NHTSA vehicle safety data

2007 Kia Rio Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2007 Kia Rio has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 46 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2007 Kia Rio, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2007 Kia Rio owner complaints

Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Kia Rio, describing incidents dated March 22, 2007 to April 29, 2024.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 21 complaints
Electrical System 8 complaints
Service Brakes 8 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints

Of the 46 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 46 complaints, owners report 6 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11604222 · Filed July 24, 2024
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…
ODI #11520490 · Filed May 4, 2023
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…
ODI #11415458 · Filed May 6, 2021
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…

Read all 46 complaints

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT

NHTSA #12V244000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported May 31, 2012 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 72,568 vehicles

Kia campaign SC097 · Owners notified July 26, 2012

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

KIA'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC097.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2007 Kia Rio 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

46 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2007 Kia Rio.

Engine

ODI #11604222

Incident: April 29, 2024 · Filed: July 24, 2024

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

Air Bags

ODI #11520490

Incident: May 1, 2023 · Filed: May 4, 2023

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.

Tires

ODI #11415458

Incident: April 20, 2021 · Filed: May 6, 2021

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.

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11308013

Incident: February 8, 2020 · Filed: February 9, 2020

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

Air Bags; Seats

ODI #11278002

Incident: August 1, 2019 · Filed: November 4, 2019

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.

Air Bags

ODI #11164017

Incident: December 21, 2018 · Filed: December 29, 2018

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.

Electrical System

ODI #11067119

Incident: February 1, 2017 · Filed: February 5, 2018

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

Air Bags

ODI #11061139

Crash

Incident: January 5, 2018 · Filed: January 8, 2018

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 System; Unknown or Other; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10992172

Incident: May 27, 2017 · Filed: May 30, 2017

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.

Air Bags

ODI #10850152

Crash

Incident: March 13, 2016 · Filed: March 17, 2016

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

Other Kia Rio model years

Check your 2007 Kia Rio VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Rio at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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