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Kia RIOModel year report

2009 Kia RIO Problems

Compared with other Kia RIO years

Typical for this model

44/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
39filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,200miles, 30 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
30 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Kia RIO (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 2009 Kia RIO. The part named most often is air bags, with 17 complaints (44% of the total), followed by engine (7) and seats (4). 30 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,200 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 37 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 10 Kia RIO model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 44 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Engine cooling (1), Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I was sitting in a parking lot with a friend, when I noticed that my air bag indicator had come on. As I drove away to come ask my father what it meant, the passenger air bag light would repeatedly flash on and off, with her sitting straight in the seat like a normal person. Ever since than the air bag indicator has stayed on and won't go off. As well at the flashing passenger air bag light. I had went online to check for any recalls and it had stated that 2006-2008 had a recall on air bag cracking . We read up on it and it is the same thing that is wrong with my car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10693157, filed 2015-03, 76,000 miles

Engine: “My coils keep going out after replacing all 4. I've replaced the complete fuel pump but everytime I fuel up my car it hesitates to start which is why I replaced the pump to begin with.”

NHTSA complaint #11386161, filed 2021-01, 75,000 miles

Seats: “2009 Kia RIO lx: while driving around town at 20mph and having 26,875 miles in the od, the airbag red light turned on and the passenger air bag light started to blink on the instrument panel. The vehicle was driven to an autorized Kia dealer where it was diagnosed using a kds having 26,927 miles, finding 3 codes: b1448 ocs mat defect, b1513 buckle switch open short passenger side, b1511 buckle switch open short driver side. Dealer said that there were no recalls or reports from Kia on this complaints for 2009 Kia RIO and decided to not replace the parts under warranty. …”

NHTSA complaint #10993833, filed 2017-06, 26,875 miles

Fuel system: “First please read or review the past emails I have sent to you concerning my 2009 RIO having a high RPM while in 4th gear and especially 5th running more than 3,100 to 3,500 rpms to run at 60 to 70 MPH. In other words I am getting less mpgs on the highway than I get in town. See the attachment. My wife's hyundai sonata that is fully loaded, which is heavier and has a larger 4 cylinder engine with automatic transmission. The sonata gets less mpgs in the city but better mpgs on the highway than my little RIO. …”

NHTSA complaint #10324521, filed 2010-04, 25 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 30 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 85,000 miles.

17%0–1013%10–2520%25–5017%50–7523%75–1003%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (30 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,200 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’12’148’16’18’20’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Kia RIO. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RIO · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 5———
RIO · hatchback FWDnot rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Kia RIO version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual273330$2,250
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic263530$2,250

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2009 Kia RIO in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 37 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 37 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia RIO

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202312100,9000—36—Too new
20221270,5001—36—Not enough data
202115—2—36—Stable
2020272,7801—3673 · MoreStable
2019224,4501—32—Stable
20182835,7851—3212 · FewerRising
20173136,500243135 · FewerRising
20167950,500243165 · MoreRising
20155260,000143045 · TypicalRising
20145233,000143071 · MoreRising
201315364,626143289 · MoreRising
20125464,000143250 · TypicalFalling
20112461,0000—30—Rising
20102663,0000—3133 · FewerFalling
20093948,2000—3044 · TypicalFalling
20084646,0001—2958 · TypicalFalling
20074657,0181—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20067463,4951—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20053751,0001—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043868,5202—25Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20037430,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212836,7501—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200122348,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Kia RIO model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Kia RIO have?

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 2009 Kia RIO as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Kia RIO is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 17 complaints (44% of the total), followed by engine with 7.

Has the 2009 Kia RIO been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Kia RIO get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Kia RIO (Rio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 27 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Kia RIO reported?

Among the 30 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,200 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 85,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.