Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Jul 16, 2022
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 25, 2009
What this page shows
Our database holds 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Kia Rio. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 39 · page 1 of 2
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 16, 2022
Engine went out 8 months after there always been electrical issue has caused problems where it wnt accelerate causing a wreck the break light had shorts they didnt even have the radio n i went to a car lot dealership . this car left me in bad situations im just surprised its not recall I barely drive it it paid off after so many years n really only reason I have it cuz I put too much in n it n now it aint worth nuthin because of the issues that gave me
NHTSA ID
11474311
Incident
Jul 16, 2022
Filed Jul 6, 2022
The doors will lock and won't unlock. This happened to the front passenger door when the car was less than a year old and they repaired it. The rear passenger door locked and it won't lock so I don't load items on that side but yesterday, July 5, 2022 I got locked in on my drivers side! I had to exit the vehicle by crawling over the stick shift to the front passenger side. I've seen hundreds of complaints about this and can't understand why there has not been a recall.
NHTSA ID
11472481
Incident
Jul 5, 2022
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jun 30, 2022
My airbag light will not go off for my passenger side!!! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall because it definitely should be! What everybody says about the 2005 to the 2008 Kia Rios and the 2001 to 2008 Kia Rios is the same thing that is happening with my Kia Rio which is a 2009... Can y please add my vehicle too??? Also in the latest class action lawsuit it talks about the passenger seat pad sensor being broken and that's what breaks the passenger airbag so how in the world is my car not included in this?
NHTSA ID
11471872
Incident
Jan 31, 2019
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 2, 2021
MY COILS KEEP GOING OUT AFTER REPLACING ALL 4. I'VE REPLACED THE COMPLETE FUEL PUMP BUT EVERYTIME I FUEL UP MY CAR IT HESITATES TO START WHICH IS WHY I REPLACED THE PUMP TO BEGIN WITH.
NHTSA ID
11386161
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 27, 2020
MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WILL NOT GO OUT WHEN IT IS RESET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SENSOR IS BAD, IS THERE A RECALL ON THE SENORS
NHTSA ID
11385096
Incident
Dec 15, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2020
SPARK PLUG CYLINDER HOLES FILLING WITH OIL DUE TO VALVE COVER ORING FAILURE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE A ENGINE FIRE IN THE PICTURE THE WHOLE SPARED PLUG WAS COMPLETELY COVERED OVER WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE
NHTSA ID
11318131
Incident
Mar 15, 2020
Mileage
197,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2019
REPLACED IGNITION COILS 1 AND 3 AT THE END OF 2018. COIL 1 HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2019. COILS 2 AND 4 WERE BOTH REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL SPARK PLUGS FEBRUARY 2018. IN JULY 2019 COIL 2 STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN AND NOW IN AUGUST 2019 COIL 4 IS MISFIRING AS WELL. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I SEE MANY REGULAR POSTS REGARDING THE SHORT LIFE SPAN OF THE IGNITION COILS FOR THIS CAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AND ELECTRICAL ISSUE IF NOT SOMETHING ELSE IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AT LEAST AT THIS POINT AS TO WHY THE COILS FAIL SO QUICKLY IN THIS TYPE OF CAR. MULTIPLE ISSUES OF THE CAR NOT WANTING TO START, SHUTTING OFF WHILE IDLING AND I HAVE EVEN HAD AN INCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT COMPLETELY FAILED AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY .
NHTSA ID
11253935
Incident
Sep 8, 2019
Mileage
85,099 mi
Filed Jul 10, 2018
1 injury reported
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CHROME PAINT USED ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES CRACKS FORMING RAZOR SHARP EDGES THAT HAS SLICED MY HANDS DEEP WHILE OPENING DOORS TWICE. I HAVE CALLED TO REPORT THIS AWHILE BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE SENT TO HIGHER. HAVE NOT HEARD ANY RESPONSE TO THIS DAY. I HAVE HAD TO PUT ELECTRICAL TAPE AROUND ALL DOOR HANDLES TO PREVENT BEING CUT WHILE OPENING DOORS. I HAVE READ ON KIA FORUMS WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU (KIA MOTORS) GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MY CONCERN IS THAT A CHILD WILL IF NOT ALREADY, BE CUT BAD BY THIS. IT COULD BE BAD ENOUGH TO REQUIRE STITCHES AS THIS IS A RAZOR SHARP EDGE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THIS SHOULD BE PUT ON A SAFETY ISSUE RECALL AND FIXED BY KIA MOTORS JUST SAYING. AT LEAST USE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON FUTURE VEHICLES. THANK YOU [XXXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF TALLAHASSEE LOCATED AT: 2755 W TENNESSEE ST, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 666-5407, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA ID
11035573
Incident
Sep 26, 2017
Mileage
115,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 8, 2017
Crash reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION 7/7/2017. IT REAR-ENDED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL LIKELY BE TOTALED DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. PER PHOTOS, FRONT FASCIA WAS DESTROYED, DAMAGE EXTENDED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER START NOR RUN. HOWEVER, THE SRS AIRBAG LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL (PER PHOTO) NEVER DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY, DRIVER (OUR SON) WAS, AS ALWAYS, WEARING HIS SEATBELT AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.
NHTSA ID
11003756
Incident
Jul 7, 2017
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2017
AT 39,000 MILES MY CAR STARTED LURCHING AND HAD NO POWER. GOT IT TO A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY, AND SPARK PLUGS AND COIL #1 HAD TO BE REPLACED. I JUST GOT TO 67,000 MILES, EMISSIONS CONTROL LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON, CAR HAD LOSS OF POWER AND SHAKING. AGAIN GOT TO MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY, AGAIN #1 COIL AND #2 COILS HAD TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE AN UNDERLYING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ADDRESSED. CAN THIS PROBLEM BE PERMANENTLY FIXED? WILL A KIA DEALERSHIP BE ABLE TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RECALL.
NHTSA ID
11002707
Incident
Jun 28, 2017
Mileage
67,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 7, 2017
2009 KIA RIO LX: WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AT 20MPH AND HAVING 26,875 MILES IN THE OD, THE AIRBAG RED LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTORIZED KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED USING A KDS HAVING 26,927 MILES, FINDING 3 CODES: B1448 OCS MAT DEFECT, B1513 BUCKLE SWITCH OPEN SHORT PASSENGER SIDE, B1511 BUCKLE SWITCH OPEN SHORT DRIVER SIDE. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR REPORTS FROM KIA ON THIS COMPLAINTS FOR 2009 KIA RIO AND DECIDED TO NOT REPLACE THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BUCKLE SWITCH AND THE PASSENGER MAT SEAT FOR A TOTAL CHARGE OF $1,700. THE VEHICLE IS USED BY ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, NEVER HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH EVENTS, HAVE LOW MILEAGE AND STILLS UNDER THE 10YEARS/100,000 MILES WARRANTY OFFERED BY KIA.
NHTSA ID
10993833
Incident
Jun 2, 2017
Mileage
26,875 mi
Filed Apr 25, 2017
PART AFFECTED:-DOOR: THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, MANUALLY NOR BY KEY-FOB, THEREFORE I'M REDUCED TO USING THREE DOORS ON A FOUR DOOR CAR. *THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS MALFUNCTION HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR. ALL-STAR KIA OF BATON ROUGE REPAIRED IT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE CAR IS PAID FOR AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY WANT TO CHARGE A $100.00 DIAGNOSTIC TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW.
NHTSA ID
10980544
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
69,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 2016
IGNITION COIL RECALL. THEY KEEP GOING BAD EVERY TWO MONTHS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON I LOSE POWER TO THE CAR. GET THE IGNITION COIL AND VALVE COVER FIXED. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. WHILE I AM DRIVING IN MOTION AND STATIONARY THIS HAPPENS.
NHTSA ID
10908474
Incident
Sep 1, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 9, 2016
CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. 4000+RPM BRAKES APPLIED DID NOT STOP IT. MISTAKE WAS TO KILL ENGINE WHICH KILLS THE BRAKES AND STEERING! LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. STARTED CAR AGAIN AND ENGINE REVVED UP BY ITSELF. TURNED OFF AND ON AND ENGINE WAS NORMAL. IMPORTANT TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL NOT TO TURN OFF, NEUTRAL ALLOWS BRAKES TO WORK!!!!! CALLED KIA THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS.
NHTSA ID
10873515
Incident
Jun 9, 2016
Mileage
98,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 14, 2016
MY AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF.
NHTSA ID
10864863
Incident
Oct 13, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 9, 2015
I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WITH A FRIEND, WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAG INDICATOR HAD COME ON. AS I DROVE AWAY TO COME ASK MY FATHER WHAT IT MEANT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REPEATEDLY FLASH ON AND OFF, WITH HER SITTING STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON. EVER SINCE THAN THE AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS STAYED ON AND WON'T GO OFF. AS WELL AT THE FLASHING PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT. I HAD WENT ONLINE TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS AND IT HAD STATED THAT 2006-2008 HAD A RECALL ON "AIR BAG CRACKING". WE READ UP ON IT AND IT IS THE SAME THING THAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE IT KNOWN TO KIA THAT THIS PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING IN 2009 MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER RECALL SO NO FURTHER ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10693157
Incident
Mar 2, 2015
Mileage
76,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 18, 2015
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY GOING ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS. BROUGHT IT TO MECHANIC, THEY CLEANED THE WIRES AND PLUGGED EVERYTHING BACK IN, LIGHT WENT OFF. THE NEXT DAY THE WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, NOW CONSTANTLY ON. ABLE TO BRING IT BACK TO MECHANIC AT A LATER DATE AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS PASSENGER LOWER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (CODE B1448). THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT WAS RECALLED IN KIA RIOS FROM 2006-2008. THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2012, SO THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE PART FOR ALL YEARS UP UNTIL THE RECALL TOOK PLACE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY KIA. *TR
NHTSA ID
10676349
Incident
Nov 1, 2014
Suspension
Filed Nov 25, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS CUT OFF BY A TRUCK AND THE WIND FORCE OF THE PASSING VEHICLE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ID
10660919
Incident
Nov 23, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2014
WE PURCHASED THE ABOVE CAR IN MAY 2014 FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN VANCOUVER WA. AFTER AWHILE, I AS PASSENGER GOT TO LOOKING AT AN OFF SIGN WHICH WAS ON ALL THE TIME. LOOKED FURTHER TO SEE THE WORDS PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. WHICH I ASSUME MEANS IN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT HAVE PROTECTION. AFTER 4 TRIPS TO HANNAH KIA IN OUR AREA, THEY HANDED ME A KIA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETING DATED FEB.2008 INSTRUCTING DEALERS TO TRAIN THE PASSENGER IN HOW TO SIT ON THE SEAT IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE SENSOR. WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY HAVE KNOWN ALL ALONG A PROBLEM EXISTS. I WEIGH 154# BUT MY WEIGHT DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE SENSOR. USING A SMALL 12"X12" PILLOW I CAN GET IT TO WORK SOMETIMES.. THIS IS UNACCEPTBLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR RECEIVE AND ACT ON THIS. I AM GOING TO CONTACT MY CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ALSO. *TR
NHTSA ID
10653089
Incident
May 20, 2014
Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 2014
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE CAR IS TRAVELING. I BELIEVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. I NOTIFIED KIA MOTORS ON 6 OCT 2014 AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10641740
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
210,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 12, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 826.
NHTSA ID
10632708
Incident
Aug 1, 2009
Mileage
826 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA ID
10632547
Incident
Sep 11, 2014
Mileage
5,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 30, 2014
Crash reported
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO 5 LX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME SEIZED. THEN THE CONTACT CRASHED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WHERE NO INJURIES THE CONTACT FILLED A POLICE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP (BRENDANS AUTO BODY - ELMSFORD NY 10523)THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. JW
NHTSA ID
10585670
Incident
Apr 28, 2014
Mileage
21,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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