Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Kia Rio problems

Owners filed 37 complaints about the 2005 Kia Rio with NHTSA between Jul 2005 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (12).

Complaints
37
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling12
  2. Engine5
  3. Air bags4
  4. Seat belts4
  5. Electrical system4
  6. Steering3
  7. Power train3
  8. Vehicle speed control3
  9. Structure2
  10. Visibility1
  11. Fuel/propulsion system1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  14. Latches/locks/linkages1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20056
20064
20073
20080
20096
20106
20110
20121
20131
20145
20151
20162
20170
20180
20190
20201
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

12 reports1 fire
“NOT REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT MAYBE YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE. I CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME I'M AT LESS THAN 90% EFFICIENCY RELATIVE TO POLLUTION. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKS THE CO2 AND OTHER POLLUTION REQUIREMENTS I'M OK. I STILL GET GREAT MILEAGE AND GOOD POWER. THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER SAYS THE CONVERTER IS OFF AND HENCE CAN'T GET A STICKER BUT THE CAR IS NOT POLLUTING ?? IF I LIVED OUT SIDE A BIG CITY WHERE THEY DO NOT TRACK THIS STUFF THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. PS THE COST TO REPLACE THE CAT CONVERTER IS OVER $1400.00. WHILE IT US STILL 90% EFFECTIVE??? WHAT GIVES PLEASE HELP. THANKS, *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10629331

Engine

5 reports1 fire
“WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, EITHER FROM UNDERNEATH BY DRIVING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OR FROM ABOVE IN A RAINSTORM, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GETS WET AND CAUSES THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SLIP. THIS RESULTS IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR FAILURE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE CAR'S POWER CUTTING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DRIVING HAZARD, BUT I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN KIA VEHICLES RATHER THAN A PRECIPITATING MECHANICAL FAILURE CAUSING IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2016Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 10818838

Air bags

4 reports2 crashes
“I WAS DRIVING ON PUBLIC STREET LOSS CONTROL DUE TO A POT HOLE IN THE STREET THE CAR LOST CONTROL FLIPPING SLIDING THEN FLIP UP RIGHT TILL IT CAME TO A STOP ON APT WALL THEN WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER AND DONE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED GO OFF ON MY ARM RIGHT ARM GIVING ME SECOND TO THIRD DEGREE BURNS THE PURPOSE OF THE AIR BAG ? I HAVE BROKEN BACK CAR WAS TOTALED NOW I GOT CHRONIC PAIN EVERYDAY I LOST MY CAR AM LIMITED ON MOBILEBILITY WAS GOING GET SCREWS PLACED ON MY BACK AND UN ABLE TO SET WALK OR STAND DO TO CHRONIC PAIN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2020Steering, Power train, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11374512

Seat belts

4 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2016Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10820989

Electrical system

4 reports2 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. IT WOULD RESUME NORMALLY AFTER SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR AT LEAST A WEEK SO THAT THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE FUEL FILTER OR SENSOR. THE FUEL FILTER AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE SENSORS AND FUEL PUMP WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. UPDATED 06/22/10.*JB UPDATED 08/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/05/10*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10331273

Steering

3 reports1 crash
“THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS A STEERING RACK PROBLEM. WHAT MAKES ME INTERESTED IN THIS PROBLEM WAS THE A RECALL OF OVER 350 VEHICLES IN CANADA FOR THE 2004 MODELS. THE DEALER , AURORA KIA OF FAIRBANKS, AS WELL AS THE KIA CONSUMER CARE, DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN WITH ME. I HAVE ASKED THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO MAKE REPAIRS DUE TO A NOISE I HEAR FROM THAT SIDE ,AND WHICH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT AURORA KIA OF FAIRBANKS HEARD AS WELL, BUT SO FAR NO REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2007SteeringODI 10189937
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.