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2007 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 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

34 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.

11 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

5 reports
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40,000 miles · Dec 2, 2012
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

TRUCK STOPPED AT STOP SIGN RAINING AT THE TIME 1304 PM GOT ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND RAIN WET ROADS MADE THE CAR SLIDE INTO THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TALL 4X4 TRUCK AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF ON THE RIO CAR HIT CENTER ON THE FRONT BUMPER OVER $3,000.00 IN DAMAGE TO CAR DONE TO TRUCK AND NO BAGS SET OFF SEEMS LIKE A BIG TH…

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TRUCK STOPPED AT STOP SIGN RAINING AT THE TIME 1304 PM GOT ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND RAIN WET ROADS MADE THE CAR SLIDE INTO THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TALL 4X4 TRUCK AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF ON THE RIO CAR HIT CENTER ON THE FRONT BUMPER OVER $3,000.00 IN DAMAGE TO CAR DONE TO TRUCK AND NO BAGS SET OFF SEEMS LIKE A BIG THINGS IF THE BAGS DID NOT GET SET OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486722

15,000 miles · Nov 28, 2012
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ANOTHER DRIVER ALERTED THAT THE EXTERIOR BRAKES LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT SPRAYED A LUBRICANT ONTO THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. THREE YEARS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ANOTHER DRIVER ALERTED THAT THE EXTERIOR BRAKES LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT SPRAYED A LUBRICANT ONTO THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. THREE YEARS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR OTHER 2007 KIA MODEL VEHICLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V130000 (COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000...UPDATED 01/04/13 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10486345

12,000 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS, …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS, AXLE, AND VELOCITY JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10322374

13,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES MANY TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT PASSEN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES MANY TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FINALLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF HIS VEHICLE SUSTAINED OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

NHTSA ODI #10243041

2,455 miles · Dec 12, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-47 MPH WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR DURING A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILS OR SLIDES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-47 MPH WHEN THE PAVEMENT IS WET OR DURING A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILS OR SLIDES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH HER CHILDREN ON BOARD. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,455.

NHTSA ODI #10211578

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.