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Vehicle safety record

2007 Kia Rio Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 2007 Kia Rio with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (21) and the brakes (8). Those complaints describe 11 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries and 1 death. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in May 2012 for the sensor / control module-inactive. For comparison, the 2006 has 74 and the 2008 has 49.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical Rio year, for its age

#163 most complained-about 2007 vehicle

Complaints
46
Recalls
1
Crashes
11
Fires
1
Injuries
6
Deaths
1

Most common 2007 Kia Rio problems

Share of all 46 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2007 Kia Rio recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: sensor / control module-inactive

12V24400072,568 vehicles affected

The problem
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.
The risk
Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
The fix
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.

What owners say

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46 complaints about the 2007 Kia Rio

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.

Engine & cooling

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

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11604222
Airbags

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11520490
Wheels & tires

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.

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 11415458
Electrical systemFuel system

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

Filed Incident Electrical system · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11308013
AirbagsSeats & seat belts

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.

Filed Incident Air bags · SeatsNHTSA 11278002
Airbags

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11164017
Electrical system

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

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11067119
AirbagsCrash

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11061139
Electrical systemFuel system

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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10992172
AirbagsCrash

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

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10850152
Body, doors & structureBrakes

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.

Filed Incident Structure · Service brakesNHTSA 10779802
Airbags

Tl*the contact owns a 2007 kia rio. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the airbag warning light illuminated indicating that the airbag was not activated. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the coupling was loose. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,000.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10680571
Electrical systemAirbagsSeats & seat belts

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

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · SeatsNHTSA 10628278
Airbags

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

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10585473
Brakes

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

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 10519333
BrakesCrash

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...

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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.

Filed Incident Service brakesNHTSA 10490192
Airbags

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

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10490060
Transmission & drivetrain

As I was backing out of my driveway, 6 months after I purchased my brand new 2007 kia rio, I heard a loud noise and felt my car lurch simultaneously, as if I had been hit by a car. When I tried to resume backing up my car had popped out of reverse. Although it doesn't happen frequently, it does happen I have had people in the car when it happens. When I took it to the dealership, I was told they "couldn't duplicate it". *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10487506
BrakesAirbagsCrash

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

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Air bagsNHTSA 10486722
BrakesLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia rio. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and another driver alerted that the exterior brakes lights were inoperative. The contact sprayed a lubricant onto the brake lamp switch. Three years later the failure recurred. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. There was a recall issued for other 2007 kia model vehicles under nhtsa campaign id number 09v130000 (component: exterior lighting: brake lights: switch). The approximate failure mileage was 15,000...Updated 01/04/13 *bf

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10486345
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

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

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 10486144
AirbagsSeats & seat belts

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

Filed Incident Air bags · SeatsNHTSA 10483318
Airbags

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.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10475710
Airbags

The dashboard airbag light came on approximately 1 year ago, and when I contacted the kia dealership where I purchased the vehicle they advised me that they would have to charge me to search for the cause of the problem...I heard of a recall on the kia rio airbags on nhtsa and I called kia to ask to bring my vehicle in so the problem could be fixed and the service department told me that they are unaware of any such problems with that vehicle and would not allow me to bring the vehicle in unless I paid to have it looked at!!! *Js

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 10464002
Wheels & tires

I purchased tires from manteca tires in may of 2010. The tires were yokohama prada tires for a total of 359.80. I had the tires balanced, aligned and rotated at regular intervals. The tires from day one were making extreme noise and I had notified manteca tires that the tires were causing noise. They suggested to rotate them and use them for a while to see if the tires continued to make noise. I did so and then also took them in later to be rotated again and had them check the noise. They stated that I should let...

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some more time go on them and continue to drive to see if again the noise would go away. It did not and the noise was getting worse. I did not feel that these were safe. They said I should contact yokohama, which I did. They told me to take it to a local tire company and get it checked out. Yokohama was claiming that the tires are not covered under warranty because they stated there was some cupping. I told them how can that be, when I never had this road noise with my last tires and I had these tires rotated, aligned and balanced. They said they would offer a 25 % discount on new tires. That is not honoring a warranty. A little over a year later, a person should not have to replace tires. Manteca tires then when on to fax them paperwork and talk to them, which it took yokohama three days to get back with them and then they only offered a 40% discount on new tires. If I have balanced my tires, rotated them and done everything I should as a car owner and those tires are still making noise, then it is clearly the fault of the tires. What would make me buy yokohama tires again, even at a discount, when they do not honor the warranty they offered in the first place. These are obviously faulty tires and I am not the first one to complain of the extreme road noise from these tires. If you research on the internet, there are several other consumers that have experienced the same with yokohama tires. They too, have complained of yokohama not honoring warranties. *Tr

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 10441209

Kia Rio: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
201124040Engine & coolingA
201026090AirbagsB
200941060AirbagsB
2008491130AirbagsC
2007461111AirbagsC
2006741120AirbagsD
200537144Engine & coolingC
200450252Engine & coolingC
200384382Engine & coolingD
All Rio years

2007 Kia Rio vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2007 Kia Rio

Does the 2007 Kia Rio have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2007 Kia Rio: sensor / control module-inactive (May 2012). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Kia Rio?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the airbags (21), brakes (8), electrical system (8).

How many complaints has the 2007 Kia Rio had?

46 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on May 10, 2007 and the latest on July 24, 2024. Of these, 11 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 1 death.

Is the 2007 Kia Rio a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 46 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Kia Rio year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Kia Rio years have the most complaints?

2001 (224), 2013 (153), 2002 (152). See every Kia Rio year compared.

What should I do if my 2007 Kia Rio has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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