2003 Kia Rio: won't start

5 of the 74 complaints about the 2003 Kia Rio describe won't start.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 7%
typical mileage: 1,300
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Won't start by model year

2014
1
2013
4
2012
2
2011
2
2005
4
2003
5
2002
2
2001
3

What owners say

Filed Apr 9, 2009 · Engine · 11,462 miles · WI

While driving down the road with my two year old in the car, the engine seized up and stalled. The car currently wont start and had to be towed to the repair shop. However, we just had all of the routine maintenance to the car less then 300 miles prior to the engine seizing. The check engine light never came on. As of today, they don't know what the problem is except that the engine seized. There was no prior incidents with the car and it was always serviced on time.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 1,800 miles · WI

In april 2003 I bought a 2003 kia rio cinco for my family. When I try to start it in the morning it will not start. It takes about six to ten tries to get it started. Then it runs bad for miles. It also runs very hot and it seems the more I drive it the less preformance I been geting. My brakes are also bad when I first drive it after it sits for hours. Kia told me that it all has to do with the reformuladed gas we use in milwaukee and chicago. After months of people at kia not calling me back and tring to resoulve this with kia I am interested in a class astion law suit.

Filed Sep 24, 2003 · Fuel system · 150 miles · MO

After two visits to the dealer's service shop, I found out that 03 kia rios have a problem with the engine control modules. As soon as the weather is cool, it prevents the engine from getting enough gas. The car won't start cold until it's been cranked for about 10 minutes, and once you get it started, the car will cut out from lack of gas if you stop the car.

Filed Sep 24, 2003 · Electrical · 1,300 miles · WA

Vehicle will not start intermittently when the key is inserted. Dealer is aware of the problem, and states that he does not know how to fix it. Manufacturer will be notified of the problem soon.

Filed May 19, 2003 · Electrical · 400 miles · WI

I hope that I am writing the correct people about this huge problem. About three weeks ago I purchased a 2003 kia rio in milwaukee wisconsin. About two weeks after I owned the car I ran into problems with it. It seemed like every morning or any time the car was not running for more then four hours it would not start up. It was like it was out of gas when I had a full tank. It would take me about two to four tries before it would start. Also it was going through more gas then what was disclosed as far as mpg. At that point I took it in to the dealer service department to have it checked out. At first they told me that they had many problems with that brand and model of car and it would be repaired the next day. The next day I got a phone call from the service department telling me that the car's computer was not working correctly and they needed to order a replacement that would take about seven business days. They told me that I could pick up the car but it will start hard and give me poor fuel economy until it was repaired. I was unhappy about the long wait so I called kia, they told me that they would call the dealership and find out why this computer would take so long. Two days later I got a call from the service manger who told me that they can not repair the car's computer at this time because kia does not have a fix for it yet. He told me that because I live in milwaukee I use reformulated gas and the computer can not understand that kind of fuel and until kia has a fix for that there is nothing he can do. I then asked him is the car safe, he told me that it would be fine to drive I just have to start the car and wait 5 to 10 sec and try again till it starts.