Most common 2009 Kia Rio problems
Share of the 39 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Rio complaints by model year
Best Rio years: 2011, 2022, 2010. Years to avoid: 2013, 2016, 2001, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
What 2009 Kia Rio owners say
Air bags
My airbag light will not go off for my passenger side!!! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall because it definitely should be! What everybody says about the 2005 to the 2008 Kia Rios and the 2001 to 2008 Kia Rios is the same thing that is happening with my Kia Rio which is a 2009... Can y please add my vehicle too??? Also in the latest class action lawsuit it talks about the passenger seat pad sensor being broken and that's what breaks the passenger airbag so how in the world is my car not included in this?
Vehicle was involved in a collision 7/7/2017. It rear-ended a 2014 Volkswagen beetle at approximately 35 MPH. The vehicle will likely be totaled due to extensive damage to the front end. Per photos, front fascia was destroyed, damage extended into the engine compartment, and the engine will no longer start nor run. However, the SRS airbag located in the steering wheel (per photo) never deployed. Thankfully, driver (our son) was, as always, wearing his seatbelt and sustained no injuries.
Engine & cooling
Engine went out 8 months after there always been electrical issue has caused problems where it wnt accelerate causing a wreck the break light had shorts they didnt even have the radio n i went to a car lot dealership . this car left me in bad situations im just surprised its not recall I barely drive it it paid off after so many years n really only reason I have it cuz I put too much in n it n now it aint worth nuthin because of the issues that gave me
Replaced ignition coils 1 and 3 at the end of 2018. Coil 1 had to be replaced again in January 2019. Coils 2 and 4 were both replaced along with all spark plugs February 2018. In July 2019 coil 2 started to fail again and now in August 2019 coil 4 is misfiring as well. This is an ongoing problem that I see many regular posts regarding the short life span of the ignition coils for this car. There is obviously and electrical issue if not something else is obviously wrong. With so many complaints there should be an investigation at least at this point as to why the coils fail so quickly in this type of car. Multiple issues of the car not wanting to start, shutting off while idling and I have even had an incident on the highway where it completely failed and I was lucky enough to get off the highway safely .
Seats
My airbag light will not go off for my passenger side!!! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall because it definitely should be! What everybody says about the 2005 to the 2008 Kia Rios and the 2001 to 2008 Kia Rios is the same thing that is happening with my Kia Rio which is a 2009... Can y please add my vehicle too??? Also in the latest class action lawsuit it talks about the passenger seat pad sensor being broken and that's what breaks the passenger airbag so how in the world is my car not included in this?
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. They recommended to replace both the driver and passenger buckle switch and the passenger mat seat for a total charge of $1,700. The vehicle is used by its original owner, never have been involved in any crash events, have low mileage and stills under the 10years/100,000 miles warranty offered by Kia.
2009 Kia Rio engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 33 / 30 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 35 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Kia Rio a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Rio rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Rio at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Kia Rio?
The air bags — 17 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (8) and seats (4).
How many recalls does the 2009 Kia Rio have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2009 Kia Rio. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Rio?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2022 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2016, 2001, 2002 and 2003. See the full Kia Rio years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Rio problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 50,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.