YearToAvoid

2007 Kia Rio Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2007 Kia Rio has a complaint index of 44 and ranks 11th out of 19 model years, earning a Good verdict. Airbags account for 46% of complaints (21 total), tied to one recall for a cracking seat occupant sensor mat.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
44/100
#11 of 19 Rio years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
46
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
6
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 33.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 1

Top 2007 Kia Rio problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags21 (46%)
  2. Electrical System10 (22%)
  3. Brakes8 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body6 (13%)
  5. Engine3 (7%)
  6. Other3 (7%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain3 (7%)
  8. Fuel System2 (4%)
  9. Steering2 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal or T-bone crashes at highway speeds, sometimes resulting in totaled vehicles.
  • Brakes travel abnormally close to the floorboard or fail to stop the car, in one case leading to a rear-end collision.
  • The check engine light blinks or illuminates while driving, accompanied by intermittent hesitation and a chemical burn smell.
  • The automatic transmission suddenly downshifts from overdrive to third gear at highway speed, causing a surge.
  • The engine stalls at highway speed and will not restart.
  • The vehicle pulls to the right and left even after repeated dealer alignments.
2007 Kia Rio complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2007Dec 2008Mar 2010Nov 2011Dec 2012Oct 2015Dec 2018Jul 2024
46 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2007 to Jul 2024; peak Dec 2012 (4).

2007 Kia Rio recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2007 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.

2007 compared with other Rio years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good2836124.5
2006Avoid7874129
2007Good4446129
2008Caution7246129
2009Caution6739030

All Kia Rio years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Kia Rio reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2007 Rio has a complaint index of 44, the 11th highest out of 19 model years, and it carries a Good verdict relative to other Rio years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2007 Kia Rio?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 46% of complaints (21 of 46), including reports of non-deployment in crashes, with a median failure mileage of 50,383 miles.
Does the 2007 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (12V244000) covers a front passenger seat occupant sensor mat that can crack and affect airbag deployment; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2007 Rio compare to other Kia Rio years?
The 2007 Rio's complaint index of 44 is lower than 2006 (78), 2008 (72), and 2013 (100), all of which carry Avoid or Caution verdicts, but higher than top years like 2021 and 2023 with indexes of 6 and 0.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Kia Rio?
EPA rates the 2007 Kia Rio at 29 mpg combined (26 city / 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.