Complaints
53
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
3
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2004 Kia Rio Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:50,994 mi
#25 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:37,114 mi
#33 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Considering a 2004 Kia Rio?
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $8.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Kia Rio.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | — | — | 50,994 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | — | 37,114 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,994
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,114
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Kia Rio. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Kia Rio Years
2004 Kia Rio — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Kia Rio reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2004 Kia Rio has 53 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine & Cooling with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Kia Rio?
Top reported problems: Engine & Cooling (7 complaints, avg 50,994 mi); Electrical Faults (5 complaints, avg 37,114 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Kia Rio?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 45,211 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Kia Rio?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Kia Rio include 5 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Kia Rio have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 Kia Rio as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2004 Kia Rio?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Kia Rio reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2004 Kia Rio
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $8.99