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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 →
36Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
128
200274
200338
200436
200574
200646
200746
2008
Compare all Rio years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
12Engine
5Air Bags
4Electrical System
4Seat Belts
4
All reported categories
Power Train
3Steering
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Structure
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Fuel System, Other complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2005
Fuel System, Other

CAR STALLING, 15 MPG SHOULD GET 35MPG, RPM AT 3.5 GOING 65 MPH TOO HIGH, NO POWER. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SATUDAY JULY 16, 2005 AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE JULY 18, 2005. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24 MILES WHEN PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT CHESROWN KIA IN COLUMBUS OHIO.. WASN'T INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD ISSUES BEFORE PURCHASING IT.IT HAD…

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CAR STALLING, 15 MPG SHOULD GET 35MPG, RPM AT 3.5 GOING 65 MPH TOO HIGH, NO POWER. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SATUDAY JULY 16, 2005 AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE JULY 18, 2005. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24 MILES WHEN PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT CHESROWN KIA IN COLUMBUS OHIO.. WASN'T INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD ISSUES BEFORE PURCHASING IT.IT HAD WORK DONE TO IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I GAVE THEM THE CONCERN AFTER TEST DRIVING IT THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A STICK SHIFT. ASSURED ME IT WAS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS BEEN BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE LAST MONDAY, AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE PROBLEM AFTER TAKING EVERYTHING APART AND PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER..2005 KIA RIO, JUST ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE 188,000 2004 KIA RIO'S WERE RECALLED LAST SEPTEMBER 2004 FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10129945

Official recalls

1

05V557000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.