KiaRio2006Overview/kia/rio/2006/base/

2006 Kia Rio

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Rio.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Kia Rio is a passenger‑car equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission, achieving EPA‑rated 25 city/35 highway/29 combined mpg. It recorded 74 total owner complaints, with air‑bag issues accounting for the majority and a single recall issued during its production run. Compared with the model’s complaint history from 2000 to 2023 — peaking at 227 complaints in 2001 and bottoming at just three in 2000 — the 2006 year sits near the lower end of the spectrum, suggesting a relatively stable reliability profile for that model year.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/35/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 500 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.9 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2434 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 35 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume92 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rio of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.4–9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 2006 Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2006Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec110 hpFWD
2006Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.90 sec17.30 sec110 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-90 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8-11 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings22-24 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts101-108 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Main Bearings40-43 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14-19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.8 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.87-.98 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.72-4.38 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-182 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.8-15.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure14.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

OtherJB Chassis / BC Chassis
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61-68 ft-lbs / 29-36 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 30,000 miTiming Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 37,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Kia Rio sits in the middle of a sharp rise and subsequent decline in federal complaints and recalls that began in 2001. After a spike to 227 complaints in 2001, the model’s complaint count fell to 84 in 2003, then climbed again to 74 in 2006 before dropping to 46 in 2007. Recall activity stayed low throughout, with only one recall in 2006, matching the single recall seen in the surrounding years. The top complaint areas for 2006 were air‑bag (43 incidents), steering (3), unknown/other (2), and engine (2), and the vehicle had 12 crash complaints but no fire complaints. Compared to the 2005 figure of 36 complaints and the 2007 figure of 46, the 2006 year represents a modestly higher but still relatively low complaint level, suggesting that while not ideal, it is not a red‑flag year for a used purchase. Thus, a 2006 Rio can be a reasonable buy if priced appropriately and inspected for the listed complaint areas.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
26
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
74
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 74 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags43
Steering3
Unknown Or Other2
Engine2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Air Bags,Equipment2
Engine & Engine Cooling,Fuel System, Gasoline2
Structure,Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

12V244000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 31/05/2012

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 26 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_TRA046_R42024-05-16Power TrainThis bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and…
TSB_TRA046_R32022-11-18Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides…
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
TSB_TRA046_R12020-04-24Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rio. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2006 Rio have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rio get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined mpg.