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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.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
74
200646
200746
200839
200926
201024
201154
2012
Compare all Rio years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
17Engine
7Seats
4Structure
3Unknown Or Other
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Other
1Power Train
1Tires
1Visibility
1

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

Fuel System, Other complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
25 miles · Apr 8, 2010
Fuel System, Other

FIRST PLEASE READ OR REVIEW THE PAST EMAILS I HAVE SENT TO YOU CONCERNING MY 2009 RIO HAVING A HIGH RPM WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND ESPECIALLY 5TH RUNNING MORE THAN 3,100 TO 3,500 RPMS TO RUN AT 60 TO 70 MPH. IN OTHER WORDS I AM GETTING LESS MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN I GET IN TOWN. SEE THE ATTACHMENT. MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI SONATA THAT IS F…

Read full complaint

FIRST PLEASE READ OR REVIEW THE PAST EMAILS I HAVE SENT TO YOU CONCERNING MY 2009 RIO HAVING A HIGH RPM WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND ESPECIALLY 5TH RUNNING MORE THAN 3,100 TO 3,500 RPMS TO RUN AT 60 TO 70 MPH. IN OTHER WORDS I AM GETTING LESS MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN I GET IN TOWN. SEE THE ATTACHMENT. MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI SONATA THAT IS FULLY LOADED, WHICH IS HEAVIER AND HAS A LARGER 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SONATA GETS LESS MPGS IN THE CITY BUT BETTER MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN MY LITTLE RIO. IN FACT THE NUMBERS ARE ALMOST IN REVERSE BECAUSE THE SONATA IS RUNNING AT FAR LESS RPMS AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEEDS I DRIVE IN THE RIO. THE SONATA RUNS AT ABOUT 2200 TO 2500 RPMS ON THE HIGHWAYS AT 60 TO 70 MPH VERSE THE 3,000 TO 3,500 RPMS THE RIO MUST TURN TO DO THE SAME SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324521

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.