2004 Kia RIO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 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 ↗
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 10119819 · 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)
CONTACT STATES: THE DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A FUEL COMPATIBILITY/TEMPERATURE PROBLEM. CONTACT SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN COLD, AND THAT IT CUTS OUT WHEN CHANGING GEARS. DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE WOULD LET HIS VEHICLE WARM UP BEFORE HE BEGINS TO DRIVE, AND HE ALWAYS DOES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER FIXED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR WARRANTY WORK. NO PRIOR WARNING TO THE FAILURE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119819 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 10149813 · 2006-02-08 (February 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE RETAINING NUT ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM LOOSENS, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT TO FUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND TIGHTENED THE RETAINING NUT, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED HOWEVER, NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150163 · 2006-02-13 (February 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED DOWN FOR A DISTANCE. THE LEVER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING BLOCK WAS MANUALLY PUSHED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALERSHIP WHICH DETERMINED THE HOUSING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150163 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V179000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Reported: 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR AND MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 18, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V557000 · Child Seat
Reported: 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, IF THE CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗