Home · 2014 Kia Rio · Complaints

What 51 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Rio

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (51)Crash / fire / injury (15)Engine (24)Brakes (10)Airbags (7)Body & structure (6)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Electrical system (5)Fuel system (4)Wheels (2)Equipment Adaptive/mobility (1)Lights (1)

5 of 51 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters

Feb 22, 2024Electrical systemEngine

hydraulic electronic control unit HECU fire risk Kia recall sent a letter they would repair, never called so I have called many times, keep repeating no repair part, an excuse

NHTSA ODI 11573284

Sep 13, 2020Electrical systemEngineFire

I WAS DRIVING TO TAKE MY DAUGHTER TO WORK AND I NOTICE MY CAR WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD AND I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND I STARTED TO PULL OVER AND ONCE I DID I REALIZE MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UP UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE A 2014 KIA RIO

NHTSA ODI 11354799

Oct 3, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INHIBITOR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. ...UPDATED 11/09/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THEY OWNED A SECOND KIA RIO WITH THE SAME DEFECT. UPDATED 09/15/2017 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10911199

May 26, 2015Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10721540

May 6, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 8/19/15*CN UPDATED 10/13/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10715004

Working with the data? Download all 51 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Kia Rio verdict →