4.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Kia Rio:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

Feb 122007

Rio 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 53,000 miles
At 53,000 the vehicle became impossible to shift from one gear to another. Dealership technician advised it needed a new clutch at a cost of $1600. I have driven this vehicle primarily between detroit Michigan and cary Illinois. Eighty percent of the miles driven so far have been highway miles with little need to constantly shift gears. When the technicians looked at the vehicle he commented on how small the clutch was. I believe Kia has installed an inferior clutch system to keep the price of the vehicle down and then refuses to cover the repairs under warranty.

- Cary, IL, USA

Add Complaint
problem #1

Oct 272003

(reported on)

Rio

  • miles
Consumer will not drive over 50 mph, had difficulty in changing 5 speed gears. A service technician noticed that clutch needed replacement.

- Victorville, CA, USA

Add Complaint