2006 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
78/100
#5 most-complained of 19 Rio years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2006 Kia Rio has 74 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 78 out of 100 — #5 highest of 19 Rio model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (50 complaints, 68% of the total). Complaints report 12 crashes and 14 injuries.
- Complaints
- 74
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 12 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 26 city / 33.5 hwy
Top 2006 Kia Rio problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags50 (68%)
- Engine9 (12%)
- Other6 (8%)
- Electrical System4 (5%)
- Steering4 (5%)
- Structure & Body4 (5%)
- Brakes3 (4%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
2006 Kia Rio recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 12V244000May 31, 2012Airbags72,568 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
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.
2006 Kia Rio fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26 MPG
- Highway
- 33.5 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Rio years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Kia Rio a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Kia Rio ranks #5 of 19 among Rio model years (Complaint Index 78/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 74 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Rio?
- The most reported problem areas are airbags (50 complaints), engine (9 complaints), and electrical system (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 64,000 miles.
- Does the 2006 Kia Rio have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Kia Rio, most recently reported 2012, covering airbags.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Kia Rio?
- EPA rates the 2006 Kia Rio at 29 MPG combined (26 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.