U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Kia RIO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

36 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

51,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 36 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	9	25.0%
Electrical and battery issues	3	8.3%
Steering behavior	3	8.3%
Transmission and shifting	2	5.6%
Braking behavior	2	5.6%
Fuel system concerns	1	2.8%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine

Electrical System

Air Bags

Seat Belts

Vehicle Speed Control

Power Train

Steering

Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 4; Air Bags: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 12 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.

2005

2006

2007

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2020

2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2009: 6; 2010: 6; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10129945 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)

CAR STALLING, 15 MPG SHOULD GET 35MPG, RPM AT 3.5 GOING 65 MPH TOO HIGH, NO POWER. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SATUDAY JULY 16, 2005 AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE JULY 18, 2005. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 24 MILES WHEN PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT CHESROWN KIA IN COLUMBUS OHIO.. WASN'T INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAD ISSUES BEFORE PURCHASING IT.IT HAD WORK DONE TO IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN I GAVE THEM THE CONCERN AFTER TEST DRIVING IT THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY I WAS DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A STICK SHIFT. ASSURED ME IT WAS A GREAT CAR. IT HAS BEEN BACK AT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10132647 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO SENCO. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS THINKING ABOUT THE LEMON LAW. ON JULY 30, 2005 THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AT 65 MPH . THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STEERING LOCKED, AND VEHICLE WAS IN THE PATH OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 1, 2005 AND AGAIN ON AUGUST 3, 2005 THE VEHICLE WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP,WHO REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP. THE VEHICLE FAILED THREE TIMES. THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132647 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10294786 · 2009-12-07 (December 7, 2009)

I HAD A 2005 KIA RIO BURN DOWN FROM AN APPARENT ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE DAY FROM WORK AND SMOKE STARTED TO SEEP THROUGH THE SEAL AROUND THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED 911. WITHIN 5MIN MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE WHOLE DASHBOARD STARTED TO MELT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294786 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10551514 · 2013-11-08 (November 8, 2013)

THE ENGINE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON HWY, WIFE WAS IN DANGER OF BEING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES,NO POWER TO GET TO EDGE OF ROADWAY ON BRIDGE, HEAVY CONSTRUCTION, HAD TO CLIMB OUT PASSENGER DOOR, DOWN EMBANKMENT TO SAFETY. TOWED VEHICLE HOME TO FIND ENGINE LOCKED UP. MAINTENANCE DONE REGULAR BELTS, TIRES,OIL CHANGES AND BATTERY REPLACED. ONLY FUEL GAUGE ISSUE IS ALL PROBLEMS, ASK DEALER WAS TOLD TO BRING IN FOR ESTIMATE 300.00 TO CHECK.AFTER ISSUE ON HIGHWAY FIND OUT TIMING BELT AND ENGINE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCUR ON THIS MODEL SINCE 2001. SAD FOR VETERAN UN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10551514 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10189937 · 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)

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-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189937 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10140625 · 2005-10-24 (October 24, 2005)

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THEN AGAIN AT A STOP SIGN WITH HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTED INT NEUTRAL. THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS IN THE PARKING LOT. THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN A RAIN STORM THE VEHICLE MADE A NOISE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, BACKED UP AND IT WORKED FINE. THE VEHICLE HAD 340…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140625 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148544 · 2006-01-25 (January 25, 2006)

AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES OR MAYBE EVEN SOONER I BEGAN TO DETECT AND HEAR SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED AND ACTED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. EACH TIME TAKING VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE I TOLD THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. IT JUMPED IN 2ND GEAR WHILE IN REVERSE. THEY FORGOT EACH TIME, AND DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY APPOINTMENT WAS EITHER CANCELLED OR NO OIL CHANGE PERSON WAS THERE WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE AT SCHEDULED TIME, IT WENT UNRESOLVED UNTIL THE OIL CHANGE ON JANUARY '6, 2006. DURING THE JANUARY 6, 2006 OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC SAID…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148544 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10152111 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN MAKING LOUD SCREECHING NOISES EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AT 10MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE DISCS WERE SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE DEALER WAS CONSULTED AGAIN, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10459179 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE COASTED INTO AN ALLEY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING WIRES. SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM THE HOOD ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT BELT AND SUFFERED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. BOTH THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER SUCCESSFULLY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE SEEN UNDER THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459179 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10331273 · 2010-05-19 (May 19, 2010)

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 CONTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331273 at NHTSA ↗