2001 Kia Rio Tires & Wheels Problems

I WAS ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE DOING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND. THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND SLOWED DOWN TO REACH THE NEAREST EXIT RAMP. I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND THANK GOD I HAD NO CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I REACHED THE EXIT RAMP I GOT OFF THE EXIT AND CALLED AAA. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK BUT WHEN THE DRIVER WENT TO PUT THE CAR UP HE NOTICED THE RIGHT BACK WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND THEN CALLED FOR A FLAT BED. WHILE BEING TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WITH THE CAR ON THE FLAT BED THE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR RECALLS ON MY CAR AND THERE WAS ONE ISSUED IN 4/20/2005 AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY KIA OR THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN THE RECALL BEGAN ON 6/22/2005. I AM WORRIED NOW THAT I MAY HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR WHICH KIA MOTORS SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME ON. *JS

I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AROUND FEBRUARY 2007 FROM SEARS AT THE VIRGINIA CENTER COMMONS STORE LOCATION. WITHIN THREE WEEKS BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY OF 2008 I EXPERIENCED THREE FLATS. TWO OF THE FLATS WERE ON THE SAME DAY WITHIN 2 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. I HAD THE FOURTH ONE REPLACED AT THIS TIME. ALL THREE FLATS WERE BECAUSE OF FAULTY VALVE STEMS. RECENTLY I READ ABOUT A 6 MILLION RECALL OF TR413 VALVE STEMS FROM TECH INTERNATIONAL A DISTRIBUTOR OF SHANGHAI BAOLONG. I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS PART OF THE RECALL WHICH NOTIFIED THE CLIENTS BUT NOT THE PUBLIC. FORTUNATELY NONE OF THE FLATS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ON SECONDARY ROADS AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH OR LESS. I DID COMPLAIN TO SEARS ON THEIR FEEDBACK SURVEY BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. I HAD PURCHASED ROAD HAZARD WITH THE TIRES SO I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS BUT AM UPSET ABOUT THE LACK OF REPLY AND THE LACK OF NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. I AM UNSURE IF ANY TIRE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM THE FLATS. SINCERELY DENISE BARWICK *TR

WE OWN A 2001 KIA RECALL WHICH HAS A SAFETY RECALL ON IT THAT REQUIRES ALL 4 WHEELS TO BE REPLACED . OUR VEHICLE IS MAKING THE NOISES DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL . WE CONTACTED ANN ARBOR AUTOMOTIVE MATT THE SERVICE PERSON HAS TOLD US KIA IS WITHHOLDING THE PARTS TO FIX THESE VEHICLES . THE PARTS ARE CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER THROUGH KIA . WE HAVE BEEN WAITING 8 WEEKS SO FAR AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IOT COULD TAKE ANOTHER MONTH TO GET THE PARTS IN . I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HUSBANDS SAFETY ,HE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY. I WOULD LIKE TO STAND ON RECORD NOW BY SAYING IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE HARM OR INJURY TO MY FAMILY WE WILL TAKE EXTENSIVE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST KIA. THANK YOU LILLIAN FIERRO. *NM

KIA INITIATED A RECALL ON THE 2001 KIA RIO FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FOUR STANDARD STEEL WHEELS WITH FOUR ALLOY WHEELS. THE RECALL WAS MADE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL THAT THE STANDARD STEEL WHEELS COULD CRACK LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE. THE LETTER INDICATED ALL 4 WHEELS WOULD BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE CAR TO ARLINGTON KIA IN PALATINE TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICED. I PRESENTED THE LETTER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. RATHER THAN REPLACING THE WHEELS, THE DEALER ONLY INSPECTED THEM, INDICATING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WHILE I AM GLAD TO KNOW THIS, I AM NOT QUITE CERTAIN THIS IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE. I AM NOT SATISFIED BY KIA'S SOLUTION. WHILE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE UPON THEIR INSPECTION, IT DOES NOT GUARD AGAINST DEVELOPMENT. UNSATISFIED WITH THE DEALER'S RESPONSE, I CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE TO INQUIRE WHETHER OR NOT THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE ENOUGH I TALKED TO [XXX], A CUSTOMER CARE MANAGER, WHO EXPLAINED TO ME, WHILE THE LETTER DID SAY KIA WOULD "REPLACE ALL FOUR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHEELS AT NO COST," WHAT THAT REALLY MEANT WAS THAT I WOULD GET A TEN MINUTE INSPECTION, AND IF NOTHING WAS WRONG, I'D BE LEFT WITH THE POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE PART. I FIND IT DISCOURAGING THAT KIA HAS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON WHAT WAS INDICATED IN THE LETTER. IM NOT SURE WHAT THE NHTSA CAN DO IN THIS MATTER, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A POLICY ON KIAS PART, BUT RATHER THAN ASSURING I WAS A HAPPY CUSTOMER, [XXX]TOLD ME TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. THE CAR IS OWNED BY [XXX] PH# [XXX] MY NAME IS [XXX], MY WIFE [XXX] DRIVES THE CAR, THE DWYERS ARE HER PARENTS. THEY PURCHASED THE CAR FOR HER WHILE SHE WAS IN COLLEGE AND IT REMAINS IN THEIR NAME. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX] THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2001 KIA RIO. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE OF 2005. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER BEFORE DEALER WOULD HAVE PARTS TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED HER BACK ON AUGUST 18, 2005 TO TELL HER IT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 9, 2005 BEFORE THE RIMS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD GET A LOANER OR RENTAL VEHICLE UNTIL VEHICLE WOULD BE FIXED.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE WHEELS. SHE CONTACTED THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AT BOB DAN'S KIA IN MERRITT ISLAND SPOKE TO ARCH TAMUMU, HE WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER AND SERVICE MANAGER. HE SAID THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONSUMERS REQUEST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER 3 TIMES AND LEFT HER NUMBER, AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT CALLED HER BACK. THERE WAS NO RECALL # AVAILABLE ON THE NOTICE. VIN IS ALSO NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

2001 KIA RIO RECALL NOTICE FOR WHEEL REPLACEMENT WAS RECEIVED BUT THE WHEELS NEEDED FOR REPLACEMENT WERE NOT IN STOCK.*MR *JB

DT: CONSUMER HAS A 2001 KIA RIO; RECEIVED CREALL NO 05V159000. WHEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO ARRANGE FOR REPAIS. HE WAS TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER'S FAMILY WOULD BE SENT HOME SO THE DEALERSHIP COULD ORDER THE PARTS. THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN BACK, BUT IF THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE LEFT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS 30 MILES FROM CONSUMER'S HOME, AND HIS FAMILY WOULD BE STRANDED. THE CONSUMER HAS CALLED KIA. THE RECALL STATED THE TIME REQUIRED TO FIX THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE AN HOUR. THE NOTICE DID NOT MENTION NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP OR LEAVING THE VEHICLE. *AK

DT: , A STEEL WHEEL IS CRACKED AND VIBRATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO BALANCED TIRES. STILL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AND DISCOVERED THE CRACK IN THE WHEEL. THIS WAS VERY EVIDENT, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT NOTE THIS TO THE OWNER. THERE WAS A KIA RECALL REGARDING WHEELS, BUT THIS VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLY DUE TO THE VIN. HAD TO HAVE THIS WHEEL REPLACED. NO OTHERS WHEELS AS OF YET ARE CRACKED. *AK

LOUD REPEATING NOISE COMING FROM WHEEL. TOOK IT INTO MECHANIC, TOLD ME IT WAS THE HUBCAP RUBBING ON THE RIM. APPLIED TAPE TO HUBCAP TO SOLVE PROBLEM. *AK NOISE CONTINUED, I DECIDED TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, AND JUST BEFORE I ARRIVED HOME, MY TIRE FELL OFF. THE RIM FAILED. HALD WAS BOLDED TO THE CAR, THE OTHER HALF WAS IN THE TIRE. NO ONE HAS SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE TIRE RIM.

CRACKS HAVE ACCUMULATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM. *JB ALL FOUR ORIGINAL RIMS ALONG WITH ONE REPLACEMENT RIM CRACKED. *NM

I HAVE A THIRD FACTORY WHEEL ON MY CAR THAT HAS BROKE DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE WHEEL STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE BEARINGS GOING OUT ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE DRIVE WAY I HEARD THE WHEEL BRAKE. WHEN I CHECKED IT, SURE ENOUGH IT BROKE THROUGH. I NOW HAVE KEPT TWO OUT THREE WHEELS THAT HAVE BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL RIM CRACKED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF BALANCE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT RIM BUSTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE CONSUMER OVERLOADED THE VEHICLE. THE SAME RIM BUSTED AGAIN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED.*AK

JULY 31,2004. I STARTED HEARING A NOISE TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE. WITH IN 2 DAYS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. I TOOK THE CAR THE THE KIA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION ON MY CAR AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD I HAD TO MANY MILE (61,000) MILES THAT IF THEY TOOK IT APART TO FIND THE PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED $75.00 PER HOUR. I DID NOT TAKE IT BACK. WITH IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND I FELT THE TIRE WAS NOT PERFORMING THE SAME. SO I TOOK IT TO WHERE I GET MY TIRES. THERE THEY ALSO DID A VISUAL AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I NEED NEW TIRES. I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR FOR 1 WEEK SO I COULD GET THE MONEY TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC SHOP ON SUNDAY THERE HE TOOK OFF THE TIRE CHECKED THE BRAKES, THE ROTER AND ALL THE BEARINGS AND SCREWS UNDER THE CAR. HE SAID HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ME TO WORK SO I COULD TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER AFTER WORK. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND HE ASKED THAT I LET HIM TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR. SO HE TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND SET IT ASIDE AND STARTED HIS SEARCH. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO PUT THE TIRE BACK ON TO THE CAR HE NOTICED A CRACK AROUND THE RIM. THE CRACK WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE. IT IS ALMOST A COMPLETE CIRCLE. IT WAS ABOUT TO TOTALLY CRACK OFF THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT HELP ME DUE TO THE MILES I HAD ON MY CAR. I DO DRIVE ALOT BUT I FEEL THIS IS A TOTAL DEFECT IN THE RIM. I HAVE 2 RIMS ON ORDER

LEFT FRONT WHEEL CRACKED.*AK

IN DECEMBER OF 2003 I STARTED HEARING A LOUD CLANKING FROM THE PASSENGER-SIDE, REAR WHEEL. ASSUMING IT WAS THE REAR BRAKES NEEDING REPLACED, I PURCHASED THE PARTS. UPON REMOVING THE HUB CAP I SAW THAT THE RIM WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. WITHIN AN INCH OR SO OF ACTUALLY BREAKING COMPLETELY APART. (THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORN.) WHEN I RETURNED THE BRAKE PARTS TO HIGH DESERT KIA, IN VICTORVILLE, CA., I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE CRACKED RIM AND INQUIRED OF THE WARRANTY ON THE RIMS. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS 30,000 MILES.(AT THE TIME, MY VEHICLE HAD APPROX.55,000 MILES.) THEN IN JUNE OF 2004, I HEARD THE SAME CLANKING FROM THE DRIVERSIDE, REAR WHEEL. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THIS RIM HAD ALSO CRACKED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE FIRST. REALIZING THE FATAL CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD OCCUR SHOUL A RIM FAIL AND BREAK APART WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, I FIRST NOTIFIED YOU AND THEN THE KIA MOTORS HEADQUARTERS LISTED IN MY OWNERS MANUAL. UPON EXPLAINING THE CRACKING OF THE TWO RIMS AND WHAT HIGH DESERT KIA'S RESPONSE WAS TO ME, I WAS TOLD TO RETURN TO HIGH DESERT KIA AND THEY WOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THE RIMS ON MY RIO, AT NO CHARGE.BUT IT WOULD BE A ONCE ONLY REPLACEMENT. AND THE RIMS WOULD ONLY BE WARRANTIED FOR THE 12 MONTHS THAT IS STANDARD FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE RIMS WERE REPLACED ON JULY 17TH, 2004. UPON MY INQUIRY, I WAS ASSURED THE 4 NEW RIMS ARE FROM A DIFFERENT LOT NUMBER AND MADE IN 2003.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CENTER OF THE WHEELS CRACKED AND FELL APART. CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. AS THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO REMOVE THE WHEEL THE CENTER BROKE UP IN THE PROCESS. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE TWO BACK WHEELS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION RIGHT REAR WHEELS HAD SEVERE CRACKS IN THE WALLS. THE CRACKS WERE SUCH THAT ONE COULD ACTUALLY HOLD THE WHEELS TO THE LIGHT AND SEE THROUGH THEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BAD RIM UNDER WARRANTY AND KEPT THE BAD RIM. *AK

VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THINKING IT MAY JUST BE THE BRAKES THAT WERE GOING OUT, RETURNED VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE SHOP FOUND THAT ALL 4 OF THE 13 INCH WHEELS HAD STRESS FRACTURES. THE FRONT 2 WERE THE WORST AS THEY HAD BEGUN TO SPLIT. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLITY OF A FATAL CRASH HAD THIS NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THERE ATTENTION WHEN IT WAS.*AK