9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,100
Average Mileage:
77,500 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. need a new engine which cost 2000 used by the way (1 reports)
  2. replace 3 pistons, valve job, head gasket and timing belt (1 reports)
2002 Kia Rio engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Kia Rio Owner Comments

problem #2

Nov 042009

Rio 1.5L

  • Manual transmission
  • 87,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I did the repairs myself, got a long block and replaced the motor and the timing belt. this is the problem I found that no one is talking about older american cars have a timing belt tensioner that takes up the slack on the timing belts the kia does not so in time the belt stretches and it jumps timing or in laymans term the belt slips on the over head cam groves and crash. the valve is down when it should be up and the piston runs right into it smash ,cram ,boom. now you have a motor with holes in the piston and broken valves. they say that this is a Zero clerance motor, that means one step out of time dead motor.

oh I forgot to mention they do say to change the belt at 50,000 miles at $500 to change the belt, $500 for a $47 dollar belt.

now that I think about it you could adjust the belt and get a longer life out of it. this is a guess but a very good one.

i hope this helps , my way of saying thank you for everyones posting they help others find good cars.

- Phoenix M., Fontana, CA, US

problem #1

Sep 102008

Rio 1.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

well there no words the anger i feel i see the car every day just siting there not fixed every were i call they want 2000 for just the engine i only payed 12000 for it and I real didn't use it. I had it for 6yr and only has less then 70000 miles on it some one once told me what kind of car did I have I said a Kia and he ssid thats a trow away car once you buye it u have to trow it away.

- Guillermo M., Fontana, CA, US

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