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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

Structure complaints

3 reports
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21,000 miles · Apr 30, 2014
StructureCrash

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO 5 LX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME SEIZED. THEN THE CONTACT CRASHED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WHERE NO INJURIES THE CONTACT FILLED A POLICE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO 5 LX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME SEIZED. THEN THE CONTACT CRASHED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WHERE NO INJURIES THE CONTACT FILLED A POLICE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP (BRENDANS AUTO BODY - ELMSFORD NY 10523)THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. JW

NHTSA ODI #10585670

15,000 miles · May 24, 2013
StructureVisibility

CAR HAS SUFFERED REPEATED STRESS CRACKS OF WINDSHIELD. CRACKS START AT SAME SPOT ON WINDSHIELD. REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WITH HUGE HASSLE WITH DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED AGAIN BY OWNER WHEN CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER AGREES CRACKS ARE NOT RESULT OF IMPACT AS NO CHIPPING ON GLASS TO INDICATE FOREIGN BODY IMPACT. IT IS MY OPI…

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CAR HAS SUFFERED REPEATED STRESS CRACKS OF WINDSHIELD. CRACKS START AT SAME SPOT ON WINDSHIELD. REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WITH HUGE HASSLE WITH DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED AGAIN BY OWNER WHEN CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER AGREES CRACKS ARE NOT RESULT OF IMPACT AS NO CHIPPING ON GLASS TO INDICATE FOREIGN BODY IMPACT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT A CAR LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE HAVING REPEATED WINDSHIELD FAILURES. DEALER'S SOLUTION IS TO SELL ME A NEW CAR. KIA'S SOLUTION IS TO HIDE BEHIND CAR BEING OUT OF WARRANTY ON SECOND FAILURE. INSPITE OF REPEATED REQUESTS BY ME AND DEALER'S KIA QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER, KIA CORPORATE NEVER RETURNS MY CALLS. THE ONLY CONTACT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IS A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP WHO JUST REPEATS "CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY". WHEN I ASKED WHAT KIA WOULD DO IF NEW WINDSHIELDS CONTINUE TO CRACK, HIS SOLUTION WAS "FILE A CLAIM WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY". CAR HAS HAD OTHER DISTURBING FAILURES, WHICH REQUIRED REPEATED TRIPS TO DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY SUCH AS AIR BAG SENSOR FAILURE, REPEATED STALLING WHILE BEING DRIVEN, ETC. MOST DISTURBING IS KIA'S UNWILLINGNESS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT'S REPEATED FAILURES ONCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513408

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2011
SeatsStructure

WHEN IT RAINS I NOTICE WATER SEEPING THROUGH THE INSIDE TRIM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIRBAG LOGO IS LOCATED SOMETIMES IS JUST A FEW DROPS AND OTHER TIMES IS ENOUGH TO GET THE SEAT WET THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10426301

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.