2009 Kia RIO: complaints, problems and recalls

PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG REMAINS "OFF". MALFUNCTION OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10285232 at NHTSA ↗

A 2009 KIA RIO MD. POLICE REPORT BY ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE . AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 HOURS THE VEHICLE HIT BLACK ICE AT 30-40MPH AND SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL HEAD ON INTO A WOODEN POWER POLE. THE DRIVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING ON THIS ROAD HOME FROM WORK DAILY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ACCIDENT IT BEGAN TO SNOW. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE INCLUDING CRUSHING THE RADIATOR AND RESULTED INTHE HEADLIGHTS DANGLING FROMTHE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL , SHOWED SEAT BELT BRUISIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311080 at NHTSA ↗

FIRST PLEASE READ OR REVIEW THE PAST EMAILS I HAVE SENT TO YOU CONCERNING MY 2009 RIO HAVING A HIGH RPM WHILE IN 4TH GEAR AND ESPECIALLY 5TH RUNNING MORE THAN 3,100 TO 3,500 RPMS TO RUN AT 60 TO 70 MPH. IN OTHER WORDS I AM GETTING LESS MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN I GET IN TOWN. SEE THE ATTACHMENT. MY WIFE'S HYUNDAI SONATA THAT IS FULLY LOADED, WHICH IS HEAVIER AND HAS A LARGER 4 CYLINDER ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SONATA GETS LESS MPGS IN THE CITY BUT BETTER MPGS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN MY LITTLE RIO. IN FACT THE NUMBERS ARE ALMOST IN REV…

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324521 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE LEFT SIDE COLLIDED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BRUISES ON HER LEG, ARMS AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK PAIN. BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THE COLLISION WAS NOT FRONTAL. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURE…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330747 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN THE TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TURNED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE KIA MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND STATED SHE MUST HAVE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. SHE WILL CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FA…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344250 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER AND WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. I TRIED BRINGING THE CAR BACK ONTO THE ROAD BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR SPINNING IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN SPINNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH THEN RESULTED IN ROLLING MULTIPLE TIMES INTO A DITCH. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10356895 at NHTSA ↗

2009 KIA RIO WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 32,000 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10403717 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422448 at NHTSA ↗