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2009 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.

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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

30 reports with mileage · 9 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. 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.

6 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

17 reports
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210,000 miles · Oct 6, 2014
Air Bags

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE CAR IS TRAVELING. I BELIEVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. I NOTIFIED KIA MOTORS ON 6 OCT 2014 AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRES…

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THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE CAR IS TRAVELING. I BELIEVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE. I NOTIFIED KIA MOTORS ON 6 OCT 2014 AT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10641740

826 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 826.

NHTSA ODI #10632708

5,000 miles · Sep 11, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632547

5,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 05/31/12*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10457019

12,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE COLLIDED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES ON HER LEG, ARMS AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK PAIN. BEFORE THE FAILURE OCC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE COLLIDED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES ON HER LEG, ARMS AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK PAIN. BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THE COLLISION WAS NOT FRONTAL. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330747

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

A 2009 KIA RIO MD. POLICE REPORT BY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE . AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS THE VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AT 30-40MPH AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL HEAD ON INTO A WOODEN POWER POLE. THE DRIVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING ON THIS ROAD HOME FROM WORK DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT IT BEGA…

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A 2009 KIA RIO MD. POLICE REPORT BY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE . AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS THE VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AT 30-40MPH AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL HEAD ON INTO A WOODEN POWER POLE. THE DRIVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING ON THIS ROAD HOME FROM WORK DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT IT BEGAN TO SNOW. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE INCLUDING CRUSHING THE RADIATOR AND RESULTED INTHE HEADLIGHTS DANGLING FROMTHE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL , SHOWED SEAT BELT BRUISING MARKS, BRUISED KNEES, WAS IN SHOCK AND HAD A SEVERE HEADACHE AND NECK PAIN. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS A DEALERSHIP LOANER VEHICLE WHILE THE DRIVERS CAR WAS BEING SERVICED. I HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311080

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2009
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG REMAINS "OFF". MALFUNCTION OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285232

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.