2003 KIA Rio Cinco
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › KIA › Rio Cinco › 2003
These records cover every 2003 KIA Rio Cinco. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2003 KIA Rio Cinco. Newest first.
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel intake nipple of the fuel distributor IS subject to fracture or cracking during removal of the quick connect coupling securing the main fuel tube assembly to the fuel intake nipple, or when force IS accidentally applied to the intake nipple during the vehicle assembly process or during engine compartment repairs.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel distributor and main fuel tube assemblies. the recall began june 18, 2004. owners should contact KIA at 1-800-333-4542.
Owner complaints
8 complaints1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Unknown or other
When you park the car, shutoff engine, pull up the short unlock stick, then pull the open button to open the door. That's normal procedure. But if you are in hurry, pull the door open button first and forget pull the unlock stick, you cannot open door anymore, you cannot go back and pull up the…
When you park the car, shutoff engine, pull up the short unlock stick, then pull the open button to open the door. That's normal procedure. But if you are in hurry, pull the door open button first and forget pull the unlock stick, you cannot open door anymore, you cannot go back and pull up the unlock stick to unlock door anymore. It will keep locking the door back when you pull up the unlock stick. You have to fight for 15 min to open the door. Dangerous if in the emergency.
- Seat belts
The rear seatbelts don't lock into place right. Normally, when you pull a seatbelt the full way out then let it wind back in, it should have tension on it. The seatbelts in the rear of my vehicle don't do this. They can be pulled back out without stopping. They clip into the buckles fine though. I have 2 car seats in the back, so I need this feature to work properly to secure the child seats. *tr
- Seat belts
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 KIA rio cinco. The contact stated that the rear automatic seat belt retractor was not locking properly; therefore, the safety seat might come loose. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and a report was filed since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 70,000.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
7-THE engine light IS again on at 89,000. this time steve took the car to a local mechanic we know & trust, and was told the transmission was slipping. again, steve took the car to a dealership around 90,000...this time the transmission was slipping. at this point, the dealership mechanics could…
7-THE engine light IS again on at 89,000. this time steve took the car to a local mechanic we know & trust, and was told the transmission was slipping. again, steve took the car to a dealership around 90,000...this time the transmission was slipping. at this point, the dealership mechanics could not deny this was a transmission problem. now, we were forced to jump through several hoops providing evidence that we've provided routine maintenance. which we did, but they still have not made a decision to replace the transmission. 8-THE car now does not have reverse! we are forced to drive it to work without a reverse, it will comes to a near stop on inclines. Driving an auto with no reverse IS dangerous, but we believe this should be covered under the warranty, and we refuse to pay for it. as I've stated before, a person does not get 300,000 miles from autos on a regular basis without providing routine maintenance! my daughter's car has nearly 200,000 miles, and she's just breaking her car in! we sold our ford in april 2006 ... It had 297,000 miles and was running strong. we have a history of taking care of our vehicles! KIA dealerships are not honoring the 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. *tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Cont...2 of 3 3-I'VE followed the maintenance schedule, provided evidence for routine oil changes, transmission flushes, air conditioner maintenance., tires, brakes, etc. every auto I've every owned (dating back to 1976) has given me in excess of 200,000 miles...and my toyota had over 350,000…
Cont...2 of 3 3-I'VE followed the maintenance schedule, provided evidence for routine oil changes, transmission flushes, air conditioner maintenance., tires, brakes, etc. every auto I've every owned (dating back to 1976) has given me in excess of 200,000 miles...and my toyota had over 350,000 ... And the engine was still purring (i just got tired of having to replace the floor). a person doesn't get that kind of mileage on a regular basis without taking care of it! 4-THE engine light first appeared in february 2004. I took it to burlingame garage. they told me to take it to KIA, that the warranty should cover anything wrong with it. the dealership again brushed me off by stating I needed a transmission flush as routine maintenance?they wanted $225. I declined their wonderful ?special price, and made an appointment with burlingame garage?they did a transmission flush for $79. 5-february 2006, the engine light comes on again. I called the dealership, and they had their dealership revoked, I now had to go to the comstock park location. so I made an appointment for april (they didn't seem to worried about me driving the car with the engine light on). they told me I needed a new transmission belt, so they changed it (which was extremely expensive ($400+), and they also checked the fluids, and changed the oil. 6-I had the engine flushed again once we made the family decision to move to california. we moved in august 2006. my husband noticed the "check engine" light on again. he took it to the dealership around 79,000 miles, and they told him it only needed a transmission flush (but that didn't make sense to me since I had it flushed less than 20,000 miles ago). he had the flush done anyway. continued....3 *tr
- Power train › Automatic transmission
I have several issues with KIA. I'll give you a quick synopsis of my dealings with KIA. 1-I wanted to buy the 2002 rio cinco in august 2002. I researched it online, and picked the one I wanted before going to a dealership. I went to the dealership that had billboards posted all over grand…
I have several issues with KIA. I'll give you a quick synopsis of my dealings with KIA. 1-I wanted to buy the 2002 rio cinco in august 2002. I researched it online, and picked the one I wanted before going to a dealership. I went to the dealership that had billboards posted all over grand rapids, mi advertising: $99 down / $99 per month. I waited over 2 hours to be waited on. when the salesman finally waited on me, I was told they had to get the car I wanted from another dealership, and I could pick it up in 2 days. october 25TH, 2002, I finally picked it up (between aug & oct the salesman called several times to ask if I would accept a different color, model, features, etc., and of course I said no ... Especially since they were not going to offer a discount). then, when the car finally arrived in october, they told me it was what I ordered, but it wasn't. my husband picked up the car since I was out of town, so he didn't know they gave him a 2003 model, and not the 2002 I ordered. they had him sign the paperwork, so he was unaware that the price was also $4000.00 more than the price I agreed to pay! upon arriving home from my business trip, I immediately called the dealership to notify them that there was a mistake, and we did not have the right vehicle. their answer to me was, the paperwork IS complete, the contracts are signed, and the sale IS final. 2-I went back several times for a variety of reasons, but everytime I went into that dealership, I had to wait over an hour, and ended up leaving before they would talk to me.... Even when I had an appointment! so I ended up taking my cinco elsewhere for maintenance. continued ....2-3 *tr
- Structure › Frame and members
Had a clunking sound from the right rear of vehicle, brought vehicle to dealer for inspection. Tech checked the strut mounts and found nothing loose. He then removed the interior panels and found the metal holding the strut tower in place had broken below the welds. I was in formed that the vehicle…
Had a clunking sound from the right rear of vehicle, brought vehicle to dealer for inspection. Tech checked the strut mounts and found nothing loose. He then removed the interior panels and found the metal holding the strut tower in place had broken below the welds. I was in formed that the vehicle was a total loss with only 14,000 miles on it. I just recently found out that when the dealer put me in another vehicle the financing of the original vehicle was included. I also just found out the vehicle that they claimed to have been a total loss was later sold. *tr
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
1/10/04 saturday. around 10:30 am hope calls and says the motor has blown on the KIA. I called kia's roadside assistance. Hope meanwhile had to walk two miles in 40 degree below zero wind chill to the nearest exit and call me. 1/12/04 monday I called bortz and talked to dean the service…
1/10/04 saturday. around 10:30 am hope calls and says the motor has blown on the KIA. I called kia's roadside assistance. Hope meanwhile had to walk two miles in 40 degree below zero wind chill to the nearest exit and call me. 1/12/04 monday I called bortz and talked to dean the service manager. He told me I have a piston rod in the oil pan and the motor will need to be replaced. he also said there IS no oil in the engine. he that I had no proof of oil changes. I told him I had receipts for oil dating back to july 2003 . he told me that didn't prove oil changes and voided the warranty. I called KIA and asked to talk to the KIA factory rep but was told that I had to go through the dealer and she wouldn't even talk to me if I couldn't prove my oil changes. I was told that a new motor would cost me $4400 so I elected to get a used one with 5000 miles on it for $1800. I asked for some of the oil and all related parts at that time. 1/14/04 wednesday when I called dean at KIA, I was told that it would be two (2) to six (6) weeks before we could get the KIA back. we got the KIA back on 1/30/04. KIA and transmission problems on thursday 2/5/03 the KIA started to miss shifts and run rough. on my way to my dads the check engine light came on then went out about 1/10/04 saturday. around 10:30 am hope calls and says the motor has blown on the KIA. I called kia's roadside assistance. Hope meanwhile had to walk two miles in 40 degree below zero wind chill to the nearest exit and call me. 1/12/04 monday I called bortz and talked to dean the service manager. He told me I have a piston rod in the oil pan and the motor will need to be replaced. he also said there IS no oil in the engine. he that I had no proof of oil changes. I told him I had receipts for oil dating back to july 2003 . he told me that didn't prove oil changes and voided the warranty. I called KIA and asked to talk to the KIA factory rep but was told that I had to go through the dealer and she wouldn't even talk to me if I couldn't
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10201529TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
- 10026726KIA: all models. Article provides information relating to the improved durability of bulb life for rear combination bulb; rear stop lamp/tail lamp bulb utilized on multiple KIA models.
- 10007265Pending recall relating to the fuel distributor and fuel connector assemblies. KIA has expanded the range of affected vehicles.
Every KIA Rio Cinco model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.