IllustrationTHE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVER SIDE OR THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX IT .THE CAR NOW HAS TO HAVE THE WHOLE FRONT END FIXED AND NEED TO HAVE THEM CHECKED TO SEE WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
2004 Kia Rio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio years →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
90–25K
225–50K
750–75K
1175–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
32 reports with mileage · 6 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. 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.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
3 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES WHILE WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.
DURING A FRONTAL-IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SAW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT NOR THE AIRBAG STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CHEST WALL CONTUSIONS AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN CHEST AND BACK. I'M STILL OUT OF WORK DUE TO THE …
Read full complaint
DURING A FRONTAL-IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SAW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT NOR THE AIRBAG STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CHEST WALL CONTUSIONS AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN CHEST AND BACK. I'M STILL OUT OF WORK DUE TO THE INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.*AK
Official recalls
205V557000 · Child Seat
Dec 12, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
04V179000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
Apr 9, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.