SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CON…
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SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE COLD START PROBLEM MY CAR IS HAVING. THE 2003 KIA RIO CINCO HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE SAME COLD START PROBLEM. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED EVERY TIME, HOWEVER IT CONTINUES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10074617
15,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
MY KIA RIO HAS 15000 MILES ON AND THE BRAKES WENT IN THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER HERITAGE FORD AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO COVER THIS. IT WAS ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT. SO THAT MEANT A FAULTY PART IN MY EYES. I CALLED KIA ALSO WHO DID NOT CARE. SO I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AND WHEN TAKING THEM OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE…
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MY KIA RIO HAS 15000 MILES ON AND THE BRAKES WENT IN THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER HERITAGE FORD AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO COVER THIS. IT WAS ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FRONT. SO THAT MEANT A FAULTY PART IN MY EYES. I CALLED KIA ALSO WHO DID NOT CARE. SO I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AND WHEN TAKING THEM OFF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE PAD ITSELF WAS THERE BUT THE BRAKE FELL OFF THE PAD. AND MOST NORMAL CARS THE BRAKES ARE HELD ON WITH A POP RIVET. NOT THIS CAR. THEY ARE HELD ON WITH THIN PIECES OF ALUMINUM WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS HOW EASY ALUMINUM BENDS AND TWISTS EXACTLY HOW MINE WERE. AND THE BRAKE IS HELD ONTO THE PAD WITH GLUE!!! THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR FAULTY MANUFACTURING. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR AND WITH THE WAY KIA HANDLED THIS SITUATION. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10052968
260 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR A STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUMES/ODORS BECAME VERY HEAVY WHEN DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME ILL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ODOR THE DRIVER WAS SMELLING WAS CALLED KOSMOLINE AND WOULD EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR. *AK THERE WA…
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THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR A STRONG ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUMES/ODORS BECAME VERY HEAVY WHEN DRIVING WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME ILL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ODOR THE DRIVER WAS SMELLING WAS CALLED KOSMOLINE AND WOULD EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR. *AK THERE WAS A NAUSEATING SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALLERGIC TO THE SMELL AFTER BREATHING THE MELTING KOSMOLINE AND OR UNDERCARRIAGE FOR OVER 3K MILES. THE SMELL HAD COME FROM THE VENTS AS WELL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HARD START FROM A COLD START THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." WHEN USED WITH CERTAIN CHILD SEATS, THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) FUNCTION IN THE REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES MAY DISENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI-KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA02009 · Air Bag Non Deploy
Opened Jul 2, 2002 · Closed Jul 2, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 82 REPORTS ALLEGING NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS.OF THE 82 REPORTS, ONLY ONE INCIDENT, THE FATAL CRASH THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MODERATE TO SEVERE CRASH IN WHICH THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTRAINT CONTROLLER ISSUED A COMMAND TO DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT
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