Faults:

Went through a set of tires at 20,000.

The clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and related items brunt out at 26,356.

General Comments:

The transmission notches, I have had to feel for the gears sometimes. The clutch wouldn't always feel it was disengaging/engaging. But I assumed since my Wife drove this car it was something to live with because I brought it as a commuter car.

Faults:

Transmission was replaced at 16,000 miles with cold weather performance in 1st gear. Since 16,000 replaced transmission 4 times over 6000 miles. Last time in, KIA motor's service representatives visited car at dealer and replaced the following: transmision, flex plate, starter, exhaust flex tube, O2 sensor, trans cooler, and torque converter. Dealer has provided a renter during each transmission failure with no cost.

Car is running better than the day it was purchased "new."

Air conditioner failure at 4000 miles OK since.

Lots of front end parts to eliminate noise, all OK at this time.

Cheaper for KIA to have bought car back.

General Comments:

Please think twice when buying this car.

Faults:

The skirt has been broken twice.

This was caused by my aggressive driving on construction riddled roads.

The rear mud flaps have also been broken off.

The car often makes a pretty loud thump when accelerating out of a turn just as the gear's are changing.

The car likes to stay in a high rev state before changing to third gear.

General Comments:

The splash guard and mud flaps have been replaced twice for free from the dealership.

The dealership has readjusted the transmission to get rid of the high rev's when switching to third gear.

My family went up to Thunder Bay last summer, we were going to pick up my 2 cousins. On the highway we had the car up to 195km/h then backed off to a steady 170. Once the car hit 130km/h the car sunk lower to the ground and those 13" tires really gripped well.

The car gets a steady 413km per tank of gas highway and 327km in city.

I love this little car and would buy another KIA. Could use a bigger engine though, the 4 cyl. is very whiny.

Faults:

Linkage was bound up.

Transmission has gone out 6 times.

Clock spring/air bag defective.

Defective back door seal.

No power.

General Comments:

The Kia Rio is undependable, and the dealers do not hold up their end of the warranty.

I am a full time college student, and work full time, and I thought I was buying a reliable car.

It has been in the shop more than I have gotten to drive it.

Faults:

The check engine light came on the second week and the dealer reassured me it was just a short, not actually a problem with the engine or any other components.

Within the next two months, the check engine light came on again and the overdrive light began flashing and wouldn't turn off. The dealer assured me again, just a short.

Within three months, the check engine light was on again and the car shifted hard. The dealer told me it was a transmission problem and to drive it until the part came in over the next three days. The part turned out to be a brand new transmission installed.

Within six months, the check engine light is on again, the car shifts hard and the windshield wipers don't work. The light is reset, the wipers put "back on track" and the dealer assures me no more problems.

Within a year, same problems. Same response from dealer, but I am finally told about two recalls they had not notified me on previously.

Within a year and a half, twice more the same problem, but now the car has died on me once. I don't bother going to the dealer as it starts later and seems okay. Besides, I know they will just treat me like I'm the problem, not their car.

Within a year and nine months, the car dies on my husband. We take it to the dealer. It is still under warranty from bumper to bumper, but we have to pay $150 for a new gasket, "not covered." They also want to do $600 worth of other, unrelated work that isn't covered under the warranty, but doesn't address the problems we've had.

Within two years the car has died again on me and now the motor is vibrating heavily.

I would never, ever suggest that anyone buy a KIA ever. The dealers are all basically franchises and are allowed to set their own policies. The manufacturer won't help at all. They only gave me a rental car once, for one evening and only because I refused to leave until they did. I bought this car because I am on a tight budget, work full-time and go to school full-time, and thought I was making the best decision for my monetary budget and time budget. KIA has confirmed for me over and over that I have made the worst car purchase decision in my entire life.