What 153 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Rio

Doors latches. I have had to replace ALL door latches multiple times and also have issues with door handles not working in manual or with keyless entry. very poor design and prone to breaking or shattering the internal latch to door causing failure to locking or functional of doors.

NHTSA ODI 11491616

I was sitting behind a S.U.V . when it started to move i doubt if we were going 5 miles I slightly moved my steering wheel not even a half a turn to move straight behind the S.U.V. My car shot to the right jumped a curb, hit a pole, thru two trees down a hill and into a fence. when it was all said and done my car wouldn't stop, my airbag never deployed and my car was totaled. i kept asking if there was a way this car could be examined.the insurance company took the car.i had started having problems prior to this incident that started around the end of May. but before that the car ran pretty good and only had 52,000 miles.1st it wouldn't start after driving it for a while. you would have to wait a few minutes and it would restart. So my husband took it to our mechanic. he couldn't find anything wrong and it even passed inspection. About a week and a half later i am driving and the car just stopped while I am driving no power.I finally get it to start again.get it to a safer place and called AAA towing. they towed it to Kia. they replaced some type of sensor i believe it was a crank.it ran smooth but it still didn't feel right.it had a hard time pulling hills and the acceleration wasn't right. it kept losing acceleration like it was going to stop on me again then it would seem to kick back in. I had planned that Weekend to take it up to pep boys for diagnostics and take it back to Kia to see what was wrong with it. but I had the incident that friday . i uploaded a police report. and i do have repair ,inspection & and tow bill if needed

NHTSA ODI 11484878

I was driving home one night and my brakes stopped working, then all the lights on my dashboard came on. Thankfully I was able to pull over safely off the freeway exit and another car pulled over next to me to let me know my car was on fire. The fire looked like it was in the center bottom of the car. I lifted the hood to the front of the car. There were two bystanders who were able to get a bucket of water and put the fire out before it got too big. There is no visible damage to the outside of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11484287

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated when he started the vehicle, he noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the air bag sensor on the driver’s side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but a diagnostic test was not preformed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11483228

I have 2013 Kia Rio with I have been putting oil into it for months. MONTHS! At the end of my work week, before I drive to work on Monday I check the oil. If I drive more than usual on a weekend, I check the oil on Sunday. It’s crazy ! My mechanic told me I need to replace the engine I don’t understand why I take very good care of my car. But Kia needs to a recall on all these vehicles

NHTSA ODI 11481440

Driving car home Going about 35 Smelled car in front of me, that car smells, seems it was my own car try to do brake To pull over. No breaks loose able to coast into parking lot use emergency brake, stop flames shut up through Car into car got out people tried to help put it out fire trucks were called.

NHTSA ODI 11476493

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, she heard a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle as having no oil in the engine. The contact stated that the oil was topped off and the contact was informed to return after one-month. The contact returned to the mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle as having no oil. The mechanic determined that the oil had entered the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the air conditioning system was inoperable. The mechanic diagnosed that the A/C system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11472921

The door locks stop working. There are a ton of complaints on the internet of the same issue, the door locks will not work with the fob or with the key.

NHTSA ODI 11472340

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted but stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the radiator, transmission, and other parts were melted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11470703

On 04/07/22, I took my vehicle into Covina Valley KIA to replace a fuel line that had melted being constructed too close to the engine. About a month before the line, I noticed smoke was coming from under the hood. Other parts were too close to the GDi engine and were melting, and/or burning. For instance, the ignition coil/engine wire(s) cluster plastic holder which is mounted on the engine, was melting, breaking, and burning. Also the foam from the engine cover had caught fire. My car had also been throwing a knock sensor code p0326 every year. Replace it each time. Then the last time I fixed it, I got another p0326 that changed into fuel too rich code p2192. I inquired to KIA Management about the 2015 Service Bulletin: SB-10089747-5448 concerning the constant codes. But manager said that a ECU Upgrade may not help and to come down just to clear the codes to see if that helped. The car has been maintained, oil/filter changes 3,000 miles and I am the second owner. But these problems occurred without warning. Bad manufacturing, had to also replace the Fuel Pressure Regulator Valve, Fuel Feed Pipe, and all four Injectors due to melted plastic making it into the Delivery Rail from the melted Fuel Line which is plastic. Will attached my service bill and main receipts for parts bought to rectify this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11467019

Right now, the interior lights do not work. I have already replaced the windshield wiper system because they stopped working. I just found out through searching for new insurance that there are 7 recalls on my vehicle (this would explain the "brakes sounds" and "no light in the interior". I have had no confirmation that these repairs have been conducted: 1. Fuel System, Gasoline (Recall: 3/31/2021) 24Gi 20V648000 2. Service Brakes, Hydraulic Part #072-9831 (Recall: 09/23/2020) 3. Electrical System (Recall: 08/22/2017) 4. Equipment: 49 CFR, Part 567) (Recall: 05/31/2017) 5. Equipment: "Tire Section and Rims" (FMVSS) #110 (Recall: 03/02/2017) 6. Equipment: FMVSS #110 (Recall: 03/02/2017) 7. Engine and Engine Cooling "engine may seize" (Recall: 03/02/17)

NHTSA ODI 11461948

I drove to a local store while my friend went shopping I remained in the vehicle and let it idle I proceeded to drive away to head home and the car started having idle and throttle malfunction to where there was no gas peddle response and eventually car died I barely got to a parking lot nearby restarted car and same symptoms occurred I was able to give it enough throttle to creep down the road i Had to keep restarting motor to get it to move at to which it finally wouldn’t move at all, prior it was leaking oil severely out the bottom what looked like near the oil filter, it now starts and dies immediately with no gas peddle response won’t even rev up to a idle

NHTSA ODI 11460340

The air bag light has come on and as I understand I am no longer protected in case of an accident.i do not find a recall but there should be as I am seeing many complaints for the same issue

NHTSA ODI 11454697

Engine is knocking because of carbon build up caused by KIA installing faulty engines . Most all other models have been recalled already .

NHTSA ODI 11454490

My car started burning while I was driving. Luckily, I stoped and we (me and my wife) ran away from it.

NHTSA ODI 11452431

I was driving the car and heard something explode/pop. I was on the right lane and was able to pull over. Smoke was coming out of the car and oil was dripping from the bottom. The motor seems to have combusted and cracked. A mixture of oil and water continue to drip from the bottom of the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11443018

We purchased a very low miles (42K) Kia from the dealer as a 2nd owner. In less than 6 months the car has serious safety issues. The vehicle shuts off and stalls while idling at stop lights, stop signs or slow traffic with no warning. All other powered components like radio, lights etc remain on and functioning. The car is hard to start after the vehicle shuts off and has stalled and takes multiple tries to turn over. When accelerating the vehicle will randomly not respond at all to the gas pedal, will not increase speed, RPM will not move and the car will not respond. When the car does accelerate, it will sputter and rpm will increase dramatically. This is very dangerous to those driving and those on the road. If the vehicle does not respond to acceleration the risk to the driver and occupants is serious. There could be an accident from oncoming traffic both rear and from behind. There is great life threatening risk. Local mechanic stated the car throws no codes when diagnosed, and there is no check engine light on. Kia knows their vehicles have this issue and has recalled many other models in the same years. There are multiple identical NHTSA.GOV complaints noting identical vehicle problems. The problem is not able to be found with diagnostic. The KIA RIO should be recalled and repaired immediately. The car was sold with serious safety issues. There was a class action even that did not proceed that alleges the gamma engines cause sudden stalling, excessive oil consumption, engine failures and fires in the vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11432051

Car was stolen due to defective alarm system . I feel every one should know that Kia doesn’t care enough to protect its customers with a full alarm system on the car . Thieves stole my and others cars by breaking the passenger window and climbing in and starting the car with a usb stick. What in the world is that ? Like how does your alarm not sound when a window is broken if the alarm is working A1

NHTSA ODI 11426306

CAR HARDLY EVER INDICATED LOW OIL. HAD TO ADD OIL CONSTANTLY BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL THE CAR GOT OVER 100K MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WE CHECKED THE OIL IT WAS 2 QUARTS LOW. ADDED OIL ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. MECHANIC SAID WE HAD TOO MUCH OIL. GOT AN ENGINE FLUSH AND ANOTHER OIL CHANGE ENGINE WAS STILL KNOCKING AND OIL WAS VERY DIRTY. MECHANIC INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST KIAS WITH THE GDI ENGINES. 2 WEEKS AFTER OIL CHANGE THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO SAID THE ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HE DIDNT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASNT. HE SAID MY ENGINE WAS DOING WHAT ALL THE OTHER ENGINES HAVE DONE ON THE OTHER MODELS RECALLED. I CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2014 AND IT WAS JUST OLD. THEY WONT BE RECALLING. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR HARDLY EVER WENT TOO FAR PAST AN OIL CHANGE THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AND I HAD TO GET A NEW CAR. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED LIKE ALL THE OTHER KIAS IT'S UNFAIR THEY SELL CARS THAT BREAK ONCE YOU GO PAST 100K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11413418

MY KIA RIO WILL STALL AT SLOW SPEEDS. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS STOPPED OR BACKING UP AND THE CAR STALLS. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT MY CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING. I TOOK MY KIA TO A MECHANIC. HE SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE REAR FUEL FILTER. HE REPLACED MY FUEL FILTER. THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HE CALLED KIA THEY RECOMMENDED HE REPROGRAM THE CAR. THIS DID NOT WORK. HE CLEANED THE FUEL FILTER PUT IT BACK IN THE CAR. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. HIS ONLY RECOMMENDATION. IS TO TAKE THE CAR TO KIA. BUT IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HOW CAN THEY FIX IT. RIGHT KNOW I CAN ONLY HOPE THE DOESN'T STALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11399928

BOUGHT CAR USED IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 FROM A USED CAR LOT MADE NOTE OF AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND NO HORN THEY SAID THEY WILL SCAN IT AND THEY DID SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING AND THEY WERE GONNA ORDER ONE. NEVER GOT IT ABOUT A MONTH LATER CALLED LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS AND DID NOT FIX IT WHEN I HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND CAN BE DEADLY AS I HAVE NO HORN OR AIRBAG TO PROTECT ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11396175

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MEANS THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLOCK SPRING BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS PLACING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF IN AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI 11374939

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS, AND THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DIFEO KIA (1320 OCEAN AVE, LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ 08701; (833) 842-8290) WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SWITCH. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPAIRED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT THE TIRE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11372626

SELF DESTROYING. CAR CYLINDER CAN GET IMPACTED TO THE CEILING. KNOCK SENSOR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY IT IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BUT NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, CAUSING AN ENGINE TO DETERIORATE AT A RAPID RATE NON-INTENDED USE, HAS SAME ENGINE AS OTHER KEY IS IN HYUNDAIS IN THIS ONE IS NOT ON THE RECALL AND IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLS. KNOCK SENSOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. FOR THE DATE OF THE START OF THE ISSUE IT WAS WELL BEFORE THEN DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE. CAR WILL NOT DRIVE SMELLS LIKE THE ENGINES GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE

NHTSA ODI 11363182

OIL CONSUMPTION WITH NO OBVIOUS TAIL PIPE SMOKE. NOT LEAKING OIL. PERHAPS A QUART OF OIL ADDED TO ENGINE EVERY 750 MILES. THIS ISSUE STARTED AROUND 115,000 MILES. NO LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATER LIGHT ACTIVATED. I HAD TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DO TO OIL DEPOSITS.

NHTSA ODI 11348563