10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$200
Average Mileage:
80,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced engine (1 reports)
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problem #1

May 282016

Rio 1.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Purchased 2010 Kia Rio new. In May 2016, with 80,000 miles, the check engine light came on and Auto Zone printed the codes for me. The codes were that the car computer software needed to be updated. I called the dealership and they said they would do that at no cost. I went to the dealership immediately and when the service manager showed up he said the car needed a tune up and refused to update the software. I was not about to pay the dealership double the amount for the tuneup and I was very upset that they refused to do what they told me they would do when I called a few moments before. About 3 weeks later the engine blew and we had to replace it. The dealership denied the extended warranty so it came out of our pocket. The car ran fine for about 2 months and then started misfiring and the check engine light came on. It will not come out of safe mode and I am afraid to drive it to the corner Auto Zone store to check the codes. I am going to purchase a code reader but I am very frustrated that after spending all this money on the new engine, we still have problems. The first codes we got were related to fuel system and emissions so the engine warranty does not cover that. The spark plugs were replaced and the car ran fine for about 10 minutes and then clicked back into safe mode. At this point I just want to get rid of the car but we have too much invested and I still owe on the loan that I had to take out to replace the engine. I will never ever, EVER buy a Kia. This is the worst experience I have ever had with a car that had that few miles on it. I will update when I find out what the current codes are reading.

Update from Apr 21, 2017: We had to replace the coils on the car and did that. The car fired right up and did not even make it around the block before the check engine light came back on and it started running rough again. We decided to take it back to the engine repair shop since we are out of ideas. We had to have it towed because it would not go over 15 miles an hour. The repair shop said that one of the coils was cracked and they would fix for $150. I went ahead and approved that and we went back to pick it up the next day. On the way home, it started again! I am so very frustrated and am not willing to put any more money into this POS car. I still owe on the loan I had to take out for the engine rebuild.

- Kim P., Garland, US