Kia Rio Complaints

1,336 consumer complaints on file.

#11773109October 22, 2026
AIR BAGS
ON 9/21/2026 AT 3:18AM WAS GETTING OFF TURNPIKE Becker rd. 128 CAME TO A STOP LIGHT WHEN a truck plowed in the back of me then took off. hit me so hard the car shut off. i started the car back up after a few minutes did not see anyone and drove home.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772186October 19, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly began bucking, lost power, and lost oil. The engine compartment immediately caught fire. The fire was entirely non-collision related and required immediate extinguishing. The incident was logged by the Washington State Patrol. The vehicle was towed and subsequently inspected by a certified Kia dealership. The Kia dealership technicians officially diagnosed the cause of the fire as a catastrophic internal engine failure, specifically noting in writing that they "found hole in engine block." They noted there was no other possible causation. This spontaneous engine failure and resulting fire occurred at approximately 99,000 miles. The vehicle is currently disabled and available for inspection upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771738October 16, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The rear camera fails to function most of the time. It is a safety issue because I am unable to see cars or objects behind me when I am backing up. I am also unable people passing behind me when I am backing out of a parking space in a parking lot.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769826October 8, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The trunk latch is broken which is a known recall for KIA but not for my car model. There is no way to access the trunk otherwise. Now my tail light is out and cannot be fixed because I cannot access the trunk. There is NO OTHER WAY TO ACCESS THE TRUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11768991October 5, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On [XXX], while driving my 2005 Kia Rio northbound on [XXX] across the [XXX], I was coming from a meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, and heading toward Jeffersonville, Indiana. While I was driving, the hood (bonnet) of my vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly flipped up and slammed into the windshield. The hood struck the windshield with such force that it completely shattered the windshield and became lodged against it, completely obstructing my forward view. The impact was also severe enough to bend and break the hood at multiple points around its hinges. I have never experienced or seen anything like this before. Despite having my forward view completely obstructed, I was able to use my side mirrors and rearview mirror to navigate the vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway/bridge and bring it to a stop. The [XXX] is a major, multi-lane highway with significant traffic. Because the hood suddenly obstructed my view while I was driving on the bridge, the incident created an extremely dangerous situation and could have resulted in a catastrophic multiple-vehicle accident. Immediately following the incident, I was in a state of shock and remained gripping the steering wheel, unable to move. Shortly thereafter, a man driving a van pulled over onto the shoulder and asked whether I was okay. He then helped by lowering the hood of my vehicle back down from where it was stuck against the windshield. Following the incident, I took my 2005 Kia Rio to the Kia Store dealership in Clarksville, Indiana, where the service manager oversaw the inspection of my vehicle. I have also reported the incident directly to Kia America. Kia America is currently reviewing my complaint, and I have provided Kia with videos showing the vehicle and the incident. At the time of submitting this report, several weeks have passed and Kia’s review is still ongoing. Video: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760758August 30, 2026
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2020 Kia Rio S caught fire spontaneously while parked and unattended for 5 hours at my work parking lot. The vehicle was turned off and had not been involved in a collision. I was notified of the fire after it had already started. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the passenger compartment and resulted in a total loss of the vehicle. Component/system suspected: The exact component that initiated the fire has not yet been determined. Based on the circumstances, I am concerned about a possible vehicle electrical or mechanical failure, but I do not want to speculate as to the cause without investigation reports. The vehicle was subsequently taken to a salvage/inspection facility. I am currently determining whether it remains available for inspection. Safety risk: The vehicle caught fire while parked without an apparent external cause. The fire became extensive enough to destroy the passenger compartment and vehicle. This created a significant fire hazard to nearby vehicles, property, and people. Had the vehicle been parked in a garage or other enclosed area, or had someone been inside or near the vehicle when the fire began, the potential consequences could have been severe. Reproduction/confirmation: The problem has not been reproduced by a Kia dealer or independent repair facility. The vehicle was destroyed by the fire and declared a total loss. Inspections: Boise Fire Department responded to the vehicle fire. Progressive Insurance subsequently inspected/handled the vehicle and classified the loss as a non-collision total burn/total loss. I have requested the complete Boise Fire Department records and additional records from Progressive concerning any investigation into the origin and cause of the fire. Kia has not yet inspected the vehicle to my knowledge. Warnings/symptoms before the fire: There were no warning lights, messages, smoke, unusual odors, electrical problems, noises or any other symptoms I was aware of. No after market electronics or anything.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758462August 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My ABS system goes in and out making my breaks really unsafe especially going downhill. Cruise control goes at whatever speed it wants. I set it for 73 on the interstate which has a speed limit of 70 and I look down and my car is SET to 73 BUT my actual gage is going up into the 80's! I use my cruise to keep me from getting tickets... And my cruise in this car isn't helping. I selected other. Because sometimes my radio screen does not work. & Sometimes it comes on but when I put my car in reverse my screen goes off. I rely on my screen to hear my phone calls because I'm deaf & I also have dementia so it's mandatory that I can see my map in my car to know where I'm going. Sometimes I don't remember my way home. That's how important it is. Please look into these. Thank you Concerned customer. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756762August 13, 2026
ENGINE
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2012 Kia Rio, which currently has approximately 150,000 miles. I first became aware of these problems at approximately 120,000 miles. The vehicle has excessive oil consumption despite being consistently and properly maintained. I have been meticulous about maintenance because the vehicle has a lifetime powertrain warranty, and I have documentation and receipts for required maintenance, including regular oil changes and other scheduled services. On multiple occasions, I have taken the vehicle in for a scheduled oil change and discovered that it had little or no oil remaining. Because of this, I have had to begin having oil added between regularly scheduled oil changes. I do not know the exact amount of oil being consumed because I initially had no reason to monitor or measure oil consumption between oil changes. The vehicle also has a recurring catalytic-converter/check-engine warning that comes on, goes off, and later returns. It has experienced noticeable loss of power and has developed a clicking or knocking sound from the engine. When the vehicle is sitting or idling, it can also indicate that it is running hot even though it does not appear to actually be overheating. These problems have continued despite regular, documented maintenance. I am concerned about the safety implications of a vehicle consuming enough oil to have little or no oil remaining before its next scheduled oil change, particularly when there may be no consistent warning to alert the driver that the oil level is dangerously low. I am also concerned about the recurring catalytic-converter warning, loss of engine power, abnormal engine noise, and the possibility of engine or catalytic-converter failure while the vehicle is being driven. I understand that other Kia vehicles have been subject to recalls and investigations involving engine-related defects. I am asking NHTSA to review complaints involving the 2012 Kia Rio and investigate whether exces
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755573August 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Webwas deiving down the road and flames started shooting from underneath the hood we stopped car jumped out and looked back an whole front of car was on fire it burnt most of car
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755293August 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I went to honk my horn as someone was backing up and didn’t see me as we were on an incline . This vehicle sits low and they were in a jeep. Due to the failure of my horn, I was unable to give a warning and they hit my car. No airbag was deployed and my seatbelt/airbag light is on. No injuries reported thankfully. I was told these things were related and repairs needed which is going to be extensive. The airbag may not deploy and horn does not work. I consider this a definite safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755104August 5, 2026
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The Components that have malfunctioned are the airbags, exaust system, electrical systems, sensors, gaskets, and a few other things. We had 5 failed clockspring repairs. The first (3?) under warranty, we paid for another when they said it was our fault, then that mechanic said that it needed to go back to a dealership because it was defective. I advocated for months for it to be evaluated. No one at kia helped me despite this being a repeat warranty issue. I finally found a shop that would waive a diagnostic and he confirmed the issues atleast with the airbags- however in order to fully diagnose the engine they also needed to replace parts in order to perform an oil consumption test. While the represenative did approve the repairs for the airbag, they have not given the dealership an answear about ANYTHING engine related- we need an answear if we should be waiting or having it towed out of there. They have had it for a month. We repeatedly try to get ahold of them but they ignore when we call or email them. The represenative also made sexist comments about "being a woman" and its clear our safety concerns are not being handled serioursly. Just like with the inside, we get codes for certian parts but not all the other parts that go bad. You can not just hook it up to a computer and see what is wrong because of all the issues with the sensors (all reported under warranty and never fixed). The car goes through over 30 quarts of oil in between changes, and we belive that the tempterature sensors do not actually work because there is an EXCESSIVE amount of heat that comes off the engine. The clockspring turned into steering colums, a seat, electrical. Otherwise we can not drive the car anyways and would be happy to hand it over to be dismantled and inspected if the NHSTA would be willing to do that- the car is INCREDIBLY defective. I am INCREDIBLY scared if I have to drive off with this thing. Its an absolute safety hazzard weather or not the computer is flagging it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746312June 24, 2026
ENGINE
The engine of my Kia Rio 2017 is the system that is failing it is sudden with no warning and has been diagnosed by Kia themselves stating that the engine will seize. My safety is put at risk because the car may seize while in traffic causing difficulty steering and breaking. This problem was first confirmed by an independent shop called Accurate transmission (1040 s Joliet st, Aurora CO, 80013 or call 3033646254) and following that I took it to Kia for a diagnostic where they confirmed what Accurate transmission stated. This vehicle has not been inspected by anyone currently. There were no warning lamps previous to current issue. Warning lights appeared upon incident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744013June 14, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There was no accident the radio/backup camera shuts down completely on the inside of the car when the car is too hot inside
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742052June 4, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I am filing this complaint regarding a persistent low beam headlight failure on my 2016 Kia Rio that has not been resolved after a paid repair at an authorized Kia dealership. The low beam headlights on my vehicle stopped functioning. I brought the vehicle to Car Pros Kia in [XXX] for diagnosis and repair on XXX.. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a faulty Body Control Module (BCM) and replaced it on XXX. The dealership released the car to me with a 25-point inspection reading that all exterior lights were functional. The repair did not fix the problem — my low beams remain non-functional. I returned the vehicle on May 15th, 2026 so they can remedy the repair. They released my vehicle to me a second time with no functioning low-beam headlights. On XXX, the dealership is now quoting $3,205.01 for a wiring harness replacement as a third repair attempt, with no acknowledgment that the original diagnosis was incorrect. My vehicle was returned to me in an unsafe condition following a paid repair. Non-functional low beams are a safety hazard, particularly for nighttime driving. I am aware that Kia has a documented history of headlamp low beam connector wiring harness failures across multiple models, including extended warranty coverage and TSB ELE179 issued for similar issues in other Kia vehicles. I am requesting this complaint be added to the record for the 2016 Kia Rio. If other owners are experiencing similar issues, I believe this warrants investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740746May 28, 2026
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
The airbag warning light and the ABS warning light turned on simultaneously while driving. This is a severe safety hazard as both critical, life-saving safety features are currently compromised. I have already contacted Kia Customer Care regarding this issue, but I am filing this official complaint with the NHTSA to ensure a proper safety investigation is documented for this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740497May 27, 2026
AIR BAGS
The airbag warning light illuminated on the dashboard and has stayed on permanently. This indicates a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Because the warning light is active, there is a severe safety risk that the airbags may not deploy correctly or at all in the event of a crash, putting the driver and passengers at risk of serious injury. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739941May 25, 2026
AIR BAGS
srs light turned on and is illuminated when starting and driving the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739727May 23, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle has excessive oil consumption defect acknowledged in Kia TSB ENG222. Repeated catalytic converter failures indicate potential overheating risk similar to 2019 Gamma engine recall for fire hazard. Engine burning oil creates risk of critically low oil levels leading to engine failure/stalling while driving. Multiple emission system failures (oil consumption, catalytic converter) suggest unsafe vehicle condition. Vehicle failed Kia’s own oil consumption tests in December 2023 and March 2024. Kia dealership recommended engine replacement per TSB ENG222 in March 2024. Kia denied coverage citing “second owner, out of warranty” despite defect clearly existing at time of purchase and being acknowledged in their TSB. Vehicle now showing catalytic converter failure code again (14-month-old converter failing). Kia refuses to remedy despite documented defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738683May 19, 2026
ENGINE
As my car was driving my vehicle encountered sudden changes and my engine light went on. As the vehicle stopped driving on its own there was smoke coming from the hood and a fire stared shortly after underneath the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11735244May 2, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I am filing a complaint regarding repeated failures of the LED tail light assemblies on my 2016 Kia Rio. This vehicle uses combination tail lights that include both standard bulbs and integrated LED brake lights. The LED portion has failed multiple times over the life of the vehicle. I am now experiencing failure again, requiring replacement of multiple tail light assemblies. Each assembly costs approximately $400, and my vehicle requires four total units. This results in a significant repair cost for what should be a long-lasting component. LED lighting is widely expected to last far longer than traditional bulbs, and repeated failure raises concerns about product reliability and safety. The failure is intermittent and occurs at the brake light function. At times, the brake light does not illuminate unless the connector is physically manipulated. This creates a serious safety hazard, as following drivers may not be properly alerted when braking. This is not normal wear and tear. Brake lights are a critical safety system, and failure of sealed LED assemblies—especially more than once—suggests a design or manufacturing defect. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed for potential defect investigation, as other owners may be experiencing similar failures with these LED tail light systems. Vehicle Information: * Make: Kia * Model: Rio * Year: 2016 * Trim: SX * Component: Rear Tail Light / Brake Light (LED combo Assembly) I contacted Kia Customer Care regarding this issue and was advised to take the vehicle to a dealership and pay for a diagnostic inspection, with no guarantee that any repair would be covered. Given the repeated nature of this failure, the high cost of the assemblies, and the serious safety concerns for drivers, passengers and others on the road, this response is concerning. Thank you for your attention to this safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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