2004 Kia RIO CINCO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
24,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 |
Suspension: 3; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10133037 · 2005-08-16 (August 16, 2005)
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN ACCORD FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LANE TO THE OTHER, AND STEERING BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. PUMPING THE BRAKES MADE THE REACTION WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE , SLOWING THE CAR,AND STEERING ENGAGED AGAIN. PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160987 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)
WHILE ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH ON MY 2004 KIA RIO CINCO. AT HIGHWAY SPEED I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A TRUCK WHEN, AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CLUTCH PARTIALLY DISENGAGED CAUSING MY ACCELERATION TO CEASE. I LET OFF THE THROTTLE AND WHEN RE-ENGAGING THE THROTTLE, THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AGAIN. I HAD TO LET OFF,APPLY BRAKES, AND SWERVE IN BEHIND THE TRUCK I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS TO AVOID BEING STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING TRUCK. THE CAR SEEMED TO OPERATE PERFECTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT BUT I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111299 · 2005-02-10 (February 10, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. A POLICE OFFICE HAD TO USE HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OF THE HIGHWAY, THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10750410 · 2015-08-21 (August 21, 2015)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10750410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086878 · 2004-08-15 (August 15, 2004)
CAR HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNLESS THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES THEY HAVE REPLACED A DIFFERENT PART. THE VACUUM SEAL ON THE FUEL LINE, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND A PART WITH A O2 SENSOR. EACH TIME THEY TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. NOW THERE IS A VIBRATION WHEN THE CAR IDLES AND A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR WILL BE IN FOR THE 5TH TIME FOR THIS PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137887 · 2005-09-27 (September 27, 2005)
CAR IS A KIA RIO CINCO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT SEEMS TO BE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE IN ALL GEARS. CAR WILL ONLY ACCELERATE ABOUT 10 MILES IN EACH GEAR, THEN BEGINS TO STALL AND THEN DECELERATE, UNLESS I MOVE IT TO THE NEXT GEAR. WHEN I REACH 5TH GEAR AT ABOUT 42 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR WILL DRIVE OK UNTIL I REACH 50 AND THEN BEGAN TO DECELERATE, STABILIZING AT ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129257 · 2005-07-18 (July 18, 2005)
SINCE DAY ONE THIS CAR HAS HAD A SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SPEED OF 55 - 65 MPH. THIS CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I REQUESTED A REPRESENTATIVE COME AND CHECK THE CAR.THE RESPONSE THAT I GOT WAS, "WHAT YOUR FEELING IN YOUR STEERING WHEEL IS COMMERCIALY ACCEPTABLE TO THE INDUSTRY." AS A TECHINIAN MYSELF, I BELIEVE THAT NO NEW CAR SHOULD SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DECLINED MY REQUEST TO BUY BACK MY CAR. I NEED SOME HELP. ALL OF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10557137 · 2013-12-24 (December 24, 2013)
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 PRODUCE…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557137 at NHTSA ↗