2010 Kia RIO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Kia RIO has 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: 1) the passenger "airbag off" light on my new 2010 kia rio stays on even when someone is in the seat. this within four weeks of my purchase. 2) it occurs daily, numerous times throughout the day. 3) the kia dealer has refused to help, even though the car has 4000 miles on it. they say that i.

13 crash reports 12 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

12 complaints

32%

• 1) THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ON MY NEW 2010 KIA RIO STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. THIS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF MY PURCHASE. 2) IT OCCURS DAILY, NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 3) THE KIA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAY THAT I
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. WHENEVER SOMEONE WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED BUT WHEN BOOKS WERE PLACED IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO
• MY 20 YEAR OLD BROTHER WAS ON HIS WAY HOME AND LOST CONTROL ON BLACK ICE TRYING TO AVOID A DOG. HE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND SPUN OUT, RESULTING IN A SINGLE FLIP INTO A DITCH. THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BELIEVED TO BE TOTALED. THE CAR LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD-FIRST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“1) THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ON MY NEW 2010 KIA RIO STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. THIS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF MY PURCHASE. 2) IT OCCURS DAILY, NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 3) THE KIA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAY THAT I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

11%

• CAR ACCIDENT ON JAN 01, 2010 INVOLVING A RENTAL VEHICLE KIA RIO 2010 I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHICH AS A RESULT I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. I SUFFERED INJURIES OF WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM. ALAMO DOES NOT WANT TO COVER ANY OF THE MEDICAL BILLS. I NEED HELP IF ANY INFO IS AVAI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHENEVER SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F
• EL VEHICULO CUANDO SE FRENA EN LAS MAANA LOS FRENOS TRASEROS TRANCAN SOLO ATRAS Y EL MISMO SE BARRE EN LA CARRETERA Y ES UN PELIGRO LLEGUE A LLEVARLO A LA KIA Y ME DIJERN QUE ERA UN DEFECTO DE FABRICA Y QUE EL FABRICANTE NO VA A RESPONDER POR ESO Y DE VERDAD ES PELIGRO YA EH PASADO VARIOS SUSTOS Y

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“CAR ACCIDENT ON JAN 01, 2010 INVOLVING A RENTAL VEHICLE KIA RIO 2010 I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHICH AS A RESULT I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. I SUFFERED INJURIES OF WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM. ALAMO DOES NOT WANT TO COVER ANY OF THE MEDICAL BILLS. I NEED HELP IF ANY INFO IS AVAI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

11%

• TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
• WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE B
• TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED T
• TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND C
• MY HAD MY CAR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 95.00 EACH. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS NOW ALMOST EXACTLY ANOTHER YEAR PAST AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALERSHIP CAN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED T
• WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I A
• SINCE JANUARY MY 2010 KIA RIO HAS STALLED AT TRAFFIC STOPS. IT USUALLY STARTS AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, ALTHOUGH RECENTLY IT NEEDED A JUMP START. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THREE MECHANICS WHO ALL SAY THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I'VE TRIED GAS ADDITIVE, NEW CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, TUNE UP. NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 38 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: 1) THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT ON MY NEW 2010 KIA RIO STAYS ON EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT. THIS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF MY PURCHASE. 2) IT OCCURS DAILY, NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 3) THE KIA DEALER HAS REFUSED TO HELP, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. THEY SAY THAT I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: CAR ACCIDENT ON JAN 01, 2010 INVOLVING A RENTAL VEHICLE KIA RIO 2010 I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHICH AS A RESULT I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. I SUFFERED INJURIES OF WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM. ALAMO DOES NOT WANT TO COVER ANY OF THE MEDICAL BILLS. I NEED HELP IF ANY INFO IS AVAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)