Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
90–25K
625–50K
550–75K
775–100K
1100–150K
2150K+
30 reports with mileage · 9 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. 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.
6 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
39 reports
42,000 miles · Aug 31, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKE RESPONSE WAS ALSO HESITANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY HUM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKE RESPONSE WAS ALSO HESITANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY HUMIDITY OR RAIN. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
NHTSA ODI #10422753
2,900 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
NHTSA ODI #10422448
32,000 miles · May 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
2009 KIA RIO WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 32,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10403717
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2010
SteeringCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I TRIED BRINGING THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR SPINNING IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN SPINNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFI…
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WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I TRIED BRINGING THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR SPINNING IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN SPINNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN ROLLING MULTIPLE TIMES INTO A DITCH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10356895
46,400 miles · Jul 20, 2010
SteeringSuspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO CONTACT THE MANU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE KIA MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED SHE MUST HAVE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SHE WILL CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,400.
NHTSA ODI #10344250
12,000 miles · May 17, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE COLLIDED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES ON HER LEG, ARMS AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK PAIN. BEFORE THE FAILURE OCC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE COLLIDED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES ON HER LEG, ARMS AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK PAIN. BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THE COLLISION WAS NOT FRONTAL. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
NHTSA ODI #10330747
25 miles · Apr 8, 2010
Fuel System, Other
FIRST PLEASE READ OR REVIEW THE PAST EMAILS I HAVE SENT TO YOU CONCERNING MY 2009 RIO HAVING A HIGH RPM WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND ESPECIALLY 5TH RUNNING MORE THAN 3,100 TO 3,500 RPMS TO RUN AT 60 TO 70 MPH. IN OTHER WORDS I AM GETTING LESS MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN I GET IN TOWN. SEE THE ATTACHMENT. MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI SONATA THAT IS F…
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FIRST PLEASE READ OR REVIEW THE PAST EMAILS I HAVE SENT TO YOU CONCERNING MY 2009 RIO HAVING A HIGH RPM WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND ESPECIALLY 5TH RUNNING MORE THAN 3,100 TO 3,500 RPMS TO RUN AT 60 TO 70 MPH. IN OTHER WORDS I AM GETTING LESS MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN I GET IN TOWN. SEE THE ATTACHMENT. MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI SONATA THAT IS FULLY LOADED, WHICH IS HEAVIER AND HAS A LARGER 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SONATA GETS LESS MPGS IN THE CITY BUT BETTER MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN MY LITTLE RIO. IN FACT THE NUMBERS ARE ALMOST IN REVERSE BECAUSE THE SONATA IS RUNNING AT FAR LESS RPMS AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEEDS I DRIVE IN THE RIO. THE SONATA RUNS AT ABOUT 2200 TO 2500 RPMS ON THE HIGHWAYS AT 60 TO 70 MPH VERSE THE 3,000 TO 3,500 RPMS THE RIO MUST TURN TO DO THE SAME SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324521
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
A 2009 KIA RIO MD. POLICE REPORT BY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE . AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS THE VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AT 30-40MPH AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL HEAD ON INTO A WOODEN POWER POLE. THE DRIVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING ON THIS ROAD HOME FROM WORK DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT IT BEGA…
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A 2009 KIA RIO MD. POLICE REPORT BY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE . AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS THE VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AT 30-40MPH AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL HEAD ON INTO A WOODEN POWER POLE. THE DRIVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING ON THIS ROAD HOME FROM WORK DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT IT BEGAN TO SNOW. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE INCLUDING CRUSHING THE RADIATOR AND RESULTED INTHE HEADLIGHTS DANGLING FROMTHE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL , SHOWED SEAT BELT BRUISING MARKS, BRUISED KNEES, WAS IN SHOCK AND HAD A SEVERE HEADACHE AND NECK PAIN. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS A DEALERSHIP LOANER VEHICLE WHILE THE DRIVERS CAR WAS BEING SERVICED. I HAVE NO FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10311080
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2009
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG REMAINS "OFF". MALFUNCTION OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10285232
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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.
2009 Kia Rio Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year