Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Kia Rio problems

Owners filed 41 complaints about the 2009 Kia Rio with NHTSA between Sep 2009 and Jul 2022. The most-cited component is air bags (18).

Complaints
41
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags18
  2. Engine7
  3. Seats4
  4. Structure3
  5. Electrical system2
  6. Fuel/propulsion system2
  7. Seat belts2
  8. Vehicle speed control2
  9. Power train2
  10. Suspension2
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  12. Steering2
  13. Tires1
  14. Visibility1

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
20091
20105
20114
20121
20131
20148
20154
20163
20175
20182
20191
20202
20211
20223

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

Air bags

18 reports3 crashes
“My airbag light will not go off for my passenger side!!! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall because it definitely should be! What everybody says about the 2005 to the 2008 Kia Rios and the 2001 to 2008 Kia Rios is the same thing that is happening with my Kia Rio which is a 2009... Can y please add my vehicle too??? Also in the latest class action lawsuit it talks about the passenger seat pad sensor being broken and that's what breaks the passenger airbag so how in the world is my car not included in this?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2022Air bags, SeatsODI 11471872

Engine

7 reports
“Engine went out 8 months after there always been electrical issue has caused problems where it wnt accelerate causing a wreck the break light had shorts they didnt even have the radio n i went to a car lot dealership . this car left me in bad situations im just surprised its not recall I barely drive it it paid off after so many years n really only reason I have it cuz I put too much in n it n now it aint worth nuthin because of the issues that gave me”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2022Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11474311

Seats

4 reports
“2009 KIA RIO LX: WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AT 20MPH AND HAVING 26,875 MILES IN THE OD, THE AIRBAG RED LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTORIZED KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED USING A KDS HAVING 26,927 MILES, FINDING 3 CODES: B1448 OCS MAT DEFECT, B1513 BUCKLE SWITCH OPEN SHORT PASSENGER SIDE, B1511 BUCKLE SWITCH OPEN SHORT DRIVER SIDE. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR REPORTS FROM KIA ON THIS COMPLAINTS FOR 2009 KIA RIO AND DECIDED TO NOT REPLACE THE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BUCKLE SWITCH AND THE PASSENGER MAT SEAT FOR A TOTAL CHARGE OF $1,700. THE VEHICLE IS USED BY ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, NEVER HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY CRASH EVENTS, HAVE LOW MILEAGE AND STILLS UNDER THE 10YEARS/100,000 MILES WARRANTY OFFERED BY KIA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2017Air bags, Seat belts, SeatsODI 10993833

Structure

3 reports1 crash
“TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO 5 LX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME SEIZED. THEN THE CONTACT CRASHED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WHERE NO INJURIES THE CONTACT FILLED A POLICE REPORT WAS FILLED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP (BRENDANS AUTO BODY - ELMSFORD NY 10523)THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. JW”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2014StructureCrash reportedODI 10585670

Electrical system

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 826.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2014Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10632708

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports
“MY COILS KEEP GOING OUT AFTER REPLACING ALL 4. I'VE REPLACED THE COMPLETE FUEL PUMP BUT EVERYTIME I FUEL UP MY CAR IT HESITATES TO START WHICH IS WHY I REPLACED THE PUMP TO BEGIN WITH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2021Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11386161
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.