2009 Kia Rio recalls & problems
The 2009 Kia Rio has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 39 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (18 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2009 Kia Rio.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2009 Kia Rio 4-DR. w/SAB
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
2009 Kia Rio 5-DR. w/SAB
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Rio
| City / highway | 27 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
Rio
| City / highway | 26 / 35 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags Frontal; Side/window | 18 | 63,000 mi |
| Engine | 7 | 71,000 mi |
| Seats | 4 | — |
| Structure Body | 3 | — |
| Unknown or other | 3 | — |
| Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly | 2 | — |
| Suspension Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Seat belts Front › Warning light/devices | 2 | — |
| Electrical system | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jul 16, 2022Engine
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 - Jul 5, 2022Unknown or other
The doors will lock and won't unlock. This happened to the front passenger door when the car was less than a year old and they repaired it. The rear passenger door locked and it won't lock so I don't load items on that side but yesterday, July 5, 2022 I got locked in on my drivers side! I had to exit the vehicle by crawling over the stick shift to the front passenger side. I've seen hundreds of complaints about this and can't understand why there has not been a recall. - Jan 31, 2019Air bags
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? - Jun 1, 2020 · 75,000 milesEngine
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. - Dec 15, 2020 · 90,000 milesAir bags
MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WILL NOT GO OUT WHEN IT IS RESET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SENSOR IS BAD, IS THERE A RECALL ON THE SENORS - Mar 15, 2020 · 197,000 milesEngine
SPARK PLUG CYLINDER HOLES FILLING WITH OIL DUE TO VALVE COVER ORING FAILURE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE A ENGINE FIRE IN THE PICTURE THE WHOLE SPARED PLUG WAS COMPLETELY COVERED OVER WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE - Sep 8, 2019 · 85,099 milesEngine
REPLACED IGNITION COILS 1 AND 3 AT THE END OF 2018. COIL 1 HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2019. COILS 2 AND 4 WERE BOTH REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL SPARK PLUGS FEBRUARY 2018. IN JULY 2019 COIL 2 STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN AND NOW IN AUGUST 2019 COIL 4 IS MISFIRING AS WELL. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT I SEE MANY REGULAR POSTS REGARDING THE SHORT LIFE SPAN OF THE IGNITION COILS FOR THIS CAR. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AND ELECTRICAL ISSUE IF NOT SOMETHING ELSE IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AT LEAST AT THIS POINT AS TO WHY THE COILS FAIL SO QUICKLY IN THIS TYPE OF CAR. MULTIPLE ISSUES OF THE CAR NOT WANTING TO START, SHUTTING OFF WHILE IDLING AND I HAVE… - Feb 29, 2016 · 69,000 miles · 1 injuryUnknown or other
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CHROME PAINT USED ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES CRACKS FORMING RAZOR SHARP EDGES THAT HAS SLICED MY HANDS DEEP WHILE OPENING DOORS TWICE. I HAVE CALLED TO REPORT THIS AWHILE BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE SENT TO HIGHER. HAVE NOT HEARD ANY RESPONSE TO THIS DAY. I HAVE HAD TO PUT ELECTRICAL TAPE AROUND ALL DOOR HANDLES TO PREVENT BEING CUT WHILE OPENING DOORS. I HAVE READ ON KIA FORUMS WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU (KIA MOTORS) GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MY CONCERN IS THAT A CHILD WILL IF NOT ALREADY, BE CUT BAD BY THIS. IT COULD BE BAD ENOUGH TO REQUIRE STITCHES AS THIS IS A RAZOR SHARP EDGE WE ARE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.