2004 Kia Rio Suspension Problems

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, HEADED OUT TO DINNER, GOING 15 TO 20 MPH THROUGH TOWN (25 MPH SPEED LIMIT), WHEN SUDDENLY A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE STARTED, COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. I PULLED OVER IN A BUSINESS LOT & REMOVED TIRE TO FIND THAT THE REAR AXEL WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER CONNECTS TO HAD RUSTED OFF & THE SHOCK ABSORBER SWINGING, DISCONNECTED FROM THE AXEL MOUNT. I NURSED THE VEHICLE HOME & CHECKED THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE & FOUND THAT IT TOO WAS READY TO SNAP OFF. A SLIGHT TAP WITH A HAMMER ON THE AXLE PRODUCED A HOLE OF ABOUT 1" A SECOND TAP & IT TOO CAME OFF THE CAR. I REMOVED BOTH SHOCKS & THE CAR IS NOW NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. SO, IT'S A TOTAL LOSS WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER INSURANCE. I SEE WHERE KIA HAS RECALLED THE 2004 OPTIMA FOR A RUST OUT ISSUE WITH ITS SUBFRAMES. (SC 075 JUNE 2009). THE RECALL SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES AS WELL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS ARE ALSO ROTTING OUT LEAVING A GAP ON TOP WHERE MOISTURE CAN GET TO THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE BRAKES. THE REAR LATERAL ARM MOUNTING NUT IS NOT IDENTIFIABLE DUE TO EXTREME RUST. BOTH REAR SPINDLE ASSEMBLIES ARE ALSO ROTTING SO BADLY FROM BEHIND THAT THE BOLTS USED TO SECURE THEM HAVE NO HEADS JUST RUST. THE REAR SEAM OF THE GAS TANK IS ALSO ROTTING OUT. FINALLY THE FRONT SUSPENSION & UNDERBODY ALSO HAS SEVERE RUSTING ISSUES. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN NJ & HAS SPENT IT'S ENTIRE TIME WITH ME AT MY HOME. AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE DEALERSHIP, SALERNO KIA OF NEWTON , NJ ( NO LONGER IN BUSINESS) "RUSTPROOFED" THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WHICH COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS EXTRA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

OK, MY CAR MAKES A THUMPING NOISE UNDER THE TIRE, THOUGHT WAS THE WHEEL BEARING IT'S NOT SOMEONE SAID IT WAS THE AXLE I DON'T KNOW ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON I CHANGED THE AIR FILTER, I READ THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FILTER, I READ THAT THE AXLE RUSTS OUT, I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS AND KIA SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR THAT THE CAR DOESN'T GET DRIVEN THAT MUCH AND I CAN'T GO FAR PLACES WITH IT IN FEAR THAT IT MIGHT BREAK DOWN SOMEWHERE, I FEEL LIKE SUING KIA FOR MAKING A CRAPPY CAT THAT DOESN'T LAST. I'VE NEVER HAD A CAR LIKE THIS BEFORE, THE DOORS ARE BROKEN EVEN THE HATCH WON'T OPEN ANYMORE, WHAT THE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME LOOSE FROM THE CAR, PULLING THE CV AXLE OUT OF PLACE. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BOLTED BACK INTO PLACE AND THE CV AXLE SHAFT WAS REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN WEAVING, VIBRATING, AND SHAKING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE SAME DAY. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE LATERAL STABILIZER BAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER, AWAITING THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,243.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED UPON EXAMINATION THAT BOTH ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE BEARING WAS BAD AND THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE BENT. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE VEHICLE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION OF ONGOING PROBLEMS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPALCED. UPDATED 09/25/07 *JB

THE KIA WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME: IT REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD IT WAS ABOUT TO 'DROP'. DESPITE BEING UNDER WARRANTY, I WAS MADE TO PAY FOR IT. 2007 THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT OPEN. IN 2008 THE ELECTRICAL WENT. NO INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO AND NO 'DOOR AJAR' WARNING. 2008 THE DOOR BEHIND DRIVER WOULD NOT OPEN. 2013 THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FOLLOWED BY THE HATCHBACK. RIGHT NOW ONLY 2 DOORS ARE ABLE TO BE LOCKED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. A NEW CLUTCH WAS PUT IN DURING 2012. THE SHIFTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE STICKY WITH IRREGULAR TIMING. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND CANNOT BELIEVE THE SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THE DOORS, ABOVE ALL. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I BOUGHT THE ONLY 'LEMON'..OR AM AMONG A FEW KIA RIO CINCO OWNERS FACING THESE PROBLEMS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 19TH 2005, IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR AND A BAD ODOR THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO SOLD TO THE CONTACT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF RECALL DEFECT TO THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE A PART REPLACED TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR BUT VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON TEN OTHER OCCASIONS FOR SERVICES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED A REFERRAL TO ANOTHER DEALERS FOR SERVICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE RECOMMENDED DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A WIND NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. UPDATED 08/01/06. *JB