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Kia Rio repairs by problem area

Engine (34%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (7%)

Suspension and Steering (13%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (3%)

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Chart based on 156 repairs.

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Kia Rio repair cost distribution

$2500+ (2%)

$1000 - $2499 (3%)

$500 - $999 (9%)

$100 - $499 (26%)

< $100 (61%)

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Chart based on 128 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

See repairs for all Kia Rio model years.

Kia Rio5 in Ontario, Canada Apr 2018 - Jan 2022
Jun 2018 1618 mi	Rattle in dash. Road test done and it was determined that the rattle was coming from the wheel well. It was corrected and rattle is gone. Took almost two days to correct the problem.

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Kia Rio5 in Wisconsin, United States Jun 2016 - Dec 2020
Dec 2016 1500 mi	Radiator fan seized up and burnt out. Fuse blew. Replaced fan and fuse. Warranty work.

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Kia Rio in Florida, United States Jun 2017 - Jan 2022
Oct 2017 20000 mi	The valve for the gas tank was sticking open and it triggered a check engine light. The dealer apparently removed the valve and reset the light. Not sure whether they attempted to repair the valve or not.

Kia Rio in Virginia, United States Dec 2017 - Jun 2022
Jun 2018 18000 mi	Bad pressure sensor Rear window defroster stopped working

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Kia Rio5 in Quebec, Canada Jun 2017 - Jul 2022
Jun 2018 56420 mi C $500	major rust leaks around taillights and door handles due to unsufficient protection from manufacture, dealer refuse to repair on warranty (even if it was 2 and a half year after purchase). Basically, the plastics part are screwed directly on the body without any absorbant matter so after a while, the paint is gone and the rust start from under thepart so you do not see it before it's way late. A small amount of foam tape would have prevented this, what could have it costed ? A buck or two? Too bad because the rest of the car was solid and if kia would have stood up and repaint the door, my take would have been different, but they made their decision and so did i, it's my last korean car...Going back to japanese quality! Buyers beware.... I did a homemade body job on the hatch to hide the rust. Mechanically the car is solid and reliable. PVC valve needed a change at 96000km. The rest is normal brakes, battery, spark plug. Very impressive on the reliability front, would be a 10/10 recomendation except for the rust wich breaks my heart! So close!

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Kia Rio5 in Oregon, United States Jun 2017 - Feb 2020
Jan 2020 40000 mi US $300	Thermostat and cooling fan

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Kia Rio5 in Missouri, United States - Aug 2013
Aug 2013 60100 mi US $144	Water pump started bearing noise. Found independent mechanic who installed unit from O'Reillys. Only 100 miles out of warranty.

Kia Rio5 in Florida, United States - Aug 2013
Aug 2013 17000 mi	Replace rear TV camera

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Kia Rio5 in Nova Scotia, Canada Sep 2017 - Jan 2022
Apr 2018 53940 mi	Replaced starter and changed oil

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Kia Rio in Oklahoma, United States Jun 2017 - Jun 2022
Sep 2017 47000 mi	Door lock actuator stopped working on drivers side rear door. Part had to be ordered. Part replaced by dealership. Engine began pinging more than usual. Dealership reprogrammed the engine control module. It stopped the pinging and improved drivability.
Jun 2022 98993 mi US $100	Drivers door: Power lock actuator replaced. Power window relay replaced. Covered under extended warranty

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Kia Rio5 in South Carolina, United States May 2012 - Nov 2015
Jul 2012 1700 mi	cold water drip on front passenger floorboard near centerline, diagnosed as faulty insulation on condensate line, part ordered. condensate line was rewrapped with insulation

Kia Rio5 in New York, United States May 2018 - Feb 2022
Jun 2018 64000 mi US $102	Front brake calipers seized, ruined rotors, cause was corrosion from winter
Oct 2021 75000 mi US $850	Replace corroded brake lines, replace passenger side rear brake caliper plus rotor and pads. Replace corroded gas lines, replace gas tank rusted and leaking,

Kia Rio5 in Ontario, Canada Jul 2012 - Aug 2013
Nov 2012 85600 mi	rear windshield wiper
Aug 2013 96720 mi C $60	fan belt bad vibration had tires balanced but it only reduced the vibration

Kia Rio5 in California, United States May 2014 - Mar 2018
Jun 2014 61000 mi	Passenger sun visor fell off
Aug 2014 66000 mi	Passenger air bag light OFF, went on again. Dealer says it is ok, bur manual says its a prob

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Kia Rio5 in Ontario, Canada Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Apr 2016 C $50	Replaced all 4 ignition coils due to 2nd coil fault.

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Kia Rio in Florida, United States Jun 2014 - Mar 2016
Mar 2016 125000 mi	Engine was beginning to have a light ticking sound and was burning oil. Had occasional check engine warning light for #1 cylinder miss fire.

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Kia Rio5 in Texas, United States Sep 2009 - Jun 2011
Oct 2009 3000 mi	Knock sensor needed replacement

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Kia Rio5 in Quebec, Canada Jan 2021 - Jun 2022
Jul 2021 87420 mi C $600	alternator and fan belt replaced
Dec 2021 91760 mi C $700	starter replaced
Jan 2022 91760 mi C $1000	Front disks and pads and rear drums and shoes all replaced.

Kia Rio5 in New Jersey, United States Jun 2021 - Jun 2022
Feb 2022 112000 mi US $808	Timing belt kit installed

Kia Rio5 in Quebec, Canada Nov 2014 - Jun 2018
Sep 2015 71920 mi	crank position sensor
Jan 2018 94240 mi C $300	Added engine block heater. Did a battery and alternator test. Also oil change.
Jun 2018 99200 mi C $800	rear brake shoes and drums

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Kia Rio in Kansas, United States Oct 2010 - Jun 2011
Nov 2010 9000 mi	The drivers sun visor will not stay in a position to block the sun. It takes multiple attempts to get it to stay even close to a reasonable position, but a bump in the road will cause it to flip back and driver is blinded by the sun Continued problem with the visor
Dec 2010 9000 mi	continued problem with visor, going to contact corporate 4th replacement of the part and several calls to corporate finally fixed the visor problem

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Kia Rio in Massachusetts, United States Aug 2014 - Jul 2015
Oct 2014 114300 mi US $400	Engine light came on started shuddering barely made it up a hill, coil and tune up required also belts loose

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Kia Rio5 in Minnesota, United States Jun 2012 - Jun 2013
Jun 2013 83000 mi US $67	Engine light. Diagnosis described engine knock.

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Kia Rio5 in Wisconsin, United States Sep 2012 - Dec 2012
Nov 2012 15300 mi US $100	Original battery died after 4 years, 4 months of ownership. All other systems good.

Kia Rio5 in Quebec, Canada Jul 2010 - Jan 2014
Aug 2010 13020 mi	overdrive switch

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Kia Rio in Oregon, United States Jul 2009 - Oct 2016
Feb 2011 32300 mi	CEL code P0496 high purge flow. Purge valve replaced under warranty.
Nov 2014 76700 mi US $98	Check engine light came on and code reader indicated misfire on cylinder 3. Changed spark plugs but code remained. Substituting ignition coil revealed coil on cylinder 3 was bad. Replacement coil is not OEM AFAIK.

Kia Rio in Hawaii, United States Oct 2012 - Jun 2013
Jun 2013 63000 mi US $500	leaking freon

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Kia Rio in Colorado, United States Jun 2008 - Oct 2014
Aug 2009 14000 mi	Keyless remote will not work at times. Could not replicate.
Mar 2011 27000 mi	Battery when dead and hood latch cable broke could not open hood to jump
Oct 2014 44000 mi	Remote keyless problem never fixed. It would still come and go but only when the inside of the car got very hot. But never when it went to the dealer.

Kia Rio in Ontario, Canada Jul 2008 - Apr 2009
Sep 2008 18600 mi	Check engine light came on. Vehicle went into limp mode, ran rough with low power. Drove approx 5km to dealer. Checked codes right away, no wait. Found problem to be coil for #2 sparkplug was dead. None in stock, so they robbed a showroom car - very fast.

Kia Rio in Wisconsin, United States Mar 2017 - May 2019
Aug 2017 97000 mi US $170	Check engine light for Evap system. Had 3 error codes. Replaced fuel pressure sensor which fixed 2 of them. Replaced purge valve but new error code appeared. Returned part (not a factory dealer part) under warranty for new one, which also failed. Finally purchased a Kia factory purge valve from dealer problem fixed.
Jan 2018 105000 mi US $50	Replaced looses tie rod Replaced loose stabilizer bar (Not the sway bar)
Feb 2018 105000 mi US $150	Replaced worn wear bearing on passenger side. Noise was quite loud prior to repair

Kia Rio in Nevada, United States Jan 2009 - Dec 2016
May 2009 31000 mi	Car has been lightly shaking at high speeds (70+ MPH). Dealer suggested it might be the tires. Will replace tires in June and see if that resolves the problem.
Sep 2009 39000 mi	TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) light came on, indicating that a sensor wasn't reporting in. Dealer cleared the sensor. I noticed there was oil covering the top of the #3 plug. When I pulled it out, there was oil on the plug tip, though it looked fresh. Dealer examined it, found no internal source - suspect oil overflow during oil change.
Nov 2009 47000 mi	Transaxle began to slip when shifting between Park and Reverse. Took the car into the shop - turns out there was a leak in a gasket at the top of the transaxle, which was leaking transmission fluid. Dealer replaced transaxle - covered by warranty.
Aug 2010 66000 mi US $40	Attempted replacement of fuel filter - discovered the plastic fuel pump assembly had warped slightly, preventing new fuel filter from being installed correctly. Will replace fuel pump assembly ($220) at a later date.
Jul 2014 162000 mi US $1650	"Check Engine" light came on and engine would not rev over 4000 RPM. Code revealed MAP sensor and cranshaft position sensor both failed. Replaced. Also replaced timing belt and flushed transmission and radiator since they were due.
Mar 2015 174000 mi US $300	CEL turned on intermittently, P0124 code returned from OBD-II. Mechanic replaced thermostat, no effect. Replaced coolant temp sensor personally, this solved the problem.
Sep 2015 182000 mi US $350	Blower motor died, replaced.
Sep 2016 200000 mi US $50	Blower motor resistor died, replaced in driveway.

Kia Rio in Ohio, United States Mar 2011 - Apr 2015
Apr 2011 36000 mi	Wheel bearing grinding. It was fixed in 2 trips to the dealer.
Dec 2011 44000 mi	Ignition coil replaced due to engine misfire.
Nov 2012 55300 mi US $200	Drivers side ball joint worn to the point of almost coming out. I advised dealer of problem in the past but they stated nothing was wrong. Independent shop showed me the the problem and fixed it right the first time.

Kia Rio in Ohio, United States Feb 2016 - May 2017
Jun 2016 173000 mi US $50	Replaced purge valve.

Kia Rio in Arizona, United States Jan 2010 - Aug 2019
Feb 2010 15000 mi	Transmission was slipping which happened at no specific time hot or cold. The outside molding was crumbling around all windows. Front end was vibrating - was told that was normal for kia rios.
Nov 2010 23500 mi	alternator went out had to be replaced
Jan 2011 25000 mi	knocking noise when turning steering wheel, right strut replaced Had front strut replaced. Next day car ran worse. They didnt replace both struts @same time, or chose not to. Now left strut needs replacing. Ordered.
Apr 2012 38000 mi	Replaced left strut that royal kia had said they had replaced. Trunk lightswitch had a short light switch ordered and replaced When using air condition it would turn off intermittently then come back on.
Jun 2012 38000 mi	Sluggish with hot weather Air would fade in and out cool then run slow and warmer
May 2014 54000 mi	Had to take car back 3 times, check engine light on, they adjusted. I let them know it was sensor for the transmission, after 3rd time they said it was the sensor.
Mar 2016 66000 mi US $350	Replaced right passenger side door mechanism Motor mount collapse Front struts replaced
May 2016 67000 mi US $49	Right motor mount replaced Air condition going on and off
Mar 2018 87000 mi US $118	Check engine light on,,riding ok. Replace purge valve didnt work.Repair not successful.

Kia Rio in California, United States Jul 2009 - Nov 2013
Mar 2011 62000 mi	Harsh Shifting & rough idle that was improved by the AT software update.

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Kia Rio5 in British Columbia, Canada Apr 2013 - Apr 2016
Apr 2013 53320 mi C $660	Replaced both Oxygen sensors

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Kia Rio in Nigeria Mar 2009 - Mar 2014
Dec 2010 63860 mi $80	Rattle in the suspension system. Link Assembly Stabilizer and Bush Stabilizer Bar replaced both LH & RH.
Apr 2012 79360 mi	A/C cooling lightly on driver side but not on the passenger side
Jan 2014 70360 mi	replaced tied rods, wishbone bushings and front shock absorbers

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Kia Rio in Nigeria Oct 2014 - Feb 2015
Oct 2014 68200 mi	Clutch plate got faulty. Shifter rod broke. AC compressor went bad(yet to replace)
Jan 2015 $100	Left front shaft went bad. Master brake went bad. Alternator went bad, replaced for the second time. After repairs, car wont start, they check fuses, sensors, coils, fuel injection system. A more experienced electrician was invited by my mech to have a look. he started the car in less than an hour but wont tell me what he did to start it.
Feb 2015 74400 mi $60	After noticing a funny sound coming from my break pedal when i step on the breaks, I had to visit the workshop. Diagnostic showed i had a damaged break hose to my rear wheels and this caused my hydraulic fluid to leak out completely. I notice a tweeking sound when fully was fully turned to any direction. visited the workshop and was informed my shaft had gone bad. Shaft replaced and noise stopped.

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Kia Rio in Idaho, United States Sep 2013 - Sep 2014
Oct 2013 134200 mi US $100	Replaced evap control solenoid
Sep 2014 141000 mi US $106	Replaced battery

Kia Rio in New York, United States Mar 2017 - Jan 2022
Mar 2018 134000 mi	Checked pins and front rotors
Sep 2018 139000 mi US $40	New front rotors. Last pair lasted about 30 K miles.
Jan 2022 154000 mi US $750	Gas tank leaking

Kia Rio in Iowa, United States Mar 2009 - Mar 2013
Dec 2012 35000 mi	Safety recall on passenger side. Dealer fixed for free under recall. Didn't solve the problem. Still not fixed.

Kia Rio in Vermont, United States - Feb 2007
Feb 2007 2000 mi	Check engine light came on. The car was brought to the dealer and they found that there was moisture in a O2 sensor. It was cold out at the time and think it could have come from that. No issues since then.

Kia Rio in Vermont, United States Aug 2008 - Apr 2011
Mar 2010 21000 mi	Coil replaced
Apr 2010 21000 mi	Ignition coil failed.

Kia Rio in Florida, United States Feb 2010 - Jun 2011
Mar 2010 30000 mi	Blower motor for AC went out & had to be replaced.

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Kia Rio5 in New Mexico, United States Jul 2015 - Dec 2017
Aug 2015 109700 mi US $700	Head gasket leak discovered during timing belt replacement
Jun 2016 117000 mi US $240	New thermostat; check engine light on-pos cat convert prob but has stayed off since therm replaced
Mar 2017 121000 mi	Replace battery

Kia Rio5 in Czech Republic - Oct 2008
Oct 2008 18693 mi $1	Broken bulb in front position lamp - bulb W5W, 12V, 5W

Kia Rio5 in Manitoba, Canada Mar 2011 - Sep 2017
Jan 2015 97740 mi C $15	Gauges would zero out when accelerating from a low RPM. Eventually, an engine hesitation accompanied this symptom. I did two consecutive fuel injector additive treatments, problem went away.
May 2015 101020 mi C $600	Head gasket leak. Replaced Head gasket, Spark plugs and Ignition coils.
Nov 2015 105260 mi	1 ignition coil failed. Replaced under warranty from previous coil replacement.
Apr 2017 120280 mi C $184	Replaced Sway bar and Control arm bushings.

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Kia Rio5 in Ontario, Canada Oct 2012 - Sep 2015
Jun 2014 52700 mi C $200	front ball joints replaced, oil change

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Kia Rio in California, United States Mar 2013 - Dec 2015
Mar 2015 90000 mi US $341	replace shock absorbers and realign front end

Kia Rio in Alberta, Canada - Sep 2006
Aug 2006 5518 mi	Passenger-side, central dash air vent vanes broken. Dealer replaced vent.
Sep 2006 8680 mi	Power Door-lock relay died. Dealer replaced (after waiting 2 months for relay to be ordered and delivered)

Kia Rio in Connecticut, United States Sep 2013 - Feb 2025
Aug 2015 68600 mi US $22	Clutch was hard to press when hot. Replaced clutch slave cylinder. Problem fixed.
Oct 2020 84000 mi US $135	Partially stuck front caliper. Replaced both calipers, rotors and pads.

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Kia Rio in Texas, United States Mar 2013 - Jun 2018
Apr 2013 130000 mi US $16	I had to replace a wheel bearing in the front. I did it, cost $16.00 (1 day) I had to make a tool to press what was left of the bearing race out. I saved the tool for the other side :>)
Aug 2013 140000 mi US $42	Replaced starter relay and cleaned up the brushes. Starter suddenly stopped working. I cut open the relay(non serviceable)and found an insulated washer on the plunger had broken and let the contact loose. (no contact)
Nov 2013 145600 mi US $50	fuel pump. I suspected worn pump and found it had metal fragments in the pan below. I replaced the pump for good measure. Trying to find vacuum leak and found low volume leak in brake booster. Accentuated when applying brakes. Engine would suddenly stall sometimes. Replaced booster problem resolved. changed maf due to a irregular readings during examining system for vacuum leak.
Feb 2014 149000 mi US $200	replaced both front axles (new) worn and slight vibration replaced downstream O2 sensor showed slow reaction under emission test.
Apr 2014 153300 mi US $17	replaced wheel bearing
May 2014 157000 mi US $50	Replaced Evap canister solenoid at fuel tank and the purge solenoid in the engine compartment.
Jul 2014 161000 mi	compressor failed had to clean the entire system replace the compressor and drier.
Jan 2015 150200 mi US $20	STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILED
Mar 2015 176000 mi US $42	The starter relay I replaced I think last year or maybe a bit longer suddenly failed. It started acting as if the battery was low and then suddenly would not start a day or two later. The phenolic end of the relay cracked off.
Sep 2015 183000 mi	replaced front wheel bearing
Apr 2016 185300 mi	replaced downstream oxygen sensor it was reacting slowly.
Nov 2016 190200 mi	Blower Motor connector loose. blower stops running. Replaced front stabilizer bar bushings again. Bushing wear out and the bar rattles when driving on rough roads. Its a quite annoying sound. This is the second time I have replaced these. the dealer could not tell me what the sound was orig.
Sep 2017 196000 mi US $40	front brake pads and rear wheel cylinders replaced.

Kia Rio in Texas, United States Nov 2012 - Jul 2013
May 2013 28400 mi	Passenger seat sensor mat. Replaced under recall

Kia Rio in Montana, United States Mar 2011 - Sep 2013
Mar 2012 40000 mi US $150	Car was hard to start after filling up. Replaced purge valve. Engine light still coming on. Possible problem with canister. Had evap canister replaced still light comes on and months goes off. Mechanic said it may be the comupter.

Kia Rio in North Carolina, United States - Sep 2007
Aug 2007 56403 mi	passenger seat air bag sensor failed causing air bag light to come on. recalled items:Radiator cap and fuse box cover replaced.
Sep 2007 55000 mi	Steering Shaft bushing

Kia Rio in Tennessee, United States Feb 2011 - Jul 2016
Jan 2015 176000 mi US $100	Coil pack went bad, causing misfire.

Kia Rio in Texas, United States Jun 2016 - Nov 2018
May 2017 161000 mi US $800	All started with a leaky valve cover gasket, and then it up with a cracked valve cover comma and once the valve cover was off the engine appeared to be sludged. This could have been due to poor maintenance from the previous owner and not a problem from Kia.
May 2018 159000 mi US $150	Check engine light was on. Replaced 4 coil packs and 4 plugs. Also, the car had trouble starting after re-fueling. I replaced the purge control valve to fix.
Oct 2018 169000 mi US $35	After filling the car with gas, it was very hard to start. It acted like it was flooded and it would rumble for about a minute or two after getting it started. I replaced with the help of a friend the purge control solenoid valve that I bought on Amazon for about $30. There was a good youtube video on this.

Kia Rio in Oregon, United States Feb 2010 - Jun 2011
Mar 2011 65900 mi US $194	Replaced battery

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Kia Rio5 in Alberta, Canada Jul 2017 - Feb 2019
Jan 2018 108500 mi C $114	Tail light brake bulb.
Mar 2018 109740 mi C $250	Timing belt and water pump

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Kia Rio5 in Quebec, Canada May 2006 - May 2013
Aug 2006 24800 mi	Manual transmission was replaced under warranty.
Oct 2009 43400 mi C $150	Power lock fuse was blowing all the time. An actuator had to be replaced.

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Kia Rio in Florida, United States Dec 2011 - Feb 2012
Feb 2012 40000 mi US $19900	Engine light on, required spark plugs, problem was resolved.

Kia Rio in Oklahoma, United States - Jun 2007
Jun 2007 61000 mi US $2500	Transmission failure, company failed to tell us that we were in a severe use area, and that our driving habits were not the maintenance schedule to follow. So since we didn't change the transmission filter and fluid at 30,000 miles they will not warranty

Kia Rio in Pennsylvania, United States - Aug 2007
Aug 2007 53000 mi US $75	Replace handle on driver's side door. Had to pay for paint only.

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Kia Rio repairs by problem area

Kia Rio repair cost distribution

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2008 Kia Rio5 4dr Hatch

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2007 Kia Rio 4dr Sedan

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2006 Kia Rio5 4dr Hatch

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Kia Rio Repair Histories