YearToAvoid

2009 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#7 most-complained of 19 Rio years

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

The 2009 Kia Rio has 39 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 67 out of 100 — #7 highest of 19 Rio model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (17 complaints, 44% of the total). Complaints report 6 crashes and 6 injuries.

Complaints
39
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
26.5 city / 34 hwy

Top 2009 Kia Rio problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags17 (44%)
  2. Engine9 (23%)
  3. Structure & Body6 (15%)
  4. Fuel System3 (8%)
  5. Other3 (8%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
  7. Brakes2 (5%)
  8. Electrical System2 (5%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (5%)
  10. Steering2 (5%)
2009 Kia Rio complaints: complaints filed per month4Sep 2009Sep 2010May 2013Nov 2014Sep 2016Mar 2018Jan 2021
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2009 to Jul 2022; peak Sep 2014 (4).

2009 Kia Rio recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2009 Kia Rio fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26.5 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
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.

2009 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
2007Good4446129
2008Caution7246129
2009Caution6739030
2010Caution5026030.5
2011Best1724030

All Kia Rio years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Kia Rio a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Kia Rio ranks #7 of 19 among Rio model years (Complaint Index 67/100, verdict: Caution). It has 39 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Kia Rio?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (17 complaints), engine (9 complaints), and structure & body (6 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 48,200 miles.
Does the 2009 Kia Rio have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2009 Kia Rio in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Kia Rio?
EPA rates the 2009 Kia Rio at 30 MPG combined (26.5 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.