WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO STEER THE CAR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
153 reportsI HAVE A 2013 KIA RIO SX RED, MANUAL 6-SPEED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE ROLLING BACK WITH PARKING BREAK FULLY ENGAGED. VEHICLE ROLLS BACK ON SURFACES WITH NOT MUCH OF AN INCLINE AT ALL. NO INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, TURNED OFF, GEAR IN NEUTRAL (HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN LATELY LEAVING IT I…
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I HAVE A 2013 KIA RIO SX RED, MANUAL 6-SPEED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE ROLLING BACK WITH PARKING BREAK FULLY ENGAGED. VEHICLE ROLLS BACK ON SURFACES WITH NOT MUCH OF AN INCLINE AT ALL. NO INCIDENTS OR ACCIDENTS REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, TURNED OFF, GEAR IN NEUTRAL (HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN LATELY LEAVING IT IN 1ST GEAR IF FEAR IS TO ROLL BACK), PARKING BREAK FULLY ENGAGED. HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF, IT STAYS ON NOW. KIA TELLS ME THE CLOCK SPRING SHORTED OUT. NO IDEA WHY! THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING. DRIVERS SIDE. THE CODE IS B134600. THE PRICE $1037.47 + TAX !! THAT'S 2 HOURS LABOR. THEY TOLD ME IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT BEING FIXED. HELP-NOT SURE WHAT TO D…
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MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF, IT STAYS ON NOW. KIA TELLS ME THE CLOCK SPRING SHORTED OUT. NO IDEA WHY! THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING. DRIVERS SIDE. THE CODE IS B134600. THE PRICE $1037.47 + TAX !! THAT'S 2 HOURS LABOR. THEY TOLD ME IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT BEING FIXED. HELP-NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON.
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.
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.
RATTLING CAN BE HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD INSIDE THE CABIN
UPON RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE KIA RIO HAS THE SAME ENGINE USED IN THE KIA OPTIMA WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. JUST RECENTLY METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND MY KIA RIO WHY ARE NOT ALL CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE BEING RECALLED?
TAKATA RECALL THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING THEY'RE NOT WORKING AND THAT THEY WON'T GO OFF IN A CRASH IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN MY CAR ON
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DOG TO A VET APPOINTMENT. I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HIT A POT WHOLE BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NO WHOLE AND THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING LIKE NORMAL SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THERE WAS A DETOUR FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS. THE CAR DIED SEE…
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I WAS DRIVING WITH MY DOG TO A VET APPOINTMENT. I HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE I HIT A POT WHOLE BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NO WHOLE AND THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVING LIKE NORMAL SO I CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THERE WAS A DETOUR FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION I ENDED UP HAVING TO PULL OVER BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS. THE CAR DIED SEEMED TO BE BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY LOSS POWER SO I LET THE CAR REST AND WALKED MY DOG .THEN GOT BACK IN MY CAR IT STARTED BACK UP AND TURNED AROUND ON THE HIGHWAY. THEN MINUTES AFTER GOING MY CAR LOST POWER AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HAD BEEN DRIVING 65 MPH. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT MADE A NOISE FROM UNDER THE CARRIAGE /BODY OF THE CAR.THIS ALL HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A GAS STATION/ CONVENIENCE STORE. I LIVE IN ALABAMA AND IT WAS LIKE 90 DEGREES THAT DAY. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WHEN SOMEONE TRIED TO HELP ME AND IT THREW METAL FROM UNDER THE BODY AT US. LATER FOUND OUT IT THREW A ROD .I AM UNDER 100,000 MILES AND WAY UNDER 10 YEARS ON THE WARRANTY AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT IT THREW A ROD AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT CAUSED IT.THE ROD WENT THREW THE OIL PAN. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME THIS ALL HAPPENED. KIA TRIED TO TELL ME IT HAD TO BE A RECALL TO BE COVERED UNTIL I WENT TO THERE OFFICE AND CONFRONTED THE WOMAN WHOM HAD SAID THAT TO ME. WHEN I TOLD HER I DID NOT HAVE ALL MY PAPER WORK /RECORDS ON THE MAINTENANCE SHE SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT TO DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO THROW A ROD. I THEN TALKED TO A FRIEND OF A FRIEND THAT WORKS AT KIA FOR HELP AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR HIS REPLY IF THEY WILL HELP ME OR NOT.MY CAR IS 2013 KIA RIO .MY HUSBAND HAD GONE TO CULLMAN AL. WHICH IS ABOUT 3 HOURS FROM US THE WEEKEND BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND HAD CHECKED THE OIL AND ADDED WHAT WAS NEEDED THEN .
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.
Official recalls
123V652000 · 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
2AQ23002 · 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.
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