There are 2 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2006 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 DEPRESSED INTERRUPTS THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY, THERE IS AN "EAR" ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH WHEN YOUR LET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES THE SWITCH BUTTON AND CUTS THE CURRENT. THE PROBLEM IS THE BUTTON ON THE SWITCH IS AROUND 1/16 IN DIAMETER, AND FOR SOME STRANGE REASON KIA DRILLED A 1/4" HOLE ON THE "EAR" OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WITHIN 1/16 OF AN INCH WHERE THE SWITCH BUTTON CONTACTS THE EAR, WHICH ALLOWS ONLY 1/16 OF A INCH OF THE EAR TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, WHICH IN THIS CASE WITH MY CAR WITH 50 THOUSAND MILES, ALLOWED THE BUTTON OF THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH TO ENTER THE HOLE IN THE EAR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT DEPRESS THE BUTTON ON THE SWITCH, WHICH THEN ALLOWED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO CONSTANTLY BURN. I SUSPECT THAT NORMAL WEAR OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BUSHING ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN, THE STRANGE THING IS THERE IS NO REASON FOR HOLE TO BE IN THE CONTACT AREA WHERE THE EAR AND THE SWITCH BUTTON MEET. AND WITH ONLY A MINOR AMOUNT OF THE SWITCH BUTTON MAKING CONTACT AND THE REST OVER THE HOLE IN THE BRAKE PEDAL "EAR" IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THIS WOULD BE THE RESULT. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND NOTICED THE SWITCH FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH REQUIRES THE CLUTCH BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER TO START THE ENGINE, IT WAS SET UP WITH A HOLE VERY CLOSE TO WHERE THE SWITCH BUTTON MAKES CONTACT. THE ABOVE HAPPENED WHILE WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK.
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
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 Apr 25, 2026