2006 Kia Rio Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER ALMOST REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS BARELY ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, IT WOULD ONLY COAST VERY SLOWLY. THE FAILURE HAPPENED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP WAS RUDE AND WAS BANGING HIS FIST ON THE COUNTER. SHE STATED THAT SHE FELT VERY INTIMIDATED BY THE ORDEAL. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OF OWNING OF THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE RADIO/CD PLAYER DID NOT WORK, AND THE SHIFTER LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 04/15/11

WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR JERKED REAL HARD. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOR A LITTLE BIT, THEN IT WENT OUT. SO FAR THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR. *TR

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS, CONCERNING PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THEIR 2006 KIO RIO VEHICLE. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

AIR BAG SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAS FAILED-THREE TIMES SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN DEC.2005. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NISSAN VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE ROTATOR CUFF AND WAS PROVIDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SOUTHWEST KIA LOCATED AT 39650 LYNDON B JOHNSON FWY DALLAS, TX 75237 877-363-9542), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,486.

THE 2006 KIA RIO WHICH I BOUGHT AT KIA MOTORSPORT IN TALLAHASSEE, FL LAST YEAR IS BEING RETURNED FOR WARRANTY SERVICE FOR 3RD TIME IN 18000 MI. ALL 3 TIMES HAD TO DO WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND PRECEDING A BREAKDOWN. THE 1ST TIME WAS DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE LIGHT WAS RESET, AND 100 MILES LATER IT OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE KIA SAID THERE WAS A BULLETIN MANDATING REPLACEMENT OF INJECTORS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. 3D TIME TODAY, CE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS 23 MI FORM HOME. DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME AS IT WAS STILL RUNNING OK. AT ABOUT 20 MI, IT LOST POWER OVERHEATED AND DIED. WHEN THE CE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH I KEW THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERE BUT IT ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY DIED. THE ROW DRIVE TOLD ME THERE WAS A LOSS OF COMPRESSION, POSSIBLY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED HEAD, OR BLOCK. CAR IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER ON 1/14/08. D*TR

THERE IS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2006 KIA RIO THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PERSON ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFE BUT AIRBAGS IN A DISABLED STATUS WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, VERY OFTEN, WHEN MY WIFE (WHO WEIGHS 220 LBS) IS SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THIS AIRBAG SENSOR STILL INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED, A DIAGNOSIS CHECK STATED THAT A 'SMALL OCCUPANT' WAS IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THIS LAST TEST WAS DONE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HINDERS ME FROM COMFORTABLY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, AND IT SELDOM GETS DRIVEN. THE DEALER AND KIA HAVE MADE MANY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS. THEY HAVE BEEN REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY BACK TO ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE TWICE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE DEALER COULD FIND NO STEERING FAILURE, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS BECAUSE BOTH HANDS ARE NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A ROLLOVER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER HIT A PIECE OF FARM EQUIPMENT. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND PUSHED THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE THEN HIT A DITCH AND ROLLED. THE DRIVERS ARM WAS CRUSHED BY THE CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO INJURY. RECOMMEND THAT FRONT AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALLY. THE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ALL INJURY. THE ACCIDENT ITSELF WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I NOTICED ABOUT A 2WKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR; I KEPT HEARING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BRAKES AND INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW CAR THAT THE BRAKE DUST HAD TO SETTLE. ANYWAY ITS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND I'M STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOW THEIR SAY THAT ALOT OF THOSE TYPE OF CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEIR LOOKING INTO IT. I REQUEST A RECALL, BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THOSE TYPE OF CAR HAD THAT PROBLEM ALL ALONG. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS 2006 KIA RIO LX NEW FROM GRACIA KIA OF ALBUQUERQUE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO "WALK" OR "WOBBLE" AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR HIGHER ON PRIMARILY CONCRETE FREEWAYS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE ON PAVED ROAD WAYS, JUST CONCRETE FREEWAYS WHICH HAVE BEEN GROOVED. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE MOSTLY CAUSE OF THE "WALK" WAS THE NARROW WHEELBASE AND THE SMALL TIRES THAT COME ON THE CAR AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. ON THE SERVICE REQUEST, THE FIX WAS LISTED AS "TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE SAME AS A NEW 06 RIO. CALLED TECH LINE - NO OTHER INFO. PUT ON ALIGNMENT RACK - NORMAL. NPF". *NM

2006 KIA RIO WITH A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF WHEN HIS WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THERE WAS A DASHBOARD LIGHT CONNECTED TO THE SENSOR THAT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER RE-INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT OR HAVE THE PASSENGER SIT IN THE REAR. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE EVERYTHING TURNS OFF IN CAR AND JERKS AND STARTS HEADING TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ON HIGHWAY 395 AND ONCE ON INTERSTATE 15. ALSO WHILE THE CAR IS IN A DRIVE THROUGH THE CAR HAS STALLED MORE THAN TWICE. *NM

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILED AIR BAG SENSOR AFTER OWNING THE CAR JUST 11 MONTHS. NOW THE CAR HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT SO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY IS OUT OF DATE. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012 THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALER DUE TO THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG BEING ON. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR A CHARGE OF $880. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS HARDLY BEEN USED DUE TO THE FACT THIS IS A SECOND CAR AND NEVER USED AS A FAMILY CAR. THERE IS USUALLY ONLY A DRIVER AND MAYBE A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER, THE DEALER MANAGER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA MOTORS. ALL COMPLAINTS WERE A DEAD END WITH THE REPLY BEING THE SAME EACH TIME, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SINCE THIS IMPAIRS THE ABILITY OF EVER HAVING A RIDER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT THEIR LIFE BEING IN DANGER. WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS BEING LISTED ON THE WEB WITH THIS SAME DEFECT, IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS A SEAT DESIGN IMPERFECTION AND SHOULD BE KIA'S RESPONSIBILITY. DOES IT TAKE A DEATH AND A LAWSUIT TO GET ANY THING DONE IN THIS MATTER?? WHO READS THIS AND WILL IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?? I BOUGHT THE KIA RIO BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISED IT WAS SAFE AND ECONOMICAL...AND IT APPEARS TO BE NEITHER! *TR

PURCHASED A 2006 KIA RIO NEW. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO OR SO THE "AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD BE ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, KIA REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS, BUT NOTHING ELSE IN THE SYSTEM. A FACTORY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA MAKES A VERY POOR PRODUCT. I HAVE A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT KIA WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES AS THEY RECOMMEND. KIA DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND MAKE THEM HONOR THEIR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

WHILE PULLING REAR SEATS BACK UP INTO POSITION I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE HOLE WHERE THE SEAT LATCHES CAUSING A SEVERE CUT WHICH TOOK 5 STITCHES. *NM

CONSUMER 2006 KIA RIO AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. *TS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER THE RADIATOR CAP WAS REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 02/06/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2077. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED PERMANENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX WAS MADE. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED, ONLY TO BE TOLD, THE COST WOULD BE $800.00. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE AIR BAG, BUT WAS TOLD, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 02/10/12

AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW KIA RIO FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS, I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE FREEWAY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT INJURED. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO TIRES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I HAVE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO BOTH KIA AND KUMHO WHO ARE BOTH WHOLLY UNCONCERNED WITH THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. *NM

BOUGHT CAR IN 01-06 STARTED TO GET AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE IN 05-06. FIRST TIME WAS DUE TO MALFUNCTION SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER ORDERED. WENT BACK 06-21 REPLACED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. SECOND TIME ON 07-18 AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ON WAS TOLD DUE TO SEAT COVERS. AIRBAG WAS RESET, WAS TOLD NO SEAT COVERS. HI-DESERT KIA SELLS SEAT COVERS FOR 2006 RIO. THIRD TIME 07-06 WAS TOLD AIRBAG SYSTEM CONNECTION WAS KNOCKED LOOSE DUE TO ITEMS UNDER PASSENGER SEAT, DO NOT PUT ITEMS UNDER SEATS. AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS RESET. FOURTH TIME 08-06 WAS TOLD AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. WAITING FOR PART TO ARRIVE 09-06. *JB

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT INDICATING THAT AIR BAG NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES PER YEAR. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SENSOR, BATTERY, SEAT CUSHION AND THEN TOLD US THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE COULD NOT FIX IT (CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS SERVICE 4 DIFFERENT TIMES).NO EVENT HAS OCCURRED HOWEVER FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING WITHOUT PROPER RELEASE OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. CAR TAKEN IN 05/22/08, SERVICE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED LIGHT ON INDICATING AIRBAG WAS OFF WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT AND ASKED US TO RETURN AT ANOTHER TIME FOR AN APPOINTMENT, WOULD NOT GIVE US DOCUMENTATION OF VISIT. 2 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH CORPORATE KIA AND STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

AIR BAG SERVICE>12/26/05 SEATBELT FAULTY, 7/5/06 DRIVER BELT PRETENSIONER RESISTANCE LOW, 7/24/06 SHORTED SEAT BELT, 8/14/06 HARNESS PINCHED BETWEEN SEATBELT ASSY & BDY, 6/11/07, CODE B1448; STABILANT APPLIED TO OCS CONNECTOR, 7/22/09 CONTROL BOX REPLACED AS POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION; AIR BAG LIGHT CAME RIGHT BACK ON; DRIVER SEAT NOW ON ORDER TO BE REPLACED, 8/11/09 RECEIVED CALL SEAT ARRIVED (21 DAYS WITH NO AIR BAG SERVICE, PER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IT WAS LIKE DRIVING AN OLD CAR), 8/17/09 DROPPED OFF AT 8:30AM, NOT EXACT, (SERVICE 8/17 AS THAT IS MY 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 230PM THAT THE WRONG COLOR SEAT WAS RECEIVED, 8/20/09 I RECEIVED PHONE CALL AT 5:01PM THAT CORRECT COLOR SEAT HAD ARRIVED SO I SCHEDULED FOR 8/31/09 (MY NEXT 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE DAY OFF) FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, WARRANTY IS A SAFETY NET JUST IN CASE, NOT SOMETHING TO BE USED TO COVER A LEMON OF A CAR! *TR