4.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,691 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Kia Rio electrical problems

electrical problem

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2004 Kia Rio Owner Comments

problem #5

Mar 012024

Rio

  • miles

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

I bought this car used a little less than a week ago. There was a thumping noise under the hood so I took the car to the dealer twice for this issue. I looked under the hood tonight and found a bunch of pieces that are not bolted down and the battery is completely unsecured and can move around freely. It-??s horribly unsafe because the battery being loose can affect the entire car and the parts that aren-??t bolted in place are causing major issues with the AC and other systems.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #4

Nov 162009

Rio

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Rio. The contact was driving at various speeds. The engine completely stalled and the entire electrical system failed without warning. The engine would restart after waiting for approximately one minute. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to locate the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

- Kent , WA, USA

problem #3

Jun 232006

Rio 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 24,000 miles
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.

- Chalfont, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 282005

Rio 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,957 miles
The contact stated vehicle jerked and cut out. When this happened the engine light came, on and there was a burning smell. The vehicle was taken to the dealership seven times, and they stated it was an electrical problem. They replaced the electrical throttle module every time, and stated there was a poor connection at the engine bulk. The problem has not been corrected at this time.

- South Pittsburg, TN, USA

problem #1

Mar 142005

Rio 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,500 miles
Dealer changed computer, wiring harness, 2 injectors, plug, timing belt, sensor and replaced comes switches. Bought a 2004 Kia Rio in March 2005. It has been in the shop for the past 3 weeks. The consumer picked the car up at the shop, and it didn't make it off the lot before the car broke down again. Dealer offered me a rental car. Went back one week later to pick up the car and only went two miles before the car broke down again. Took the car back to dealer, and requested another car just like the one that I had a 2004 Kia Rio. Dealer said could not trade the car without refinancing it. They did finance the house for the first car but refused to with the second car. Why cant the dealer finance the second car as they did the first?

- Arrington, VA, USA

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