NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
38 reports53,015 miles · Oct 4, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
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 …
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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 ODI #10204856
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES WHILE WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10194775
80,382 miles · Dec 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 E…
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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 ODI #10175941
19,000 miles · Nov 7, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 ODI #10172888
67,000 miles · Nov 3, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 ODI #10172592
51,264 miles · Nov 3, 2006
Power Train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING SEVERE HESITATION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. 11/30/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10172536
54,000 miles · Nov 2, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED UPON EXAMINATION THAT BOTH ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED UPON EXAMINATION THAT BOTH ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE BEARING WAS BAD AND THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE BENT. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE VEHICLE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION OF ONGOING PROBLEMS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 09/25/07 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10172443
5,529 miles · Jul 17, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic
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 PAR…
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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 ODI #10162588
24,000 miles · Jun 26, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
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 WRO…
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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 ODI #10160791
16,000 miles · Mar 17, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CALIPERS WERE BLOWN OUT.
NHTSA ODI #10152976