Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
625–50K
950–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
46 reports
5,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. SHE ALSO SMELLS GAS, WHICH REMAINS PRESENT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND CLEANED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. SHE ALSO SMELLS GAS, WHICH REMAINS PRESENT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS AND CLEANED THE TOP OF THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,267 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
NHTSA ODI #10242857
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
15,900 miles · Oct 17, 2007
Power Train
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 75 AT 70 MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE INTO 3RD GEAR. THE SUDDEN SURGE ALMOST SENT ME INTO THE MEDIAN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR UNIT TWICE AND PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER KEPT OLD PARTS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10206032
84,600 miles · Oct 1, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS THEN RETRIEVED BY KIA. AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE FOR THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS THEN RETRIEVED BY KIA. AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE FOR THE ENGINE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,600.
NHTSA ODI #10204570
80 miles · May 15, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE INTERMITTENTLY AND BEGAN TO HAVE A CHEMICAL BURN SMELL 30 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE INTERMITTENTLY AND BEGAN TO HAVE A CHEMICAL BURN SMELL 30 DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH, BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,900 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80. RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/08/07 FAILED . *LJ
NHTSA ODI #10190818
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2007
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE KIA DEALER HAS PERFORMED FOUR ALIGNMENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE KIA DEALER HAS PERFORMED FOUR ALIGNMENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE MAY BE FAILURE WITH THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE CHECKED AND NO FAILURES WERE DETECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,080 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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.
2007 Kia Rio Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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