I own a 2001 Kia Rio and was advised that I should have the timing belt changed at 100, 000 Km and so at 106, 000km I did just that. The service people told me that the belt would need to be changed every 100, 000. Not even 2/3 of the way there at 169k the belt broke and destroyed the engine. Both the dealership and Kia Canada claim that it is a maintenance issue and will only warrenty the part for 20k... Wait let me see cover it for 20k... recomend it is replaced at 100k. I am no mathmatician but there is a big differance there.
Over the past month I have been talking with dozens of people that work for both Discover Kia in Charlottetown and Kia Canada and all say the same thing... cant help you... What they havn't been saying is that the year after my belt was installed there was a technical service bulletin put out by Kia Canada entitled "improved Timing belt"
In fact there have been more than 70 TSBs released by Kia including everything from wind noise solutions to oil seepage problems... Since I bought my car there were nearly 50 TSBs put out on the Rio... the titles of many of these describe problems that have gone unfixed in my car.
Does the dealer not have a responsibility to the buyer to tell them that there has been an advancement in the problems that are plagueing his car? I think it would only be right if it could avoid a 2000 dollar repair bill... The problem is that it would cost the dealer and the manufacturer to fix all the problems that their cars have so... unless you do the research yourself, no one is going to tell you.
I am in the process of gathering the Rio TSBs to see what else is going to break that is not their fault. I have filed Better Business Bureau complaints against both and am awaiting an outcome. anyone having problems with your car should read Lemon Aid By Phil Edmonston... great resource for giving the consumer some footing in a fight with a large auto maker...
Expecting to go to court... armend and ready
Jason
Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island
Canada
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