What 153 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Rio

Slowed down on highway as there was a backup from an exit, then accelerated again and car would not accelerate correctly. Engine light came on and then turned off as I exited off the highway. I turned the car off once safely parked. Burning smell was noted. Car would not start and was towed to auto shop where it was checked and deemed as an internal engine failure.

NHTSA ODI 11589221

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DUE TO AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER (BOB BELL KIA OF BALTIMORE, 7900 EASTERN AVE #1, BALTIMORE, MD 21224, (410) 288-2500) INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A WRENCH UNDER THE HOOD, BUT HAD BEEN THE ONLY REPAIR FACILITY SERVICING A VEHICLE, THE SECOND TIME, THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. DURING THE THIRD REPAIR, THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHIN LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF THE THIRD REPAIR FROM THE DEALER WITH NO REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SENSOR RELATED TO THE THROTTLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 15 TSBS ON THE ENGINE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.

NHTSA ODI 11076238

I BOUGHT A USED KIA WITH 90,000 MILES ON IT AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS WE WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AND POWER. IT HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND LUNGES FORWARD SUDDENLY. IT LOSES SPEED AN POWER ON THE INTERSTATE IN SECONDS. IT ISN'T UNCOMMON TO GO FROM 70 TO 30 UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIR INCLUDING MAF SENSOR, ALL O2 SENSORS, AND A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER THE PROBLEM REMAINS. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE A CAR THAT LUNGES AND THEN LOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY. A CAR LIKE THIS COULD KILL SOMEBODY. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP ALMOST EVERY 2 WEEKS SINCE I BOUGHT IT 11 MONTHS AGO. AND IT WAS PARKED FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS UNTIL I COULD GET IT REPAIRED THE LAST TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10994343

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY, ACCELERATE, AND STALL. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,252.

NHTSA ODI 10779937

I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2013 KIA RIO. THE FIRST ISSUE IS ACCELERATION. AROUND THE 30,000 MI MARK, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED AN INDUCTION SVC. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THE SAME GOOD ACCELERATION ABILITY IT HAD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS JUST NORMAL WEAR ON THE CAR. THE SECOND IS SOMETHING WITH THE STARTER, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. I USE THE WORD "SOMETHING" BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ON MAY 18, 2015. POST THAT BATTERY PURCHASE, THE CAR DID NOT START ON JUNE 27, 2015 (I HAD TO GET A JUMP). THIS NO CRANK WAS POST A BATTERY, STARTER AND ALTERNATOR CHECK BY THE DEALERSHIP ON MAY 23, 2015. BY THE WAY, THE TESTS ALL CAME BACK FINDING NO FAULT. I HAD TWO MORE NO CRANK SITUATIONS ON JULY 19 AND AUGUST 2, 2015. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER JULY 19 AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY KIA THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN IT'S HOT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE HELL OF ST. LOUIS, MO SUMMER AT 55 MILES IN 2012 AND DID NOT HAVE THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY.

NHTSA ODI 10745774