There are 6 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2005 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
OUR SON WAS DRIVING A 2005 KIA RIO 15 MILES SOUTH OF MCMINNVILLE, OR WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED THE CAR. THE FEMALE PART OF THE SAFETY BELT CLASP FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN HIM BEING THROWN AROUND THE CAB. HE ENDED UP IN THE CAB ON THE ROOF IN THE BACK SEAT. HE IS STILL VERY SORE AND HAS BACK PAIN. *TR
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE PRESENT. VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2005 BRAND NEW KIA RIO [XXX]. MYSELF & DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON DEC 3RD 2005, WE RAN OVER A TIRE TREAD ON THE HIGHWAY, PROCEEDED MAYBE 1/2 A MILE & THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FROM OUT OF NOWHERE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, IT TOOK THEM A WEEK TO DETERMINE THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WHICH IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER & TECHNICIANS THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE & AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. KIA ADVISED ME TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I AM AT THE MERCY OF KIA, I AM UNABLE TO FIND AN ATTORNEY THAT WILL PLEAD MY CASE BECAUSE MYSELF & MY DAUGHTER DID NOT HAVE SERIOUS INJURIES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, WE SUBSTAINED NECK & HEAD INJURY BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD WARRANT HOSPITALIZATION, THANK GOD. I NEED HELP & THERE IS NO ONE TO FIGHT ON OUR BEHALF, THIS IS THE ONLY VOICE I HAVE. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 A KIA RIO WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER WRECK THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ONE TEENAGER WHO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE ROLL OVER AND THERE WERE INJURIES TO OTHER PASSENGERS AS WELL. ON OCTOBER 19, 2005, AN INVESTIGATING OFFICER WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOWED AND REMOVED THE THREE BACK SEAT BELTS BECAUSE HE DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE BACK SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT HOLD THEIR BUCKLE. THE TEENAGER WHO WAS EJECTED AND DIED WAS IN THE SEAT WHERE ONE OF THOSE TWO BELTS WERE LOCATED. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026