KIA RIO Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 272 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the KIA RIO across 21 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (50). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (43% of reports).
- 272air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 115mention a crash
- 82mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 117 of 272 complaints (43%)
- Passenger seat: mentioned in 34 of 272 complaints (13%)
- Bags deploy: mentioned in 24 of 272 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the KIA RIO at $1,150, and half of them between $920 and $1,350.
Based on 18 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2010–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 176 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 272 complaints, 115 mention a crash, 82 an injury.
KIA RIO air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 RIO | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2019 RIO | 3 | 14% | 18,051 |
| 2018 RIO | 5 | 18% | 54,000 |
| 2017 RIO | 3 | 10% | 6,054 |
| 2016 RIO | 4 | 5% | 51,000 |
| 2015 RIO | 5 | 10% | 21,000 |
| 2014 RIO | 7 | 13% | 35,000 |
| 2013 RIO | 34 | 22% | 74,000 |
| 2012 RIO | 12 | 22% | 78,000 |
| 2011 RIO | 5 | 21% | 40,828 |
| 2010 RIO | 12 | 46% | 60,937 |
| 2009 RIO | 17 | 44% | 69,500 |
| 2008 RIO | 27 | 59% | 65,000 |
| 2007 RIO | 21 | 46% | 50,383 |
| 2006 RIO | 50 | 68% | 65,000 |
| 2005 RIO | 4 | 11% | 85,000 |
| 2004 RIO | 3 | 8% | 49,712 |
| 2003 RIO | 4 | 5% | 30,000 |
| 2002 RIO | 21 | 16% | 32,250 |
| 2001 RIO | 33 | 15% | 24,500 |
| 2000 RIO | 1 | 33% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008
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.
Risk: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
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 report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The Components that have malfunctioned are the airbags, exaust system, electrical systems, sensors, gaskets, and a few other things. We had 5 failed clockspring repairs. The first (3?) under warranty, we paid for another when they said it was our fault, then that mechanic said that it needed to go…
The airbag warning light and the ABS warning light turned on simultaneously while driving. This is a severe safety hazard as both critical, life-saving safety features are currently compromised. I have already contacted Kia Customer Care regarding this issue, but I am filing this official complaint…
The airbag warning light illuminated on the dashboard and has stayed on permanently. This indicates a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Because the warning light is active, there is a severe safety risk that the airbags may not deploy correctly or at all in the event of a…
srs light turned on and is illuminated when starting and driving the vehicle.
Took my car in as the airbag light on the dashboard kept turning on and offâ with or without a passenger in the seat. The dealership ran a diagnostic inspection and turns out that the passenger side OCS Mat and ECU are faulty and need to be replaced (DTC codes B176700 and B17672F). I have not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all KIA RIOs have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 272 owner complaints about air bags for the KIA RIO. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the KIA RIO air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the KIA RIO?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,150 (half paid between $920 and $1,350), from 18 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the KIA RIO?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 117 of 272 complaints, followed by “passenger seat” (34).
Other KIA RIO problems
See all KIA RIO problems.