Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
225–50K
750–75K
1175–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
32 reports with mileage · 6 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
38 reports
70,000 miles · Feb 13, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED DOWN FOR A DISTANCE. THE LEVER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING BLOCK WAS MANUALLY PUSHED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE HOUSING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED DOWN FOR A DISTANCE. THE LEVER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING BLOCK WAS MANUALLY PUSHED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE HOUSING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10150163
34,000 miles · Feb 8, 2006
Visibility
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE RETAINING NUT ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LOOSENS, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND TIGHTENED THE RETAINING NUT, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER, NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NHTSA ODI #10149813
22,957 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION AT THE ENGINE BULK. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10143539
23,500 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
DEALER CHANGED COMPUTER, WIRING HARNESS , 2 INJECTORS, PLUG, TIMING BELT, SENSOR AND REPLACED COMES SWITCHES . BOUGHT A 2004 KIA RIO IN MARCH 2005. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE CAR UP AT THE SHOP, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE LOT BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. DEALER OFFERED ME A…
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DEALER CHANGED COMPUTER, WIRING HARNESS , 2 INJECTORS, PLUG, TIMING BELT, SENSOR AND REPLACED COMES SWITCHES . BOUGHT A 2004 KIA RIO IN MARCH 2005. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE CAR UP AT THE SHOP, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE LOT BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. DEALER OFFERED ME A RENTAL CAR. WENT BACK ONE WEEK LATER TO PICK UP THE CAR AND ONLY WENT TWO MILES BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER, AND REQUESTED ANOTHER CAR JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAD A 2004 KIA RIO. DEALER SAID COULD NOT TRADE THE CAR WITHOUT REFINANCING IT. THEY DID FINANCE THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST CAR BUT REFUSED TO WITH THE SECOND CAR. WHY CANT THE DEALER FINANCE THE SECOND CAR AS THEY DID THE FIRST? *AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10118855
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2005
Fuel System, Other
CONTACT STATES: THE DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL COMPATIBILITY/TEMPERATURE PROBLEM. CONTACT SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN COLD, AND THAT IT CUTS OUT WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE WOULD LET HIS VEHICLE WARM UP BEFORE HE BEGINS TO DRIVE, AND HE ALWAYS DOES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER F…
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CONTACT STATES: THE DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL COMPATIBILITY/TEMPERATURE PROBLEM. CONTACT SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN COLD, AND THAT IT CUTS OUT WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE WOULD LET HIS VEHICLE WARM UP BEFORE HE BEGINS TO DRIVE, AND HE ALWAYS DOES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER FIXED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR WARRANTY WORK. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10119819
9,300 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
DURING A FRONTAL-IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SAW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT NOR THE AIRBAG STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CHEST WALL CONTUSIONS AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN CHEST AND BACK. I'M STILL OUT OF WORK DUE TO THE …
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DURING A FRONTAL-IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SAW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT NOR THE AIRBAG STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CHEST WALL CONTUSIONS AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN CHEST AND BACK. I'M STILL OUT OF WORK DUE TO THE INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10107953
206 miles · Nov 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS NOT ACCELERATION WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS. *BF THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE AIR CLEANER LID WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND TIGHTENED PIN CONNECTORS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10099686
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SENSOR, AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE ME…
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WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SENSOR, AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT A TICKING PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *AK
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2004 Kia Rio Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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