I got the second hand 2002 Kia Rio 4 months ago. Me and my wife were driving for 1 mile when the smell of smoke came and in the couple of seconds there was smoke came from the bonnet. I switched off and tried to open the bonnet but the smoke got more and more, so we left the car immediately and we saw flames came from right part of the bonnet. We were just shocked and scared of fire. We called 911 and firefighters and in less than ten minutes front part of the car was totally ruined. Looking optimistically there was no injury at all. But how about the next one! can everybody be lucky as we were"! we were just in the middle of the turn line in middle of the street, so other cars were around us I can not imagine what could happened if I was in freeway or if my wife was alone!"

- Rancho Santa Marg, CA, USA

While my daughter was driving her 2002 Kia Rio, all of a sudden the car just stopped running and would not start up. There was no prior indication that anything was wrong - no light or indicators on. Had it towed to our mechanic - engine was locked up. He didn't know for sure why - oil and coolant were fine. We didn't want to pay to have the reason diagnosed, as it doesn't really matter what caused it - the motor is shot. This car has been regularly maintained - oil change every 3000 miles, regular service as recommended in the book. We had to have the transmission replaced two years ago, as it just decided to die also.

- Crestline, OH, USA

Original owner of 2002 Kia Rio - timing belt failed at 93,000 miles causing total engine failure (interference engine). Timing belt is covered under warranty for 100,000 miles for original owner according to the manual. Kia would not honor warranty. Several thousand dollars later, I had a replacement engine installed. It failed 2,300 miles later due to the camshaft shearing and the interference problems. Again, not covered under warranty.

- Fishing Creek, MD, USA

I have taken my 2002 Kia Rio to a certified reputable mechanic. His determination of the faulty engine was due to the fact of a inferior timing belt. His statement was that the timing belt gave out and the engine is designed so that basically when this happens the crankshaft and valves ruin itself due to the broken timing belt. This happening leaves me with basically a $2,000 dollar loss all because of maybe a $100 part.

- Arcadia, WI, USA

Since buying this car in 2002 it has stalled several times and been taken to the dealership as often without the issue being resolved. Dealer stated that they could not find the problem (they cleaned the throttle body) and had another client's car that did the same thing and couldn't fix it either. We have used fuel injector cleaner, which worked for 6 months until now. This car is a lemon and is dangerous at intersections and on the highway when it stalls!! lemon law papers will be filed if not resolved very soon!!

- Midwest City, OK, USA

Since purchasing this car in Nov. 2001, it has given me numerous problems. I have had the struts replaced under warranty for leaking oil, it has stalled more times than I can count, causing concerns about my and my family's safety, and recently the engine cut off without warning while exiting the freeway. The engine is now frozen and since I've reached my 60,000 mile mark, the dealership is hesitant to fix it under warranty. This is truly an expensive lemon.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

While driving 40 mph vehicle began to shake violently, and then the engine failed. Dealer stated they could not fix it.

- Miami, FL, USA

After filling the fuel tank the warning light illuminated. Then, vehicle stalled. Consumer managed to pull over. Dealership was notified, but was unable to resolve the problem.

- Baker, LA, USA

Car stalls randomly since first bought and has done so too many times to count. Car has stalled on my daughter in the middle of an intersection with an 18 wheeler on her tail, she had to swerve into a convenience store parking lot with a 5 1/2 pot hole causing damage to the car. This car has been in the garage 6 - 8 times in the past year. The dealer says they cannot fix it unless the check engine light is on. The car has been in 3 times in 8 months with the check engine light on and they only replace the gas cap assembly every time and the car still continues to stall at random. Dealer says they cannot duplicate problem and daughter is dumb blonde! the car also hesitates when driving and runs rough like it wants to stall, you never know when it will just stop on you. This is not a safe vehicle to have on the roads. I am filing lemon law papers on it today.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

Kia Rio cinco randomly stalls while driving.

- San Diego, CA, USA

The vehicle shuts off while in motion, happend more than 10 times already but the car started up I took the car to the dealer 3 times already for this problem problem started around March 2003, this last time I took the vehicle to the dealer they tell me "oh the other mechanic didn't know how to fix it", "and the problem is fixed and "shouldn"T" happen again. Thats not very reassuring, I am scared to drive the car.

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

When driving engine stalls without warning.

- Kennersville, NC, USA

While driving the vehicle shut off intermittently. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer for this problem three times.

- Waialua, HI, USA

The vehicle experienced intermittent stalling, the dealer replaced the vapor and service the fuel injection, but the vehicle continued to stall. The brakes were repaired and the vehicle pulled to the right when driving.

- North Charleston, SC, USA

The vehicle turned off automatically while driving.

- Miami, FL, USA

The engine stalled without warning.

- Newton, MA, USA

Consumer states that while driving at any speed and no warning the vehicle will shut off causing consumer to pull over. Dealer notified.

- Norwalk, CT, USA