← New search

2013 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Rio years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Kia Rio are substantially higher than the model-year median of 38.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

87 reports with mileage · 66 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports18 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2024
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

It's very high insurance..I paid twice the amount of the car in insurance and registration Kelly Bluebook said car is worth 5000.00 Brand New...I paid 6995.00 plus taxes There's a recall on my vehicle and it has 147,000 miles and i haven't even drove anywhere but from Palace Station to Decatur

NHTSA ODI #11628733

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2023
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or OtherFire

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…

Read full complaint

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

40,000 miles · Aug 18, 2018
Power Train

8-12-18: CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY OR SURFACE STREETS. RESTARTING WAS SPORADIC. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. PART APPROX $90. LABOR $100. CAR RUNS FINE NOW. JUST WANTED TO GET THIS OUT AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THAT SAME.

NHTSA ODI #11120844

125,000 miles · Oct 1, 2017
Air BagsPower TrainInjury

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 W…

Read full complaint

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

1,900 miles · Aug 14, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

ON2 OCCASIONS I REQUESTED MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOK AT THE RADIO WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SECOND CHECK. BOTH TIMES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED HE HAD FORGOTTEN BUT SURE IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT NEWER CARS ARE SENSITIVE A PUMP IN THE ROAD CAN MAKE THE RADIO JUMP SECOND TIME THE TIRE PRESSURE AS WELL AS THE RA…

Read full complaint

ON2 OCCASIONS I REQUESTED MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOK AT THE RADIO WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SECOND CHECK. BOTH TIMES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED HE HAD FORGOTTEN BUT SURE IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT NEWER CARS ARE SENSITIVE A PUMP IN THE ROAD CAN MAKE THE RADIO JUMP SECOND TIME THE TIRE PRESSURE AS WELL AS THE RADIO JUMPING I WAS TOLD THE SAME NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THEY WILL BE SURE TO CHECK IT ON THE NEXT VISIT. APRIL 2015 I HIT A POT HOLE THE CLUTCH HIT THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO A GAS STATION TO ADD FLUID TO THE CHAMBER. THE CHAMBER WAS FULL. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH IT CAME TO THE TOP LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO I DROVE HOME CAUTIOUSLY. THE NEXT DAY WENT TO LEAVE CLUTCH ON THE FLOOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. I THEN CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY&MADE A CLAIM. THEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE DAYS BEFORE MY CAR WOULD BE LOOKED AT. THE WEEKEND CAME& WENT BY TUESDAY THEY HAD GOOD NEWS & BAD! ONE WAS COVERED THE OTHER NOT! HOW MUCH? $1,200 . THEY EXPLAIN I NEEDED A CLUTCH & A SLAVE CYLINDER. I AGUED I HAVE DRIVEN STICK ALL MY LIFE AND AT 14000 NO WAY. THEY ARGUED WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES. I THEN TOLD THEM I'D SEND IN MY OWN SPECIALIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY. LOOK AT IT AGAIN CALL ME WHEN YOU HAVE THE REAL ISSUE. ONE DAY LATER THEY CALL COME GET YOUR CAR! WHAT YESTERDAY IT NEEDS $1,200 IN DAMAGES NOW IT IS A MIRACLE IT NEEDS NOTHING? THEY REPLIED COME PICK UP YOUR CAR. I NEED TO CALL MY INSURANCE. THEY REPLIED YOU REPORTED IT TO YOUR INSURANCE? I HIT A POTHOLE. MY INSURANCE WENT OUT & FOUND NO ISSUE DUE TO THE PIT HOLE BUT LATER I FOUND OUT THEY DID SEE OR FOUND OUT IT HAD MECHANICAL ISSUE. I A HAD PICKED UP MY CAR. 3 WEEKS LATER DRIVING 75 MILES PER HOUR IN MODERATE RAIN FAST LANE. THE SMELL OF WIRES BURNING, CLUTCH ON FLOOR, NO GEARS, STEERING LIKE NO POER STEERING HARD,TIGHT 7 LIIGHT'S.IN SORT THEY LEINED MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10895779

Official recalls

1

23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 25, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

EA21003 · Engine Fires

Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.  During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.  The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.  Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia.  The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio.  The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires.  In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines.  The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS.  It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension.  For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied.  Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates.  To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years.  In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires.  Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis.  Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023).  The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.  To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.