Kia · Rio · 2007
1
Recall
46
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2007 Kia Rio has 1 recall and 46 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (15 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
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.
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.
the engine has very bad Loss of oil pressure it consumption of a lot oil the engine knock very bad that engine has decreased its power the engine oil light always on so I stop driving the car and car blows white smoke from the engine my mechanic told he did not want to work on the car because of the engine but I can get a invoice he quoted me 3,000 dollars for a new engine i have not even had this car for long could not even drive it around or get my child to school
The contact owns a 2007 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the occupant classification system (OCS) seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V244000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 KIA RIO EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES, TIRE LINE: G-FORCE SPORT, TIRE SIZE: 195/55/R15, DOT NUMBER: BELN3P1107-15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE FLAT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND THE TREAD AND STEEL WIRES WERE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE SIX YEARS OLD. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,668.
I DRIVING UP TO WISCONSIN DELLS FROM ILLINOIS AND THE VIT WOULNT GO OVER TWENTY MILES PER HR I HATE THIS VEHICLE AND A TUNE UP WAS DONE BEFORE I LEFT I HAVE A 2007 KIA RIO AND VEHICLE JUST DIED AND THEN STARTED AND HAD NO POWER I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO ILLINOIS WHICH COST ME 300 DOLLARS HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAS 95.600 MILES WAS
2007 KIA RIO HAS AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, WITH A CODE SPECIFYING THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR. WHEN CLEARING THE CODE FOR THE AIRBAG, THE CODE IS RETHROWN AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS. NHTSA RECALL #12V244000 APPLIED TO CERTAIN MODELS OF THE 2005-2007 MODEL ERA, BUT DIDN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THEM, AS THE VEHICLE HAS NO OPEN SEAT MAT RECALL AND NONE HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN THE PAST. EVIDENTLY THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE INITIAL RECALL. THE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
I JUST RECENT HAD THE BATTERY PUT IN MY CAR. AN NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON FOR THE DRIVER ON THAT DASH BOARD. AN DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. SO WE ARE SCARED TO BE OUT ON THE ROAD AN IT DOESN'T PROTECT US IF WE GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AN SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BY MISTAKE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SUSTAINED A NECK AND BACK INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ELECTRICAL ISSUES, CONSTANTLY BROKEN AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE PROBLEMS, SPARK PLUG ISSUES, COIL ISSUES, 3 BATTERIES IN 2 YEARS, LOSS OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. RALLY KIA (438 AUTO VISTA DR, PALMDALE, CA 93551, (818) 492-3800) WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343) PROVIDED A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS WITH INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE CONTACT FOLLOWED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A PERMANENT REMEDY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, HE FELL ASLEEP AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN APPLIED AND HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITY'S FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE 'AIRBAG' DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT CUSHION. THIS PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY A 'VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN' CONDUCTED BY KIA AFFECTING "2006-2008 MY RIO OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT" BUT ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MY KIA RIO MANUFACTURED IN APRIL 2007 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM/DIAGNOSIS/FIX IS IDENTICAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,400. UPDATED 7/8/14*CN UPDATED 07/14/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE FAILURE BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE OVER A GRASSY AREA AND CRASH INTO THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FENDER WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS LEFT FOR OVER ELEVEN DAYS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON AND THE KIA MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IT NOT TO BE A RECALL SINCE MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THIS PAST NOVEMBER 2012. NOW MY CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES FROM COLD -0- TO HALF ON THE GAUGE. IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE 2 ACCIDENTS. I HAD IT TAKEN TO TAKE IT TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THIS WAS IN PART OF A RECALL THAT THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
NO HEAT OR AIR, AT FIRST I COULD BUMP THE DASH AND IT WOULD COME ON, BUT NOW NOTHING. PURCHASED A NEW BLOWER MOTOR BUT STILL DOESN'T WORK. SO HAS TO BE BAD WIRES,BECAUSE NOTHING HAS POWER TO IT. I HAVE NO WAY TO DEFROST/UNFOG WINDSHIELD AND HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ALSO THERE IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS OF THE GEAR SHIFT TO LOCK UP AND NOT BE MOVED OUT OF NEUTRAL. THERE WERE RECALL ON OTHER KIA MAKES OF THE SAME YEAR BUT THE DID NOT INCLUDE THE RIO, HOWEVER I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE KIA RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED SHE HAD TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN ORDER TO SEE WHY THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 61, 230 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND KIA WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THEIR RECALL. KIA'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC097. *TR
TRUCK STOPPED AT STOP SIGN RAINING AT THE TIME 1304 PM GOT ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AND RAIN WET ROADS MADE THE CAR SLIDE INTO THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TALL 4X4 TRUCK AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF ON THE RIO CAR HIT CENTER ON THE FRONT BUMPER OVER $3,000.00 IN DAMAGE TO CAR DONE TO TRUCK AND NO BAGS SET OFF SEEMS LIKE A BIG THINGS IF THE BAGS DID NOT GET SET OFF. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2007 Kia Rio has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 46 owner-reported complaints for the 2007 Kia Rio.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2007 Kia Rio.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2007 Kia Rio are air bags (15 reports), electrical system (3 reports), power train (2 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2007 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.
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.