2006 Kia Rio

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS, CONCERNING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THEIR 2006 KIO RIO VEHICLE. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

2006 KIA RIO WITH A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN HIS WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

THERE IS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2006 KIA RIO THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PERSON ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFE BUT AIRBAGS IN A DISABLED STATUS WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, VERY OFTEN, WHEN MY WIFE (WHO WEIGHS 220 LBS) IS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THIS AIRBAG SENSOR STILL INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED, A DIAGNOSIS CHECK STATED THAT A 'SMALL OCCUPANT' WAS IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS LAST TEST WAS DONE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HINDERS ME FROM COMFORTABLY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT SELDOM GETS DRIVEN. THE DEALER AND KIA HAVE MADE MANY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK TO ME. *TR

THE 2006 KIA RIO WHICH I BOUGHT AT KIA MOTORSPORT IN TALLAHASSEE, FL LAST YEAR IS BEING RETURNED FOR WARRANTY SERVICE FOR 3RD TIME IN 18000 MI. ALL 3 TIMES HAD TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND PRECEDING A BREAKDOWN. THE 1ST TIME WAS DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WAS RESET, AND 100 MILES LATER IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE KIA SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN MANDATING REPLACEMENT OF INJECTORS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. 3D TIME TODAY, CE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS 23 MI FORM HOME. DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING OK. AT ABOUT 20 MI, IT LOST POWER OVERHEATED AND DIED. WHEN THE CE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH I KEW THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERE BUT IT ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY DIED. THE ROW DRIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS A LOSS OF COMPRESSION, POSSIBLY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, OR BLOCK. CAR IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER ON 1/14/08. D*TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE TWICE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE DEALER COULD FIND NO STEERING FAILURE, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS BECAUSE BOTH HANDS ARE NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER RE-INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT OR HAVE THE PASSENGER SIT IN THE REAR. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED

I NOTICED ABOUT A 2WKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR; I KEPT HEARING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BRAKES AND INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW CAR THAT THE BRAKE DUST HAD TO SETTLE. ANYWAY ITS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW THEIR SAY THAT ALOT OF THOSE TYPE OF CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR LOOKING INTO IT. I REQUEST A RECALL, BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THOSE TYPE OF CAR HAD THAT PROBLEM ALL ALONG. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS 2006 KIA RIO LX NEW FROM GRACIA KIA OF ALBUQUERQUE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO "WALK" OR "WOBBLE" AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR HIGHER ON PRIMARILY CONCRETE FREEWAYS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE ON PAVED ROAD WAYS, JUST CONCRETE FREEWAYS WHICH HAVE BEEN GROOVED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE MOSTLY CAUSE OF THE "WALK" WAS THE NARROW WHEELBASE AND THE SMALL TIRES THAT COME ON THE CAR AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ON THE SERVICE REQUEST, THE FIX WAS LISTED AS "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE SAME AS A NEW 06 RIO. CALLED TECH LINE - NO OTHER INFO. PUT ON ALIGNMENT RACK - NORMAL. NPF". *NM