2004 Kia RIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,520 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 38 complaints (18.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 18.4% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 10; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10090029 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SENSOR, AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT A TICKING PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160791 · 2006-06-26 (June 26, 2006)
MY 2004 KIA RIO STARTED TO STALL AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS @ 24,000 I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TACHOMETER READINGS (UP AND DOWN) AND I HAVE HAD A CONTINUED ROUGH IDLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER ON MORE THAN 6 OCCASIONS AND AT THAT POINT THEY ONLY RETURNED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND TOLD ME THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. AFTER HIRING A LAWYER AND CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM THEM TO FIX THE CAR, THEY ORDERED A THROTTLE ARM AND AGREED TO TRY IT OUT. ON JUNE 23, 2006 BEFORE THEY PUT THE THROTTLE ITEM IN, I STALLED @ 30 MPH MAKING…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152976 · 2006-03-17 (March 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE CALIPERS WERE BLOWN OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162588 · 2006-07-17 (July 17, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JANUARY 19TH 2005, IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR AND A BAD ODOR THAT COMES FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO SOLD TO THE CONTACT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OF RECALL DEFECT TO THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS TO HAVE A PART REPLACED TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARBURETOR BUT VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK ON TEN OTHER OCCASIONS FOR SERVICES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS THAN TAKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,529 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118855 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
DEALER CHANGED COMPUTER, WIRING HARNESS , 2 INJECTORS, PLUG, TIMING BELT, SENSOR AND REPLACED COMES SWITCHES . BOUGHT A 2004 KIA RIO IN MARCH 2005. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE CAR UP AT THE SHOP, AND IT DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE LOT BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. DEALER OFFERED ME A RENTAL CAR. WENT BACK ONE WEEK LATER TO PICK UP THE CAR AND ONLY WENT TWO MILES BEFORE THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER, AND REQUESTED ANOTHER CAR JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAD A 2004 KIA RIO. DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143539 · 2005-11-23 (November 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE JERKED AND CUT OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME , ON AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES, AND THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE EVERY TIME, AND STATED THERE WAS A POOR CONNECTION AT THE ENGINE BULK. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,957 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172536 · 2006-11-03 (November 3, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING SEVERE HESITATION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. 11/30/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 51,264 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281226 · 2009-08-20 (August 20, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA RIO. WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING AND A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST 1000 MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55700 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099686 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS NOT ACCELERATION WHILE IN 1ST GEAR. REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS. *BF THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE AIR CLEANER LID WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND TIGHTENED PIN CONNECTORS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172443 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED UPON EXAMINATION THAT BOTH ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEN, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END, AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AXLE BEARING WAS BAD AND THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE BENT. THE DEALER PROVIDED THE VEHICLE WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE AND BRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRED THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINA…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107953 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
DURING A FRONTAL-IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN SAW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY. NEITHER THE SEAT BELT NOR THE AIRBAG STOPPED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING CHEST WALL CONTUSIONS AND MUSCLE STRAINS IN CHEST AND BACK. I'M STILL OUT OF WORK DUE TO THE INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107953 at NHTSA ↗