What 153 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Rio

The contact called on behalf of her mother, who owned a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while the contact's mother was approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact's mother noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact's mother stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact's mother enabled the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact's mother noticed that the entire front windshield was covered with black smoke. In addition, the contact's mother exited the vehicle. The contact's mother stated that upon exiting the vehicle, she noticed fire on the front driver's side door. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was consumed in the fire. In addition, the contact stated that some parts of the vehicle were burned into the cement. The remaining parts of the vehicle were towed to a local tow yard. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The contact's mother received a recall notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11732377

Was sleeping and heard a pop looked and there was a fire under the hood tried to extinguish it got it outside on the road, and it burned to the ground basically

NHTSA ODI 11726820

On July 17, 2025, shortly before 4am, my son's 2013 Kia Rio caught fire, while sitting in the driveway turned off, and was totally destroyed. The car was parked in the driveway at his house and there were not any warning signs before it happened. On June 10, 2024 we had the HECU fuse replaced through a recall that could cause a fire. After we had it "fixed" we had no idea that it could still catch on fire! My son could have been in the car when this happened or other structures could have caught on fire! The fire department was called to put the fire out and the car was inspected by Kia and by our insurance company. Kia does not care that we had the part replaced and that the car STILL caught on fire. They have stated that they will not do one thing about it. They didn't offer a rental car, removal of the burned car or any money to replace the car. I do not know how they get away with this especially when the fire inspector for Kia told me that they knew that changing the fuse wasn't a "fix" but it would hopefully short the fuse before a fire would start! So they knew it was still possible! Kia should not be allowed to manufacture cars!! As of the past week, Kia will not even return my phone calls.

NHTSA ODI 11684896

Engline starting smoking and the car was engulfed in flames.

NHTSA ODI 11640306

Fire under the hood. It's available for inspection. I opened the hood after seeing smoke and the fire blew up but I wasn't hurt. The fire department put the fire out and wrote report. I called my insurance company and got a claim for it. They said it's most likely going to be a total loss after they examine it every where. I took it to Kia for servicing on September 11,2023 and I told them I had a little whining noise but they didn't say it was anything that could be fatal. Did this car have a recall for anything?

NHTSA ODI 11553660

I received a letter from KIA corporation that they would voluntarily replace a part (the clockspring assembly) in the steering wheel shaft as the malfunction would impair the proper functioning of the air bags, in the letter they stated specifically that this would not cost me any money out pocket including the diagnostic, I took the car to one of their dealers and they refused to service my vehicle if I did not pay upfront. I called another of their dealers but they also said I would have to pay for the diagnostic. I then called corporate and also corresponded with them via email but they did not solve the problem. Ever since I have been involved in two separate collisions and the air bags did not deploy, also the horn stop functioning and after doing some online research I found out it also depends on the part that was supposed to be replaced to function, the steering wheel control such as cruise control etc. also stopped working. Corporate has not gotten back to me and I feel they are just going to let it die out and not do anything about it. Meanwhile I am driving the vehicle without air bags, horn and steering wheel controls. I have no choice because my family only owns this vehicle. Please let me know what I need to do to get help to get a solution for this issue/s. thank you. Note: At this moment I only have information related to one of the collisions but I could provide for the other if need be. Also, the car belongs to my wife [XXX] ) but I was the driver at both collisions as I am the primary driver in my family household. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11548828

Question answers in order: INCIDENT DATE/LOCATION: July 28, 2023 Glastonbury, CT 1. UNKNOWN which component or system failed/malfunctioned. Fire began under hood of vehicle. Vehicle is a total loss. Vehicle has been released to Copart in New Britain, CT. 2. The car caught on fire while I was inside. Escaped without injury. Burned in close proximity to other vehicles before they were moved. Glastonbury, CT 3. UNKNOWN if this problem was reproducible 4. The vehicle was inspected by the fire marshal, police, and insurance company. UNKNOWN if Kia assessed the damage. Police Case #[XXX] Glastonbury Police Department Glastonbury, CT 5. No check engine lights or warning indicators. Only symptom was a burning smell/smoke within a couple minutes before visible flames. “INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

NHTSA ODI 11538827

Engine caught fire , oil consumption, miss firing, knocking brought to dealer they found nothing wrong with it back in December 2022. Car stopped working on March 11,2023 had fire underneath police had vehicle towed to the house. Insurance company will be here Monday. Will also be contacting Kia dealer in alliance Ohio on Monday. The engine light was on and checked missing firing cylinder one

NHTSA ODI 11511413

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

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

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

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

NHTSA ODI 11452431

ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 10TH AROUND 8AM I HAD TO TAKE MY PET TO THE VETERINARIAN. I PULLED INTO THE ENTRANCE AND WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING WHICH HAS PARKING SPACES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. IT HAPPENED IN A SPLIT SECOND AND NO TIME TO RESPOND. I NEVER HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH POWER IN THIS CAR AS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE VEHICLE JUST SHOT OUT LIKE A BULLET. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED DUE TO NO ONE WAS HURT OR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11300088

ON 06/12/2018, MY 2013 KIA RIO HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT OR RECENT MAINTENANCE. THE CAR SIMPLY BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11113386

DURING A FULL SIDE IMPACT COLLISION THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE DRIVER SIDE CENTER GOING 30 MPH. I WAS TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON SAVANNAH HIGHWAY NEAR CALIBER COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11098951

I WAS DRIVING HOME WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. IT WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD MY WINDOW DOWN WHEN I NOTICED AND ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM FROM SOMETHING OUTSIDE AND KEPT DRIVING. THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AND STRONGER. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF FURTHER DRIVING SMOKE STARTED POURING IN FROM MY DEFROST VENTS. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST AS I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND IT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN SECONDS. THE CAUSE OF YET UNKNOWN AND UNDER INVESTIGATION FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER NEEDED ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND JUST PASSED THE MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION FOR REGISTRATION 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11040984

ON AUGUST 22 2017 8:45 PM WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OVER A MEDIAN IN THE ROAD. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID ANY FURTHER INCIDENT AND INSPECT ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR. WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING, I WALKED THE PERIMETER OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, WITH NO BODILY DAMAGE VISIBLE I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO CHECK ON MY KIA RIO AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND REPORTED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID I SHOULD CONTACT KIA CORPORATION AND REPORT THE AIR BAG FAILURE I DID AS REQUESTED. THEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT THE AREA AND DELAYED ANY ACTIONS TAKEN. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK KIA TOWED THE CAR TO THEIR LOT FOR INSPECTION. KIA ASKED WHAT I WANTED, I REPLIED REPAIR OR REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THEY WROTE A REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $9200.00 AND SAID THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND DENIED MY CLAIM AFTER ANOTHER WEEK PASSED. I HAD TO FILE THE CLAIM ON MY INSURANCE AT THAT TIME AND SEND IT TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR INSPECTION. ANOTHER WEEK PASSED BEFORE MY INSURANCE FILED IT A TOTAL LOSS. AFTER ALL THIS LOST TIME FROM WORK AND RENTAL COST EXPENSES THAT HAVE YET TO BE REIMBURSED. THEN HAVING TO GO FIND A CAR THAT I FEEL WOULD BE TRUSTWORTHY AND DEPENDABLE AFTER THESE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES HAS PROVED TO BE DIFFICULT. REFINANCING ANOTHER CAR INSURING IT. I DON'T FEEL KIA CORPORATION HELD UP THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN THIS SITUATION. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT KIA HAD MANY AIRBAG RECALLS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND AIRBAG FAILURES IN OTHER KIA AUTOMOBILES ACROSS MULTI-YEAR MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11030684

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF WHIRRING, CLICKING, AND BANGING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE. AS WE PULLED OFF ON THE EXIT IT SOUNDED AS IF PARTS WERE FALLING OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, BUT WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE ROAD. WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE REST AREA AND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK IT OUT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A TOW TRUCK BEFORE THE CAR HAD US STRANDED AND BROKE DOWN, SMOKE BEGAN OMITTING FROM THE HOOD AND IT GOT THICKER AND FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD MAINLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR UNTIL IT HAD SPREAD TO BOTH SIDES AND BEGAN TRAVELING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. CAR WAS IN GOOD SHAPE, WITH ONLY A NEED FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE PROBLEM AND FIRE BEGAN. FIRE CREWS ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ENGINE LIGHT DID TURN ON AND AND START BLINKING AS WE GOT ON THE EXIT RAMP. CAR WAS TURNED OFF AT THE TIME THE SMOKE AND FIRE BEGAN. MOST OF THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED WAS ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF THE CABIN AND ALL OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ENGINE AREA. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING UNRELATED TO A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT, WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE CORRECT STEPS SINCE A CAR THAT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD DID BURST INTO FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 10991038

JUST BOUGHT A 2013 RIO WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ON 9/2/16. THE CAR SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, SO WE MAYBE PUT 100 MILES ON IT AND DROVE IT 4 TIMES. DROVE 20 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT BACK INTO HOUSE TO WORK. WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND CAME RUNNING IN THE HOUSE SAYING THE NEW CAR IS ON FIRE. CALLED 911 AND BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET THERE, THE FLAMES WERE AS HIGH AS OUR SECOND FLOOR WINDOWS. CAR WAS PARKED ABOUT 10-15 FEET AWAY FROM HOUSE, BUT THE HEAT DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED INSURANCE, BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A KIA ISSUE / PROBLEM, AND WE REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO USE INSURANCE TO REPLACE THE CAR. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY, AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEN LAST NIGHT AFTER THE TOW COMPANY CAME, WE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY 2012-2014 KIA'S DOING THIS. I LOGGED A COMPLAINT ON YOUR KIA'S WEBSITE, BUT HAVE NOT GOT A RESPONSE BACK YET, AND YES, I FEEL I SHOULD GET A RESPONSE OVER THE WEEKEND. OUR CAR BURST INTO FLAMES, DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE FROM THE HEAT, AND IT COULD OF BEEN MUCH WORSE, ESPECIALLY IF I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM KIA, OR OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT WITH ALL OF THE GOOGLE HITS ABOUT KIA'S CATCHING FIRE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON ANY OF THE MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND GET THEM EITHER FIXED, OR OFF OF THE ROAD, AT KIA'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA ODI 10907339

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10875234

I WAS WAITING BEHIND SOMEONE AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR THEM TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND SOMEONE CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ME AND SMASHED ME INTO THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. THE PERSON ADMIT HE DID.NOT SEE US STOPPED AND HIT ME AT ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WOULD THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE AT HOW HARD I WAS HIT AND HOW HARD THE CAR FORCED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME . I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DOUBLE WHIPLASH AND SEVERAL TORN. MUSCLES IN MY CHEST AND SHOULDERS A BRUISE THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL ON MY RIGHT HIP FROM THE SEAT BELT AND A BURN ON MY LEFT ELBOW FROM HOW HARD IT HIT MY DOOR BOTH THE PALMS OF MY HANDS WERE BRUISED AND I COULD BARELY WALK FOR 2 DAYS FROM SORENESS AND HAVE BEEN SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR FOR 5 MONTHS NOW MY CAR WAS TOTALLED

NHTSA ODI 10717560

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LIFTED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 9,175. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 10/14/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI 10701992

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT UNLATCHED THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 10694206

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TILL VEHICLE WAS ROLLED OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680315