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2006 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

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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

55 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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.

12 crash reports0 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

74 reports
36,000 miles · Jul 17, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON...DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT UNPLUG BATTERY AND PLUG IT BACK IN. LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MILEAGE PER GALLON IS VERY POOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10413180

70,000 miles · Jul 5, 2011
Electrical System

BOUGHT OUR 2006 KIA RIO IN 2010, WE HAVE 70000 MILES ON IT. THE STARTER WENT OUT. THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET STERTER FOR THIS CAR. THE ONE THAT IS SPECIFIED WILL NOT FIT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND ONE THAT FIT HOWEVER AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A MONTH THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10410490

64,000 miles · Jun 30, 2011
Air Bags

2006 RIO PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE AND NOW IT IS OUT FOR A THIRD TIME. THEY WANT $871 TO FIX IT. IF YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, KIA SAYS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. T…

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2006 RIO PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE AND NOW IT IS OUT FOR A THIRD TIME. THEY WANT $871 TO FIX IT. IF YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, KIA SAYS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS ISSUE AND YOU CANNOT SELL OR INSPECT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410144

78,152 miles · Jun 16, 2011
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,152.

NHTSA ODI #10407124

89,000 miles · Jun 13, 2011
Air Bags

I HAVE A KIA RIO 2006 MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER SHIP IN SOUTH FLORIDA PAID $130.00 FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THEM TO ADVISE ME MY SENSORS ARE BAD ON MY KIA RIO 2006 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANT…

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I HAVE A KIA RIO 2006 MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER SHIP IN SOUTH FLORIDA PAID $130.00 FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THEM TO ADVISE ME MY SENSORS ARE BAD ON MY KIA RIO 2006 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $3,000.00 TO REPLACE THE SENSORS AS THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE SENSOR WENT BAD. I FEEL AS A SAFETY FEATURE AND KNOWING MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT THESES SENSORS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS FRUSTRATING KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT TOO SAFE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN MY CAR AND THIS IS THE ONLY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION I HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406230

48,000 miles · May 17, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON MAY 14TH AT ABOUT 1:15 P.M.. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 KIA RIO SLIGHTLY UNDER 30 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A VEHICLE GOING MUCH FASTER, BUT UNDETERMINED SPEED. I WAS PUSHED INTO AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME. MY HOOD AND FRONT END CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING M…

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON MAY 14TH AT ABOUT 1:15 P.M.. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 KIA RIO SLIGHTLY UNDER 30 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A VEHICLE GOING MUCH FASTER, BUT UNDETERMINED SPEED. I WAS PUSHED INTO AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME. MY HOOD AND FRONT END CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, BUT STILL HIT MY CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRACTURED TWO VERTEBRAE IN MY SPINE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER TWO CARS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FAILURE IS THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE KIA DEPLOYED. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR NEEDED MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NO CORRECTION TO BE DONE; THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10401297

85,000 miles · Mar 16, 2011
Air BagsPower Train

PURCHASED A 2006 KIA RIO NEW. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO OR SO THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD BE ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, KIA REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOTHING ELSE IN THE SYSTEM. A FACTORY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BEE…

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PURCHASED A 2006 KIA RIO NEW. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO OR SO THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD BE ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, KIA REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOTHING ELSE IN THE SYSTEM. A FACTORY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA MAKES A VERY POOR PRODUCT. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT KIA WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES AS THEY RECOMMEND. KIA DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND MAKE THEM HONOR THEIR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10390360

50,000 miles · Feb 9, 2011
Air Bags

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT TO THE CAR, NO TRAUMA TO THE BUMPER AT ALL. THE LIGHT JUST DOESN'T GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381233

49,000 miles · Nov 18, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN 2006 KIA RIO, RESTRAINED WITH SEATBELT. HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED,DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE HAD A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, INTERNAL INJURIES, CHANCE FRACTURE L3, COMPRESSION FRACTURE L4 OF HER SPINE, BROKE BOTH LEGS. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN …

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MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN 2006 KIA RIO, RESTRAINED WITH SEATBELT. HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED,DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE HAD A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, INTERNAL INJURIES, CHANCE FRACTURE L3, COMPRESSION FRACTURE L4 OF HER SPINE, BROKE BOTH LEGS. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. ROOF HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO REMOVE HER. ACCIDENT OCCURRED 9/29/10 IN INDIANA SHE WAS AIR LIFTED, REQUIRED 3 SURGERIES, HOSPITALIZED FOR 4 WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366782

93,000 miles · Nov 13, 2010
Air Bags

MY 2006 KIA RIO AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON & STAYED ON. DIAGNOSES-INOPERATIVE SEAT AIR BAG MAT. TO REPAIR, THE COST WOULD BE $1000.00 WITH TAXES. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY KIA VEHICLES CAUSING SOME AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365551

Official recalls

1

12V244000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 31, 2012

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.

Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER 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.