ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON...DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EXCEPT UNPLUG BATTERY AND PLUG IT BACK IN. LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MILEAGE PER GALLON IS VERY POOR. *TR
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.
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
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.
What owners actually said
74 reportsBOUGHT OUR 2006 KIA RIO IN 2010, WE HAVE 70000 MILES ON IT. THE STARTER WENT OUT. THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET STERTER FOR THIS CAR. THE ONE THAT IS SPECIFIED WILL NOT FIT. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND ONE THAT FIT HOWEVER AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A MONTH THE CAR WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER. *KB
2006 RIO PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE AND NOW IT IS OUT FOR A THIRD TIME. THEY WANT $871 TO FIX IT. IF YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, KIA SAYS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. T…
Read full complaint
2006 RIO PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. MINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY TWICE AND NOW IT IS OUT FOR A THIRD TIME. THEY WANT $871 TO FIX IT. IF YOU SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, KIA SAYS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS ISSUE AND YOU CANNOT SELL OR INSPECT VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,152.
I HAVE A KIA RIO 2006 MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER SHIP IN SOUTH FLORIDA PAID $130.00 FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THEM TO ADVISE ME MY SENSORS ARE BAD ON MY KIA RIO 2006 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANT…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A KIA RIO 2006 MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALER SHIP IN SOUTH FLORIDA PAID $130.00 FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR THEM TO ADVISE ME MY SENSORS ARE BAD ON MY KIA RIO 2006 THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WANTED TO CHARGE ME OVER $3,000.00 TO REPLACE THE SENSORS AS THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE SENSOR WENT BAD. I FEEL AS A SAFETY FEATURE AND KNOWING MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT THESES SENSORS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS FRUSTRATING KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT TOO SAFE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN MY CAR AND THIS IS THE ONLY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION I HAVE. *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON MAY 14TH AT ABOUT 1:15 P.M.. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 KIA RIO SLIGHTLY UNDER 30 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A VEHICLE GOING MUCH FASTER, BUT UNDETERMINED SPEED. I WAS PUSHED INTO AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME. MY HOOD AND FRONT END CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING M…
Read full complaint
I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON MAY 14TH AT ABOUT 1:15 P.M.. I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 KIA RIO SLIGHTLY UNDER 30 MPH WHEN I WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A VEHICLE GOING MUCH FASTER, BUT UNDETERMINED SPEED. I WAS PUSHED INTO AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME. MY HOOD AND FRONT END CRUMPLED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, BUT STILL HIT MY CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRACTURED TWO VERTEBRAE IN MY SPINE. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHER TWO CARS WERE NOT INJURED. THE FAILURE IS THAT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE KIA DEPLOYED. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR NEEDED MAINTENANCE. THERE IS NO CORRECTION TO BE DONE; THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *TR
PURCHASED A 2006 KIA RIO NEW. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO OR SO THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD BE ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, KIA REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOTHING ELSE IN THE SYSTEM. A FACTORY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BEE…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED A 2006 KIA RIO NEW. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO OR SO THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD BE ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, KIA REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOTHING ELSE IN THE SYSTEM. A FACTORY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA MAKES A VERY POOR PRODUCT. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT KIA WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES AS THEY RECOMMEND. KIA DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND MAKE THEM HONOR THEIR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR
MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT TO THE CAR, NO TRAUMA TO THE BUMPER AT ALL. THE LIGHT JUST DOESN'T GO OFF. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN 2006 KIA RIO, RESTRAINED WITH SEATBELT. HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED,DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE HAD A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, INTERNAL INJURIES, CHANCE FRACTURE L3, COMPRESSION FRACTURE L4 OF HER SPINE, BROKE BOTH LEGS. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN …
Read full complaint
MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN 2006 KIA RIO, RESTRAINED WITH SEATBELT. HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED,DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN ANKLE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, SHE HAD A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA, INTERNAL INJURIES, CHANCE FRACTURE L3, COMPRESSION FRACTURE L4 OF HER SPINE, BROKE BOTH LEGS. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. ROOF HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO REMOVE HER. ACCIDENT OCCURRED 9/29/10 IN INDIANA SHE WAS AIR LIFTED, REQUIRED 3 SURGERIES, HOSPITALIZED FOR 4 WEEKS. *TR
MY 2006 KIA RIO AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON & STAYED ON. DIAGNOSES-INOPERATIVE SEAT AIR BAG MAT. TO REPAIR, THE COST WOULD BE $1000.00 WITH TAXES. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM THROUGH THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY KIA VEHICLES CAUSING SOME AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. *TR
Official recalls
112V244000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration