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2010 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.

About this comparison →
26Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
46
200746
200839
200926
201024
201154
2012153
2013
Compare all Rio years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
12Electrical System
4Engine
4Unknown Or Other
3Fuel/propulsion System
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Structure
2Equipment
1Power Train
1Steering
1Suspension
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 5 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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.

9 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

12 reports
Clear category filter
50 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED BUT WHEN BOOKS WERE PLACED IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED BUT WHEN BOOKS WERE PLACED IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT VERIFY THE WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG. THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS A MAJOR ISSUE AND FEARS THAT SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AS 50 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10362431

3,000 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Air Bags

1) THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ON MY NEW 2010 KIA RIO STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. THIS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF MY PURCHASE. 2) IT OCCURS DAILY, NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 3) THE KIA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAY THAT IT IS ONLY HAPPENING BECAUSE WE…

Read full complaint

1) THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ON MY NEW 2010 KIA RIO STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. THIS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF MY PURCHASE. 2) IT OCCURS DAILY, NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 3) THE KIA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAY THAT IT IS ONLY HAPPENING BECAUSE WE ARE SITTING ON IT INCORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10347585

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.