BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2004-KIARIO-540A

2004 Kia Rio

Based on reports from 53 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
53
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Recalls
2
TSBs
12
🟡

Preliminary Verdict

Think Twice

Based on 53 complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 2 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

engine seizure

4 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX
2

engine stalls and sputters

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

slipping clutch oil leak

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

7 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 53K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

19
0–30K
9
30–60K
14
60–90K
2
90–120K
1
120–150K
1
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (19 reports) • Median: 53K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (7 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine7 (13%)
Electrical5 (9%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine3 (6%)
Other3 (6%)
Fuel System3 (6%)
Airbags2 (4%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission2 (4%)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys2 (4%)

2004 Kia Rio: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2004 Kia Rio, with 7 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 53,015 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 53K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2004 Kia Rio, with 5 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2004 Kia Rio, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2004 Kia Rio, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

2
04
8
05
19
06
3
07
4
08
2
09
3
10
2
11
2
12
2
14
1
15
1
16
2
19
2
24

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Kia Rio. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $1.20

Recall History (2 recalls)

04V179000Jun 2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE OF THE FUEL DISTRIBUTOR IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE OR CRACKING DURING REMOVAL OF THE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING SECURING THE MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY TO THE FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE, OR WHEN FORCE IS ACCIDENTALLY APPLIED TO THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR DURING ENGINE COMPARTMENT REPAIRS.

05V557000Jan 2006

CHILD SEAT

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS WILL NOT FULLY LATCH ONTO THE LOWER LATCH ANCHORS LOCATED BETWEEN THE REAR SEAT BACK AND REAR SEAT CUSHION BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHILD SEAT ANCHORS AND A METAL WIRE LOCATED IN THE FRAME OF THE REAR SEAT BACK. UNTIL THE RECALL REPAIR IS COMPLETED, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR CHILD SEATS MANUFACTURER ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S REAR SAFETY BELTS RATHER THAN USING THE LATCH SYSTEM.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

This is the worst model year for the Kia Rio according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.

2004 Kia Rio vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

53

Class avg

205

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 53 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Kia Rio Model Years

202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000
View all Kia Rio years →

2004 Kia Rio: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Kia Rio?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Kia Rio is related to the engine, with 7 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Kia Rio reliable?
The 2004 Kia Rio has 53 complaints, 5 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Kia Rio problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Kia Rio has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Kia Rio problems start?
Based on 46 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 53,015 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2004 Kia Rio Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 53 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees