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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.

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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

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

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2024
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I bought this car used a little less than a week ago. There was a thumping noise under the hood so I took the car to the dealer twice for this issue. I looked under the hood tonight and found a bunch of pieces that are not bolted down and the battery is completely unsecured and can move around freely. It’s horribly unsafe bec…

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I bought this car used a little less than a week ago. There was a thumping noise under the hood so I took the car to the dealer twice for this issue. I looked under the hood tonight and found a bunch of pieces that are not bolted down and the battery is completely unsecured and can move around freely. It’s horribly unsafe because the battery being loose can affect the entire car and the parts that aren’t bolted in place are causing major issues with the AC and other systems.

NHTSA ODI #11575004

78,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART AFTER WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10360357

24,000 miles · Jun 26, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

MY 2004 KIA RIO STARTED TO STALL AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS @ 24,000 I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TACHOMETER READINGS (UP AND DOWN) AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUED ROUGH IDLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER ON MORE THAN 6 OCCASIONS AND AT THAT POINT THEY ONLY RETURNED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND TOLD ME THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRO…

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MY 2004 KIA RIO STARTED TO STALL AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS @ 24,000 I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TACHOMETER READINGS (UP AND DOWN) AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUED ROUGH IDLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER ON MORE THAN 6 OCCASIONS AND AT THAT POINT THEY ONLY RETURNED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND TOLD ME THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AFTER HIRING A LAWYER AND CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM THEM TO FIX THE CAR, THEY ORDERED A THROTTLE ARM AND AGREED TO TRY IT OUT. ON JUNE 23, 2006 BEFORE THEY PUT THE THROTTLE ITEM IN, I STALLED @ 30 MPH MAKING A TURN ONTO TO A STREET FROM A INTERSECTION. A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND STOPPED INCHES SHORT OF HITTING ME ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. AT THIS POINT EVEN WITH THE NEW PART PLACED IN MY CAR, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR SINCE THEY SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160791

22,957 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION AT THE ENGINE BULK. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143539

23,500 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

DEALER CHANGED COMPUTER, WIRING HARNESS , 2 INJECTORS, PLUG, TIMING BELT, SENSOR AND REPLACED COMES SWITCHES . BOUGHT A 2004 KIA RIO IN MARCH 2005. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE CAR UP AT THE SHOP, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE LOT BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. DEALER OFFERED ME A…

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DEALER CHANGED COMPUTER, WIRING HARNESS , 2 INJECTORS, PLUG, TIMING BELT, SENSOR AND REPLACED COMES SWITCHES . BOUGHT A 2004 KIA RIO IN MARCH 2005. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE CAR UP AT THE SHOP, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE LOT BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. DEALER OFFERED ME A RENTAL CAR. WENT BACK ONE WEEK LATER TO PICK UP THE CAR AND ONLY WENT TWO MILES BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER, AND REQUESTED ANOTHER CAR JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAD A 2004 KIA RIO. DEALER SAID COULD NOT TRADE THE CAR WITHOUT REFINANCING IT. THEY DID FINANCE THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST CAR BUT REFUSED TO WITH THE SECOND CAR. WHY CANT THE DEALER FINANCE THE SECOND CAR AS THEY DID THE FIRST? *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10118855

Official recalls

2

05V557000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.