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2006 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

55 reports with mileage · 19 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 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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.

12 crash reports0 fire reports11 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

50 reports
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51,660 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Air Bags

KIA SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO THE SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK, BUT THE "AIR BAG" LAMP CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT AT $800 WITH LABOR. THE MODULE …

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KIA SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TO THE SRS AIR BAG SYSTEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK, BUT THE "AIR BAG" LAMP CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT AT $800 WITH LABOR. THE MODULE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, NOR BY THE EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY I PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678313

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2014
Air Bags

I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AFTER THE AIRBAG WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE RECALL IN 2012. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY BOYFRIEND AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT EVER SIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH WEIGH MORE THEN THE NECESSARY WEIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TWICE BECAUSE …

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I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AFTER THE AIRBAG WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE RECALL IN 2012. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY BOYFRIEND AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT EVER SIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND BOTH WEIGH MORE THEN THE NECESSARY WEIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TWICE BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND THIS TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR THE WEEK AND WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO STAY ON. THEY NOW CLAIM THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SEAT AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $800. I FEEL THAT ANOTHER RECALL IS NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651557

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2014
Air Bags

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET BUT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. GARAGE SAYS IT'S A DEALER ISSUE, HOWEVER I AM UNABLE TO PAY FOR IT NOR SHOULD I. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643261

78,000 miles · Apr 3, 2014
Air Bags

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2006 KIA RIO. ( NEVER BEEN IN ANY AUTO ACCIDENT OR HAD FRONT END DAMAGE) WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.AS TO THIS COMPLAINT. KIA STATED IT IS APPROXIMATELY $ 400.00 TO $ 800.00 DOLLARS OUT OF CONSUMERS POCKETS TO FIX. I FEEL KIA CORP. SHOULD COVER THIS PART SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY 2006 KIA RIO. ( NEVER BEEN IN ANY AUTO ACCIDENT OR HAD FRONT END DAMAGE) WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.AS TO THIS COMPLAINT. KIA STATED IT IS APPROXIMATELY $ 400.00 TO $ 800.00 DOLLARS OUT OF CONSUMERS POCKETS TO FIX. I FEEL KIA CORP. SHOULD COVER THIS PART SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. OR AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND THERE IS ANOTHER CASE LIKE GM . LET'S GET ON THIS MAJOR ISSUE AND RECALL ALL KIA S.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577020

80,000 miles · Feb 3, 2014
Air Bags

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. DID NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THE CRASH SENSOR WAD BAD. KIA PART ONLY. CALLED KIA THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $487.00TO REPLACE IT. AS A SAFETY FEATURE , THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE. NOW MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I'LL NEVER…

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MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON. DID NOT HAVE ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THE CRASH SENSOR WAD BAD. KIA PART ONLY. CALLED KIA THEY SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $487.00TO REPLACE IT. AS A SAFETY FEATURE , THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE. NOW MY AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I'LL NEVER BUY A KIA AGAIN. THEY NEED TO FIX THE CRAPPY SAFETY PARTS THEY USE FOR FREE. AS A PARAMEDIC, AIRBAGS SAVE LIVES. THEY NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE FREE. I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ONLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562766

130,000 miles · Jan 31, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO MY LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THEIR REAR END WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY KNEE JAMMED UNDER THE WHEEL. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT NO …

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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO MY LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THEIR REAR END WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY KNEE JAMMED UNDER THE WHEEL. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE EMTS WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE VERY SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2007 AND HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED, SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562360

60,000 miles · May 7, 2012
Air Bags

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAVE A 2006 KIA RIO LX AND AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. MY FATHER ALSO HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AND IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER REVIEWING CONSUMER REPORTS ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT IT IS A COMMON…

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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAVE A 2006 KIA RIO LX AND AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. MY FATHER ALSO HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AND IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER REVIEWING CONSUMER REPORTS ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS FOR THAT YEAR BUT NOT FOR THE RIO LX. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND GET BACK TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457659

40,000 miles · Apr 17, 2012
Air Bags

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OBD SCAN INDICATED "FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR" FAILED. DEALERSHIP WANTS $800 BUCKS PLUS TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR. WITHOUT IT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY FOR FRONT PASSENGER. HAVE RESEARCHED IT AND OTHERS HAVE INDICATED IT JUST GOES OUT AGAIN. I WILL NOT PAY THIS!!!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455565

93,000 miles · Mar 14, 2012
Air Bags

AIR BAG SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS FAILED-THREE TIMES SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN DEC.2005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451648

18,000 miles · Feb 29, 2012
Air Bags

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILED AIR BAG SENSOR AFTER OWNING THE CAR JUST 11 MONTHS. NOW THE CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT SO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT OF DATE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING ON. THE DEALER REPORTED …

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FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILED AIR BAG SENSOR AFTER OWNING THE CAR JUST 11 MONTHS. NOW THE CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT SO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT OF DATE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING ON. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR A CHARGE OF $880. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE FACT THIS IS A SECOND CAR AND NEVER USED AS A FAMILY CAR. THERE IS USUALLY ONLY A DRIVER AND MAYBE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, THE DEALER MANAGER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA MOTORS. ALL COMPLAINTS WERE A DEAD END WITH THE REPLY BEING THE SAME EACH TIME, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SINCE THIS IMPAIRS THE ABILITY OF EVER HAVING A RIDER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT THEIR LIFE BEING IN DANGER. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS BEING LISTED ON THE WEB WITH THIS SAME DEFECT, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS A SEAT DESIGN IMPERFECTION AND SHOULD BE KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH AND A LAWSUIT TO GET ANY THING DONE IN THIS MATTER?? WHO READS THIS AND WILL IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?? I BOUGHT THE KIA RIO BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISED IT WAS SAFE AND ECONOMICAL...AND IT APPEARS TO BE NEITHER! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449679

Official recalls

1

12V244000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 31, 2012

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.

Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER 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.