2006 Kia Rio Airbags Problems

srs light turned on and is illuminated when starting and driving the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11739941

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE I RENEDED TWO CARS. MY AIR BAG SID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS HYDROPLANE ON WET ROADS GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11288270

Incident

Dec 9, 2019

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD A SEIZURE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

11193061

Incident

Mar 26, 2019

Mileage

189,000 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF

NHTSA ID

11174943

Incident

Jul 11, 2018

Mileage

102,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID

11149519

Incident

Nov 2, 2018

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NISSAN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ROTATOR CUFF AND WAS PROVIDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SOUTHWEST KIA LOCATED AT 39650 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY DALLAS, TX 75237 877-363-9542), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,486.

NHTSA ID

11003958

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

115,486 mi

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OUT AT 170000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED IT FREE. NOW THE SAME SENSOR WENT OUT AT 70000 MILES AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T REPLACE IT FOR FREE. THE SAME SENSOR SHOULDN'T GO OUT TWICE IN 10 YEARS. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WORK IF ONE SENSOR IF BROKEN. THE REPAIRS WOULD BE ABOUT $2000 AND WE DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY IF KIA HAS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10926233

Incident

Nov 4, 2016

I HAVE A 2006 KIA RIO . THE OCCUPANT AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THIS WAS FIX LONG TIME AGO. THIS NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN . DOES KIA STILL HONOR THERE FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND FIX MY CAR? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10863410

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10823470

Incident

Jan 19, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10735490

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

KIA SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO THE SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK, BUT THE "AIR BAG" LAMP CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT AT $800 WITH LABOR. THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, NOR BY THE EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY I PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678313

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

51,660 mi

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AFTER THE AIRBAG WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE RECALL IN 2012. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY BOYFRIEND AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT EVER SIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH WEIGH MORE THEN THE NECESSARY WEIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TWICE BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND THIS TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR THE WEEK AND WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO STAY ON. THEY NOW CLAIM THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SEAT AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $800. I FEEL THAT ANOTHER RECALL IS NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651557

Incident

Oct 11, 2014

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET BUT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. GARAGE SAYS IT'S A DEALER ISSUE, HOWEVER I AM UNABLE TO PAY FOR IT NOR SHOULD I. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643261

Incident

Aug 12, 2014

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2006 KIA RIO. ( NEVER BEEN IN ANY AUTO ACCIDENT OR HAD FRONT END DAMAGE) WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.AS TO THIS COMPLAINT. KIA STATED IT IS APPROXIMATELY $ 400.00 TO $ 800.00 DOLLARS OUT OF CONSUMERS POCKETS TO FIX. I FEEL KIA CORP. SHOULD COVER THIS PART SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. OR AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND THERE IS ANOTHER CASE LIKE GM . LET'S GET ON THIS MAJOR ISSUE AND RECALL ALL KIA S.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10577020

Incident

Feb 22, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. DID NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THE CRASH SENSOR WAD BAD. KIA PART ONLY. CALLED KIA THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $487.00TO REPLACE IT. AS A SAFETY FEATURE , THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE. NOW MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I'LL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN. THEY NEED TO FIX THE CRAPPY SAFETY PARTS THEY USE FOR FREE. AS A PARAMEDIC, AIRBAGS SAVE LIVES. THEY NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE FREE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ONLINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562766

Incident

Feb 19, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO MY LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THEIR REAR END WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY KNEE JAMMED UNDER THE WHEEL. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE EMTS WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE VERY SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2007 AND HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED, SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562360

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAVE A 2006 KIA RIO LX AND AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. MY FATHER ALSO HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AND IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER REVIEWING CONSUMER REPORTS ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS FOR THAT YEAR BUT NOT FOR THE RIO LX. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND GET BACK TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457659

Incident

Oct 12, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OBD SCAN INDICATED "FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR" FAILED. DEALERSHIP WANTS $800 BUCKS PLUS TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR. WITHOUT IT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY FOR FRONT PASSENGER. HAVE RESEARCHED IT AND OTHERS HAVE INDICATED IT JUST GOES OUT AGAIN. I WILL NOT PAY THIS!!!! *JS

NHTSA ID

10455565

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

AIR BAG SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS FAILED-THREE TIMES SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN DEC.2005. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451648

Incident

Mar 8, 2008

Mileage

93,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILED AIR BAG SENSOR AFTER OWNING THE CAR JUST 11 MONTHS. NOW THE CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT SO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT OF DATE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING ON. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR A CHARGE OF $880. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE FACT THIS IS A SECOND CAR AND NEVER USED AS A FAMILY CAR. THERE IS USUALLY ONLY A DRIVER AND MAYBE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, THE DEALER MANAGER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA MOTORS. ALL COMPLAINTS WERE A DEAD END WITH THE REPLY BEING THE SAME EACH TIME, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SINCE THIS IMPAIRS THE ABILITY OF EVER HAVING A RIDER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT THEIR LIFE BEING IN DANGER. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS BEING LISTED ON THE WEB WITH THIS SAME DEFECT, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS A SEAT DESIGN IMPERFECTION AND SHOULD BE KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH AND A LAWSUIT TO GET ANY THING DONE IN THIS MATTER?? WHO READS THIS AND WILL IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?? I BOUGHT THE KIA RIO BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISED IT WAS SAFE AND ECONOMICAL...AND IT APPEARS TO BE NEITHER! *TR

NHTSA ID

10449679

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

18,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE ENTIRE AIG BAG SENSOR SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,990.

NHTSA ID

10449611

Incident

Feb 26, 2012

Mileage

62,990 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 02/06/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2077. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX WAS MADE. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED, ONLY TO BE TOLD, THE COST WOULD BE $800.00. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE AIR BAG, BUT WAS TOLD, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 02/10/12

NHTSA ID

10445421

Incident

Jul 3, 2006

MY MOTHER RAN OFF THE ROAD & HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED, BUT THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE RECEIVED ALOT OF FACIAL TRAUMA & BRAIN INJURIES TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445413

Incident

Jul 6, 2011

AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE. MY CAR HAS SUFFERED NO TRAUMA OR REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO NOT WORK, BUT WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AS LONG AS THIS LIGHT IS ON. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444905

Incident

Aug 24, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE TWO 2006 KIA RIOS BOTH AT APPROX. 65000 MILES DEVELOPED AND AIR BAG PROBLEM. I TOOK THEM TO THE DEALER AND PAID 105 DOLLARS EACH FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THEY TELL ME IT IS THE PASSENGER SEAT ON BOTH CARS AND WANT 600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE SEATS. SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW PEOPLE SIT IN MY PASSENGER SEATS IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE. I HAVE NOTED ON THE INTERNET THAT IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A PROBLEM FOR BOTH THE 2006 AND 2007 MODEL KIA RIO'S. I ALSO HAVE MET TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BETWEEN 60 AND 70 THOUSAND MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434365

Incident

Oct 9, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi