2009 Kia Rio

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

77/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Kia Rio, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	13	32%
Unknown or other	4	10%
Engine	4	10%
Air bags	2	5%
Electrical system	1	2%
Engine	1	2%
Air bags	1	2%
Vehicle speed control	1	2%
Power train	1	2%
Suspension	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Engine went out 8 months after there always been electrical issue has caused problems where it wnt accelerate causing a wreck the break light had shorts they didnt even have the radio n i went to a car lot dealership . t
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The doors will lock and won't unlock. This happened to the front passenger door when the car was less than a year old and they repaired it. The rear passenger door locked and it won't lock so I don't load items on that
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

My airbag light will not go off for my passenger side!!! I think it is absolutely ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall because it definitely should be! What everybody says about the 2005 to the 2008 Kia R
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

MY COILS KEEP GOING OUT AFTER REPLACING ALL 4. I'VE REPLACED THE COMPLETE FUEL PUMP BUT EVERYTIME I FUEL UP MY CAR IT HESITATES TO START WHICH IS WHY I REPLACED THE PUMP TO BEGIN WITH.
NHTSA complaint: Engine

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WILL NOT GO OUT WHEN IT IS RESET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SENSOR IS BAD, IS THERE A RECALL ON THE SENORS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

SPARK PLUG CYLINDER HOLES FILLING WITH OIL DUE TO VALVE COVER ORING FAILURE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE ON THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE A ENGINE FIRE IN THE PICTURE THE WHOLE SPARED PLUG WAS COMPLETELY COVERED OVER WITH OIL IN THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine

REPLACED IGNITION COILS 1 AND 3 AT THE END OF 2018. COIL 1 HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2019. COILS 2 AND 4 WERE BOTH REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL SPARK PLUGS FEBRUARY 2018. IN JULY 2019 COIL 2 STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN AN
NHTSA complaint: Engine

INSIDE DOOR HANDLES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE CHROME PAINT USED ON THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES CRACKS FORMING RAZOR SHARP EDGES THAT HAS SLICED MY HANDS DEEP WHILE OPENING DOORS TWICE. I HAVE CALLED TO REPORT THIS AWHILE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

The seven scores

Reliability raw	81	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	95	excellent
Performance	41	below average
Efficiency	53	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 35% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 54% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 73% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 91% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 81: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2009 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 87: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2009 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 13 of them (32%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2009 Kia Rio reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2009 Kia Rio last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2009 Kia Rio?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 77/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.