srs light turned on and is illuminated when starting and driving the vehicle.
The worst 2006 Kia Rio problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags50
- Engine8
- Steering4
- Body3
- Brakes3
- Electrical3
- Fuel system3
- Transmission2
- Acceleration1
- Lights1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 Kia Rio
Airbag light 28No deployment 8Check engine light 6Stalling 5
Recalls 1
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
- 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.
Recall number 12V244000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 Kia Rio 26
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Transmission fluid application guide
- This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity...
- Transmission fluid application guide
- Information for headlamp condensation and moisture
- - Transmission fluid application guide
- Pitstop - engine component re-use guidelines
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- Mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware
- TSB - use of aftermarket USB charging cables in USB/12V ports
- "TSB: voluntary service campaign
2006 Kia Rio fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 25-27 | 32-35 | 29 |
What 2006 Kia Rio owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
This man purposely rammed my car. He saw me in the lane but came over anyway and hit my car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kia rio. The contact stated that while in for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered the front cradle and lower control arm had sustained severe rusting and corrosion. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer taylor kia located at 7870 market st. Youngstown oh 44512, to be inspected. The contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were no longer available. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 174,000.*dt consumer stated dealer has agreed to purchase vehicle from the consumer since frame is rusted.
Ignition wont turn when key is in to start the car.at a stopped position. Happens when you try to start the car.
I was in an auto accident where I reneded two cars. My air bag sid not deploy. The vehicle was hydroplane on wet roads going about 55 when I hit the brakes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kia rio. While driving 50 MPH, the contact had a seizure and crashed head on into a tree. The contact was injured and hospitalized. A police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 189,000.
My airbag light had come on. Then when I go to gasbuddy, it states that there is a recall involving the airbag on a 2006 kia rio that was made from february 20th 2005 to 2007. However my VIN number shows that there is no recall on my car. I think it's more than a coincidence that there's a recall and my sensor is on. If someone is killed because of this sensor oh, I will be suing kia, and anyone else that blatantly disregarded my complaint
The airbag light never goes off
Air bag light on
Brake lights in rear came on during driving and remained on. After becoming aware of the issue, and replacement of the stop light switch which did not fix the issue, and after further inspection the problem was a design defect. The stop light switch has a "button" which when depressed interrupts the flow of electricity, there is an "ear" on the brake pedal which when your let off the brake pedal depresses the switch button and cuts the current. The problem is the button on the switch is around 1/16 in diameter, and for some strange reason kia drilled a 1/4" hole on the "ear" of the brake pedal within 1/16 of an inch where the switch button contacts the ear, which allows only 1/16 of a inch of the ear to depress the pedal, which in this case with my car with 50 thousand miles, allowed the button of the stop light switch to enter the hole in the ear on the brake pedal and not depress the button on the switch, which then allowed the brake lights to constantly burn. I suspect that normal wear of the brake pedal bushing allowed this to happen, the strange thing is there is no reason for hole to be in the contact area where the ear and the switch button meet. And with only a minor amount of the switch button making contact and the rest over the hole in the brake pedal "ear" it is not surprising that this would be the result. I have a manual transmission, and noticed the switch for the clutch pedal which requires the clutch be depressed in order to start the engine, it was set up with a hole very close to where the switch button makes contact. The above happened while was driving in heavy traffic on a highway on the way home from work.
Compare the 2006 Kia Rio
Rio vs Nissan VersaRio vs Ford FiestaRio vs Honda FitRio vs Hyundai AccentRio vs Chevrolet SonicRio vs Toyota Yaris
Other model years
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Questions about the 2006 Kia Rio
Is the 2006 Kia Rio reliable?
Owners have filed 74 complaints about the 2006 Kia Rio, 1.9 times a typical Rio model year.
What is the 2006 Kia Rio year score?
The 2006 Kia Rio scores 52 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Kia Rio: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Kia Rio?
Airbags, with 50 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles. Next is engine (8).
How many recalls does the 2006 Kia Rio have?
1 recall, covering air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Kia Rio airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 12V244000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Kia Rio have bad airbags?
The Kia Rio model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (50 complaints), 2013 (34 complaints) and 2001 (33 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Kia Rio get?
Official estimates for the 2006 Kia Rio range from 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 25-27 city and 32-35 highway.
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