Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–74 of 74

2006 Kia Rio complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 7, 201074,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER ALMOST REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT WOULD ONLY COAST VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE HAPPENED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP WAS RUDE AND WAS BANGING HIS FIST ON THE COUNTER. SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT VERY INTIMIDATED BY THE ORDEAL. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OF OWNING OF THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE RADIO/CD PLAYER DID NOT WORK, AND THE SHIFTER LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 04/15/11

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 6, 2010590,200 milesAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-42 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS SHE ENGAGED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK AND UPPER BACK. THE PASSENGER WAS ALSO INJURED. SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHETHER THE PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE INJURED OR NOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,200.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 29, 201053,000 milesFM

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT INDICATING THAT AIR BAG NOT FUNCTIONING. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION TWICE AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEAR AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING WITHOUT PROPER RELEASE OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. KIA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL ALL 2008 KIA RIO FOR THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. *TR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Apr 6, 201051,000 milesTX

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER DISCONECTING THE BATTERY. SHOWS TO BE A FUEL EMISSION PROBLEM ACCORDING TO A LOCAL PARTS STORE. HAS BEEN CHECKED TWICE BY THE DEALER AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Feb 26, 2010CA

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 28, 2009NC

AIR BAG SERVICE>12/26/05 SEATBELT FAULTY, 7/5/06 DRIVER BELT PRETENSIONER RESISTANCE LOW, 7/24/06 SHORTED SEAT BELT, 8/14/06 HARNESS PINCHED BETWEEN SEATBELT ASSY & BDY, 6/11/07, CODE B1448; STABILANT APPLIED TO OCS CONNECTOR, 7/22/09 CONTROL BOX REPLACED AS POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION; AIR BAG LIGHT CAME RIGHT BACK ON; DRIVER SEAT NOW ON ORDER TO BE REPLACED, 8/11/09 RECEIVED CALL SEAT ARRIVED (21 DAYS WITH NO AIR BAG SERVICE, PER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IT WAS LIKE DRIVING AN OLD CAR), 8/17/09 DROPPED OFF AT 8:30AM, NOT EXACT, (SERVICE 8/17 AS THAT IS MY 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 230PM THAT THE WRONG COLOR SEAT WAS RECEIVED, 8/20/09 I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 5:01PM THAT CORRECT COLOR SEAT HAD ARRIVED SO I SCHEDULED FOR 8/31/09 (MY NEXT 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, WARRANTY IS A SAFETY NET JUST IN CASE, NOT SOMETHING TO BE USED TO COVER A LEMON OF A CAR! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 8, 200942,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL UPON DECELERATING AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. TYPICALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE ABNORMALLY WHEN IN FIFTH GEAR WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REMEDIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANAGER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,997.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 31, 200953,000 milesOH

I WAS DRIVING MY KIA RIO. I KNEW THERE WAS A STOP APPROACHING. I HIT THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM TRAFFIC THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. I HIT A YUKON AND TOTALED MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS NEVER CAME OUT. *TR

Air Bags › Side/WindowCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 17, 200913,000 milesTX

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A ROLLOVER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER HIT A PIECE OF FARM EQUIPMENT. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND PUSHED THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE THEN HIT A DITCH AND ROLLED. THE DRIVERS ARM WAS CRUSHED BY THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO INJURY. RECOMMEND THAT FRONT AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALLY. THE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL INJURY. THE ACCIDENT ITSELF WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 25, 2008CA

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT INDICATING THAT AIR BAG NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES PER YEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SENSOR, BATTERY, SEAT CUSHION AND THEN TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE COULD NOT FIX IT (CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS SERVICE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES).NO EVENT HAS OCCURRED HOWEVER FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING WITHOUT PROPER RELEASE OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. CAR TAKEN IN 05/22/08, SERVICE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED LIGHT ON INDICATING AIRBAG WAS OFF WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT AND ASKED US TO RETURN AT ANOTHER TIME FOR AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD NOT GIVE US DOCUMENTATION OF VISIT. 2 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH CORPORATE KIA AND STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed May 20, 200829,000 milesOK

WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR JERKED REAL HARD. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN IT WENT OUT. SO FAR THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed May 9, 2008DC

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS, CONCERNING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THEIR 2006 KIO RIO VEHICLE. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed May 5, 2008NC

2006 KIA RIO WITH A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN HIS WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jan 19, 200811,610 milesNC

THERE IS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2006 KIA RIO THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PERSON ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFE BUT AIRBAGS IN A DISABLED STATUS WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, VERY OFTEN, WHEN MY WIFE (WHO WEIGHS 220 LBS) IS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THIS AIRBAG SENSOR STILL INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED, A DIAGNOSIS CHECK STATED THAT A 'SMALL OCCUPANT' WAS IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS LAST TEST WAS DONE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HINDERS ME FROM COMFORTABLY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT SELDOM GETS DRIVEN. THE DEALER AND KIA HAVE MADE MANY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK TO ME. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jan 14, 200818,800 milesFL

THE 2006 KIA RIO WHICH I BOUGHT AT KIA MOTORSPORT IN TALLAHASSEE, FL LAST YEAR IS BEING RETURNED FOR WARRANTY SERVICE FOR 3RD TIME IN 18000 MI. ALL 3 TIMES HAD TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND PRECEDING A BREAKDOWN. THE 1ST TIME WAS DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WAS RESET, AND 100 MILES LATER IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE KIA SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN MANDATING REPLACEMENT OF INJECTORS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. 3D TIME TODAY, CE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS 23 MI FORM HOME. DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING OK. AT ABOUT 20 MI, IT LOST POWER OVERHEATED AND DIED. WHEN THE CE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH I KEW THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERE BUT IT ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY DIED. THE ROW DRIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS A LOSS OF COMPRESSION, POSSIBLY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, OR BLOCK. CAR IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER ON 1/14/08. D*TR

Steering
Filed Nov 21, 200714,000 milesKY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE TWICE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE DEALER COULD FIND NO STEERING FAILURE, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS BECAUSE BOTH HANDS ARE NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Oct 18, 20071,000 milesAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER RE-INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT OR HAVE THE PASSENGER SIT IN THE REAR. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Drum
Filed Sep 19, 2007TX

I NOTICED ABOUT A 2WKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR; I KEPT HEARING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BRAKES AND INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW CAR THAT THE BRAKE DUST HAD TO SETTLE. ANYWAY ITS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW THEIR SAY THAT ALOT OF THOSE TYPE OF CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR LOOKING INTO IT. I REQUEST A RECALL, BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THOSE TYPE OF CAR HAD THAT PROBLEM ALL ALONG. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2006150 milesNM

I PURCHASED THIS 2006 KIA RIO LX NEW FROM GRACIA KIA OF ALBUQUERQUE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO "WALK" OR "WOBBLE" AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR HIGHER ON PRIMARILY CONCRETE FREEWAYS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE ON PAVED ROAD WAYS, JUST CONCRETE FREEWAYS WHICH HAVE BEEN GROOVED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE MOSTLY CAUSE OF THE "WALK" WAS THE NARROW WHEELBASE AND THE SMALL TIRES THAT COME ON THE CAR AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ON THE SERVICE REQUEST, THE FIX WAS LISTED AS "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE SAME AS A NEW 06 RIO. CALLED TECH LINE - NO OTHER INFO. PUT ON ALIGNMENT RACK - NORMAL. NPF". *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 27, 20063,098 milesCA

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE EVERYTHING TURNS OFF IN CAR AND JERKS AND STARTS HEADING TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ON HIGHWAY 395 AND ONCE ON INTERSTATE 15. ALSO WHILE THE CAR IS IN A DRIVE THROUGH THE CAR HAS STALLED MORE THAN TWICE. *NM

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Sep 28, 200610,000 milesCA

BOUGHT CAR IN 01-06 STARTED TO GET AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE IN 05-06. FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO MALFUNCTION SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER ORDERED. WENT BACK 06-21 REPLACED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. SECOND TIME ON 07-18 AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WAS TOLD DUE TO SEAT COVERS. AIRBAG WAS RESET, WAS TOLD NO SEAT COVERS. HI-DESERT KIA SELLS SEAT COVERS FOR 2006 RIO. THIRD TIME 07-06 WAS TOLD AIRBAG SYSTEM CONNECTION WAS KNOCKED LOOSE DUE TO ITEMS UNDER PASSENGER SEAT, DO NOT PUT ITEMS UNDER SEATS. AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS RESET. FOURTH TIME 08-06 WAS TOLD AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WAITING FOR PART TO ARRIVE 09-06. *JB

Seats1 injured
Filed Jul 22, 2006MD

WHILE PULLING REAR SEATS BACK UP INTO POSITION I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE HOLE WHERE THE SEAT LATCHES CAUSING A SEVERE CUT WHICH TOOK 5 STITCHES. *NM

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jul 19, 2006LA

CONSUMER 2006 KIA RIO AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *TS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE RADIATOR CAP WAS REPLACED. *JB

Tires
Filed Jun 8, 20061,019 milesCA

AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW KIA RIO FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO TIRES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO BOTH KIA AND KUMHO WHO ARE BOTH WHOLLY UNCONCERNED WITH THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. *NM

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2006 Kia Rio → · Every Rio year → · How the figures are calculated →