NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2005 Kia RIO.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,500 |
| 1.6L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,400 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: CHILD SEAT
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.
I WAS DRIVING ON PUBLIC STREET LOSS CONTROL DUE TO A POT HOLE IN THE STREET THE CAR LOST CONTROL FLIPPING SLIDING THEN FLIP UP RIGHT TILL IT CAME TO A STOP ON APT WALL THEN WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER AND DONE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED GO OFF ON MY ARM RIGHT ARM GIVING ME SECOND TO THIRD DEGREE BURNS THE PURPOSE OF THE AIR BAG ? I HAVE BROKEN BACK CAR WAS TOTALED NOW I GOT CHRONIC PAIN EVERYDAY I LOST MY CAR AM LIMITED ON MOBILEBILITY WAS GOING GET SCREWS PLACED ON MY BACK AND UN ABLE TO SET WALK OR STAND DO TO CHRONIC PAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO MOISTURE, EITHER FROM UNDERNEATH BY DRIVING THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE OR FROM ABOVE IN A RAINSTORM, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GETS WET AND CAUSES THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SLIP. THIS RESULTS IN SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR FAILURE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE CAR'S POWER CUTTING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DRIVING HAZARD, BUT I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN KIA VEHICLES RATHER THAN A PRECIPITATING MECHANICAL FAILURE CAUSING IT.
The 2005 Kia RIO has 1 NHTSA recall and 36 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND TAGGED WITH LICENSE PLATES ONE HOUR BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,125.
THE BLOWER STOPPED BLOWING AIR. FOR A SHORT WHILE IT WOULD COME ON, RARE OCCASIONS AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING. CHANGED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR, STILL DIDN'T WORK. PULLED THE DASH APART TO CHANGE THE BLOWER SWITCH AND FOUND THAT IT HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR. NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION, HOWEVER ONCE THE NEW SWITCH WAS PUT IT THE BLOWER WORKED. *TR
NOT REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT MAYBE YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE. I CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME I'M AT LESS THAN 90% EFFICIENCY RELATIVE TO POLLUTION. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKS THE CO2 AND OTHER POLLUTION REQUIREMENTS I'M OK. I STILL GET GREAT MILEAGE AND GOOD POWER. THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER SAYS THE CONVERTER IS OFF AND HENCE CAN'T GET A STICKER BUT THE CAR IS NOT POLLUTING ?? IF I LIVED OUT SIDE A BIG CITY WHERE THEY DO NOT TRACK THIS STUFF THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. PS THE COST TO REPLACE THE CAT CONVERTER IS OVER $1400.00. WHILE IT US STILL 90% EFFECTIVE??? WHAT GIVES PLEASE HELP. THANKS, *TR
KIA RIO 2005 IS A VERY POORLY BUILT CAR. THE PASSENGERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, A MECHANISM IN THE DOOR IS BROKEN. SINCE THE DOOR WON'T OPEN NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THE DOOR PANEL CAN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE DOOR WITHOUT THE DOOR BEING OPEN. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A KIA OF ANY KIND. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 KIA RIO (VIN PROVIDED LATER) PURCHASED 2006, LOW MILES. SUMMER 2011 CAR STALLED, STOPPED & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP, NTB. REPLACED TIMING BELT & NO DAMAGE TO MY MOTOR. I FOUND OUT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED CHANGING AT 60K MILES (MINE WAS LOWER). THE MECHANIC WASN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ANOTHER SUGGESTED A BAD SENSOR & WIPED SOMETHING OFF UNDER THE HOOD. THE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MILES. REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR APRIL 2013 (NEW ALTERNATOR, BELT & PARTS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). JUNE 2013 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WHEN PARKED UPWARD ON AN STEEP HILL, ESP WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP WAS VERY HOT (TX). THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON UNTIL AFTER PARKING IT IN A COVERED GARAGE & DRIVING HRS LATER. JULY 2013 MANDATORY CAR INSPECTION. WEEK OR 2 LATER, PROBLEMS W/ RPM STARTED; DURING TAKE AFTER IDLE. ABOUT 2WKS LATER, AC SPEED SUDDENLY SLOWED & BECAME WARMER. 2DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON & A STRANGE NOISE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AGAIN, TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP, THE SAME NTB. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WAS STILL WORKING. AT THE SHOP THE CAR STARTED BUT NOT LONG. THEY WERE PUZZLED. AFTER 2DAYS I WAS TOLD MY MOTOR WAS BAD & NEEDED REPLACED. NO ONE HAD AN EXPLANATION.I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR, ONLY TRANSPORTATION FOR ME & MY KIDS TOWED HOME. I TALKED TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT AGREE I HAVE A BAD SENSOR & CATALYST WHICH CAUSED MY MOTOR TO LOCK (PRE-IGNITION). THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS/ARTICLES W/THIS SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA HAS NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE 2005 RIO FUEL PROBLEMS, ONLY THE 2004 & SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTING IT. BUT IT WASN'T & MECHANICS CAN'T DIAGNOSE IT. SOMETHING IS WRONG & NEEDS INVESTIGATING. A FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE HWY. KIA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOST $ AND TIME BC THEY ONLY BANDAGED THE PROBLEM & NOT ACTUALLY FIXING IT.
THE PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY KIA RIO OWNERS HAVE WITH THEIR CAR. CAR IS A PIECE OF JUNK. IT IS BY FAR THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. *TR
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 UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS DUE TO DISABILITY. NEVER BUY OR RECOMMEND KIA TO ANYONE. *TR
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 HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO AN AUCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN.
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY IS SPLIT IN TWO. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, IT JUST HAPPENED ONE DAY. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE. *TR
GOING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 4 IN ORLANDO FL MY 2005 KIA RIO BROKE THE TIMING BELT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL ENGINE POWER & ROLLED TO A STOP WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE & BARELY AVOIDED GETTING REAR ENDED. *TR
KIA PLACED A BULLETIN WITH YOU ON 1/1/05,#TSB82,#10015272. APPARENTLY KIA THOUGHT THAT WAS ENOUGH. MY KIA WAS PURCHASED 7/21/05. I WAS TOLD I HAD "BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE IF I PURCHASED THE ADDITIONAL 4,000. EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY WERE REQUIRED TO FURNISH ME WITH A COMPLETE WARRANTY DISCLOSURE BEFORE PURCHASE. THEY DID FURNISH ME WITH A BOOKLET CALLED WARRANTY AND CONSUMER INFORMATION MANUAL AND A PAMPHLET CALLED START UP TIPS FOR YOUR KIA. I DID READ THESE. AND THE TIMING BELT ISN'T MENTIONED. LATER WHEN I READ MY OWNERS MANUAL I DID NOTICE THAT THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS DID MENTION THE TIMING BELT, IT SHOULD BE CHECKED AT 30,000 MI, 60,000MI AND POSSIBLY CHANGED AT 105,000. KIA DOES CLAIM 100,000 WARRANTY, AND I HAD THE BUMPER TO BUMPER COV, SO I STILL FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT IN MY CAR. IF KIA HAD COMPLETELY DISCLOSED ALL THE MAINTENANCE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WOULD HAVE WALKED. AT 38,000 MI I WAS ON MY WAY TO WA. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO THE TOP OF RICE HILL WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. 6 LANES OF 70MPH TRAFFIC, CONCRETE ON ALL SIDES AND NOWHERE TO GO, WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. IT WAS VERY DISORIENTING THE ENGINE REVVED BUT NO POWER, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING,I WAS DUMBFOUNDED. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE RT. LANE. WE PUSHED IT OVER THE TOP OF RICE HILL AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED KIA, THEY TOLD ME I HAD NO COVERAGE, BECAUSE MY CAR WAS A WEEK PAST 5 YRS. WE TOWED IT TO KIA WHERE THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T COVERED. SO I CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UP TO THE SERVICE MAN.. I WENT BACK TO KIA, AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME I NEEDED TO DO A DIAG TEST ($174.) WHICH I KNEW WAS IMPOS. BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START. AFTERWARD THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME HE HAD LOOKED AT MY CAR AND THE TB WAS GONE BUT THE PISTONS WERE FINE WHICH IS RARE. THEY WON'T FIX IT. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND 100 CONSUMERS WITH BLOWN ENGINES AND DEFECT. TIMING BELTS. WHATS UP? THIS IS DANGEROUS! IT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS! I WAS LUCKY! DO SOMETHING. *TR
2005 KIA RIO STALLING PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4-5 TIMES OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, AND DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR
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