IllustrationFAILURE OF VEHICLE REPAIR X 3 WEEKS. 3 DIFFERENT REPAIRS, STILL NOT FIXED. KIA REFUSES TO GIVE LOAN/RENTAL TO DRIVE WHILE PERFORMING WARRANTY WORK. CAR WILL NOT RUN, STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE ALMOST KILLING MY COLLEGE STUDENT X 3+.*JB
2005 Kia Rio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
425–50K
650–75K
675–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
24 reports with mileage · 12 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 →
- Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 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 reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
12 reportsDT: THE CALLER SAID THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. HEIT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM A STANDSTILL. NO LIGHTS COME ON TO LET HIM KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE DOES IT AFTER IT WARNS UP. HE SAID THE MORE HE DRIVES IT THE WORSE IT GETS. HTHE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS RAND…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CALLER SAID THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. HEIT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM A STANDSTILL. NO LIGHTS COME ON TO LET HIM KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. VEHICLE DOES IT AFTER IT WARNS UP. HE SAID THE MORE HE DRIVES IT THE WORSE IT GETS. HTHE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND WITH NO WARNING. HE HAS TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, AND IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER SAID IT NEEDSEDTO BE DUPLICATED BY AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN. *AK
Official recalls
105V557000 · Child Seat
Dec 12, 2005
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.