage
53,015 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2006

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

NHTSA ID
10175941
Incident
Dec 10, 2006
Mileage
80,382 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 7, 2006

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

NHTSA ID
10172888
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Mileage
19,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2006

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.

NHTSA ID
10172592
Incident
Oct 26, 2006
Mileage
67,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Jul 17, 2006

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 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

NHTSA ID
10162588
Incident
Jan 19, 2005
Mileage
5,529 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 26, 2006

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 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

NHTSA ID
10160791
Incident
Jun 23, 2006
Mileage
24,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 19, 2005

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 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

NHTSA ID
10118855
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Mileage
23,500 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10099686
Incident
Jul 21, 2004
Mileage
206 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10090029
Incident
Aug 30, 2004

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .