Kia · Rio · 2006
2006 Kia Rio
1
Recall
73
Complaints
N/A
NCAP overall
The 2006 Kia Rio has 1 recall and 73 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most frequent stored component label: air bags (42 reports).
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2006 Kia Rio 4-DR. w/SAB (Early release) NCAP Vehicle ID: 1926
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
Source: NHTSA Public Records
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
- Complaints
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Recalls
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Safety ratings
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Investigations
- Separate successful check not recorded.
- Manufacturer communications
- Separate successful check not recorded.
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.
Research Context
The 2006 Kia Rio page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most frequent complete stored component label is air bags with 42 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2006 Kia Rio currently shows 1 NHTSA recall listed on this page and 73 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows no overall NHTSA safety rating in our current dataset.
- The most frequent complete stored component labels on this page are air bags (42), steering (3), engine and engine cooling (2).
- Vehicle
- 2006 Kia Rio
- Recalls
- 1
- Complaints
- 73
- Stored Configuration Overall Rating
- Not available in this dataset
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Configuration Test Results
Stored NHTSA configuration: 2006 Kia Rio 4-DR. w/SAB (Early release) NCAP Vehicle ID: 1926
Ratings describe one stored NHTSA configuration, not every trim, body style or drivetrain for this model year. How this configuration is selected
No overall score is available in our current dataset. The individual results below are not a combined safety rating; compare vehicles within the same test program and model year.
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
No rollover risk estimate available in this dataset
Safety Features
ESC: OptionalForward Collision Warning: NoLane Departure Warning: No
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 12V244000May 31, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy Status
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Owner Complaints
73 totalSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRASHFeb 22, 2026
This man purposely rammed my car. He saw me in the lane but came over anyway and hit my car.
SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
Jul 12, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FRONT CRADLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCA...
Preview excerpt
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jul 4, 2020
IGNITION WONT TURN WHEN KEY IS IN TO START THE CAR.AT A STOPPED POSITION. HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO START THE CAR.
AIR BAGS
CRASH2 injuriesDec 9, 2019
I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE I RENEDED TWO CARS. MY AIR BAG SID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS HYDROPLANE ON WET ROADS GOING ABOUT 55 WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES.
AIR BAGS
CRASH1 injuryMar 26, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD A SEIZURE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND HOSPITALIZED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH...
Preview excerpt
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 22, 2019
MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME ON. THEN WHEN I GO TO GASBUDDY, IT STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING THE AIRBAG ON A 2006 KIA RIO THAT WAS MADE FROM FEBRUARY 20TH 2005 TO 2007. HOWEVER MY VIN NUMBER SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. I THINK IT'S MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE THAT...
Preview excerpt
AIR BAGS
Nov 2, 2018
AIR BAG LIGHT ON
SERVICE BRAKES
Jul 16, 2018
BRAKE LIGHTS IN REAR CAME ON DURING DRIVING AND REMAINED ON. AFTER BECOMING AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND REPLACEMENT OF THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH WHICH DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THE PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN DEFECT. THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAS A "BUTTON" WHICH WHEN DE...
Preview excerpt
AIR BAGS
Jul 11, 2018
THE AIRBAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF
AIR BAGS
Nov 4, 2016
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OUT AT 170000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED IT FREE. NOW THE SAME SENSOR WENT OUT AT 70000 MILES AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T REPLACE IT FOR FREE. THE SAME SENSOR SHOULDN'T GO OUT TWICE IN 10 YEARS. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS....
Preview excerpt
Showing 10 recent complaints from 73 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2006 Kia models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Kia Rio Years
2007 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.1r46c2005 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.1r36c2008 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.1r49c2004 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.2r50c2009 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.41c2003 Kia RioCompare this year against 2006 for complaint and recall shifts.3r82c
More 2006 Kia Models
2006 Kia SedonaAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.7r384c2006 Kia SorentoAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.1r242c2006 Kia OptimaAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.2r155c2006 Kia SpectraAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.1r118c2006 Kia SportageAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.1r111c2006 Kia AmantiAnother 2006 Kia option for same-year comparison.47c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Kia Rio have?
The 2006 Kia Rio has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2006 Kia Rio?
NHTSA has received 73 owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Kia Rio.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2006 Kia Rio?
An overall NHTSA safety rating is not available in our current dataset for the 2006 Kia Rio. Individual crash-test results may still be available.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Rio?
The most frequent complete stored component labels for the 2006 Kia Rio are air bags (42 reports), steering (3 reports), engine and engine cooling (2 reports). These are exact-label counts, not broader component-group totals or confirmed defects.
Does the 2006 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2006 Kia Rio. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.