2007 Kia Rio problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (12) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3) · Seats (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Rio model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
34 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2012-05-31 · campaign 12V244000 · 72,568 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (24)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Power Train 2024-05-16 · TSB_TRA046_R4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced.
Power Train 2022-11-18 · TSB_TRA046_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart
Structure 2021-09-13 · TSB_BOD055_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: information for headlamp condensation and moisture - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to some kia models tha
Power Train 2020-04-24 · TSB_TRA046_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: - transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each kia model. a flush is required only when a
Engine And Engine Cooling 2018-03-02 · PS539 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines - in general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
Showing the 6 most recent of 24 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-07-24 · Engine“the engine has very bad loss of oil pressure it consumption of a lot oil the engine knock very bad that engine has decreased its power the engine oil light always on so i stop driving the car and car blows white smoke from the engine my mechanic told he did not want to work on the car because of the engine but i can get a invoice he quoted me…”
2023-05-04 · Air Bags · 260,000 mi“the contact owns a 2007 kia rio. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the occupant classification system (ocs) seat sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made awar…”
2021-05-06 · Tires · 102,668 mi“tl* the contact owns 2007 kia rio equipped with bf goodrich tires, tire line: g-force sport, tire size: 195/55/r15, dot number: beln3p1107-15. the contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side front tires sounded like they were flat while driving. the contact inspected the tires and found the tread and steel wires were separated from the si…”
2020-02-09 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 95,600 mi“i driving up to wisconsin dells from illinois and the vit woulnt go over twenty miles per hr i hate this vehicle and a tune up was done before i left i have a 2007 kia rio and vehicle just died and then started and had no power i had to have it towed back to illinois which cost me 300 dollars has anyone else had this problem only has 95.600 miles …”
2019-11-04 · Seats · 200,000 mi“2007 kia rio has an airbag light on all the time, with a code specifying the passenger seat mat sensor. when clearing the code for the airbag, the code is rethrown after about 10 seconds. nhtsa recall #12v244000 applied to certain models of the 2005-2007 model era, but didn't include all of them, as the vehicle has no open seat mat recall and none …”
2018-12-29 · Air Bags“i just recent had the battery put in my car. an now the air bag light stays on for the driver on that dash board. an don't know why it's on. the car has been driven in the past few months. so we are scared to be out on the road an it doesn't protect us if we get into an accident an someone gets killed.…”
2018-02-05 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel“tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia rio. the contact stated that the instrument panel failed to function properly. rally kia (438 auto vista dr, palmdale, ca 93551, (818) 492-3800) was unable to provide a solution to repair the vehicle. the second dealer (galpin kia, 8425 sepulveda blvd, north hills, ca 91343) provided a specific diagnosis with instruc…”
2018-01-08 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2007 kia rio. while the contact's daughter was driving at an unknown speed, she attempted to apply the brakes, but applied the accelerator pedal by mistake. as a result, the contact's daughter crashed into the preceding vehicle. all the air bags failed to deploy. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the vehicle was not d…”
2017-05-30 · Unknown Or Other · 112,000 mi“electrical issues, constantly broken air conditioner, engine problems, spark plug issues, coil issues, 3 batteries in 2 years, loss of power in the middle of the freeway.…”
2016-03-17 · Air Bags · 107,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2007 kia rio. the contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, he fell asleep and the vehicle flipped over three times. none of the frontal air bags deployed. a police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. the vehicle was towed by the police department. the vehicle was destroyed. the manufacture…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.