2010 Kia Rio Problems & Owner Complaints

Air Bags 12 8 crash 7 injury

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDERS AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,980.”
NHTSA complaint #10460548, 2012 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10680768, 2015 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SLID FORWARD UPON IMPACT.. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10629468, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Electrical System 4

“WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL DRIVING. THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DO IS RUN THE CODE BUT NOTHING COMES UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2016 AND H…”
NHTSA complaint #10930298, 2016

“MY HAD MY CAR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 95.00 EACH. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS NOW ALMOST EXACTLY ANOTHER YEAR PAST AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALERSHIP CAN'T READ KIA CODES AND WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT 60 MILES AWAY WITH THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THE KIA DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX BUT HAVE TO GET THE CAR THERE. I DID MY OWN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AUTOZONE AND A REPAIR SHOP. THEY GOT THE CODES SAYING IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND PO…”
NHTSA complaint #10774546, 2015

“TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND CYL. TO BE MESSED UP... ? KIA I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MY CAR, WHY ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS COMING UP? MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!!! I EXPECT TO GET ANSWERS ON THIS AND IT BE TAKEN CARE OF, I WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WHEN I'VE DONE MY PART IN MAINTAIN G MY CAR. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10664595, 2014

Engine 4 2 crash 2 injury

“WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SLID FORWARD UPON IMPACT.. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10629468, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10609827, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL DRIVING. THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DO IS RUN THE CODE BUT NOTHING COMES UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2016 AND H…”
NHTSA complaint #10930298, 2016

Service Brakes 4 1 crash 1 injury

“CAR ACCIDENT ON JAN 01, 2010 INVOLVING A RENTAL VEHICLE KIA RIO 2010 I AM CONVINCED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHICH AS A RESULT I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. I SUFFERED INJURIES OF WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM. ALAMO DOES NOT WANT TO COVER ANY OF THE MEDICAL BILLS. I NEED HELP IF ANY INFO IS AVAILABLE. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10319614, 2010 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH EXITING ON THE FWY OFF RAMP WHICH TURNS TO THE RIGHT. INITIALLY MY BRAKES WORKED AND THEN IT MADE A AWFUL WINDING SOUND. THE CAR WAS GAINING SPEED AS I MADE THE TURN AND I TOTALLY LOST MY BRAKES AND HAD TO USE MY HAND BRAKE TO STOP BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF A CAR. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY SHOES WERE VERY GOOD BUT I WEN AHEAD AND PUT NEW ONES ON ANYWAY. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE FWY HAVING TO USE MY BRAKES AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH CAUSE THE SAME NOISE AND NO BRAKES UNTIL I HAVE SLOWED BELOW 40MPH.”
NHTSA complaint #10817662, 2015

“EL VEHICULO CUANDO SE FRENA EN LAS MAANA LOS FRENOS TRASEROS TRANCAN SOLO ATRAS Y EL MISMO SE BARRE EN LA CARRETERA Y ES UN PELIGRO LLEGUE A LLEVARLO A LA KIA Y ME DIJERN QUE ERA UN DEFECTO DE FABRICA Y QUE EL FABRICANTE NO VA A RESPONDER POR ESO Y DE VERDAD ES PELIGRO YA EH PASADO VARIOS SUSTOS Y CUANDO LA CARRETERA ESTA MOJA ME DA HASTA MIEDO CUANDO TENGO QUE FRENAR POR FAVOR AYUDENME SE LOA AGRADECERIA. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10632920, 2013

Unknown Or Other 3

“AFTER DRIVING TO WORK APPROXIMATELY A 25 MINUTES TO WORK I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND SMELT SOMETHING LIKE BURNT PLASTIC. ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE AREA I WORK. AFTER MY SHIFT ROUGHLY 8 HOURS I HEADED HOME AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR THEN COMPLETELY DEAD. AFTER THE TOW TRUCKED LIFTED THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO SEE SEVERE MELTING OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE PLASTIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. IT WAS TOWED TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NO IDEA TO WHY YET THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DANGER TO JUST HAPPEN TO A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE RANDOMLY.”
NHTSA complaint #11133234, 2018

“SINCE JANUARY MY 2010 KIA RIO HAS STALLED AT TRAFFIC STOPS. IT USUALLY STARTS AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, ALTHOUGH RECENTLY IT NEEDED A JUMP START. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THREE MECHANICS WHO ALL SAY THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I'VE TRIED GAS ADDITIVE, NEW CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, TUNE UP. NOTHING WORKS. I'VE CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT I STILL HAVE A CAR I THINK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE STALLED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS AND STATE ROADS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH KIA, AND PLAN TO TAKE IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN ONE MORE EFFORT TO FIND CODE…”
NHTSA complaint #11081771, 2018

“WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL DRIVING. THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DO IS RUN THE CODE BUT NOTHING COMES UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2016 AND H…”
NHTSA complaint #10930298, 2016

Fuel/Propulsion System 2

“MY HAD MY CAR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 95.00 EACH. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS NOW ALMOST EXACTLY ANOTHER YEAR PAST AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALERSHIP CAN'T READ KIA CODES AND WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT 60 MILES AWAY WITH THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THE KIA DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX BUT HAVE TO GET THE CAR THERE. I DID MY OWN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AUTOZONE AND A REPAIR SHOP. THEY GOT THE CODES SAYING IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND PO…”
NHTSA complaint #10774546, 2015

“HAVING TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE FUEL INJECTOR EACH YEAR. USUALLY NUMBER ONE PLUG.”
NHTSA complaint #11172266, 2013

Structure 2 2 crash 2 injury

“WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SLID FORWARD UPON IMPACT.. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10629468, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10609827, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Equipment 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $97.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE OBVIOUS FAULTY WIRING. UPDATED 10/21/14”
NHTSA complaint #10637625, 2014

Power Train 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. ONCE THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V258000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
NHTSA complaint #10806345, 2015

Steering 1

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO 5. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED MERGING INTO THE LEFT LANE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN AND HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO CONTROL IT FROM MERGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTIONED. THE ALIGNMENT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT MORE CONSISTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECH…”
NHTSA complaint #10367310, 2010

Suspension 1 1 crash 1 injury

“TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10609827, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Tires 1

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO EQUIPPED WITH HANCOOK OPTIMOS TIRES, SIZE P185/65/R14/85H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND AND WAS UNABLE TO BE BALANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10429583, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control 1

“MY HAD MY CAR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 95.00 EACH. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS NOW ALMOST EXACTLY ANOTHER YEAR PAST AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALERSHIP CAN'T READ KIA CODES AND WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT 60 MILES AWAY WITH THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THE KIA DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX BUT HAVE TO GET THE CAR THERE. I DID MY OWN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AUTOZONE AND A REPAIR SHOP. THEY GOT THE CODES SAYING IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND PO…”
NHTSA complaint #10774546, 2015

Wheels 1

“TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND CYL. TO BE MESSED UP... ? KIA I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MY CAR, WHY ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS COMING UP? MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!!! I EXPECT TO GET ANSWERS ON THIS AND IT BE TAKEN CARE OF, I WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WHEN I'VE DONE MY PART IN MAINTAIN G MY CAR. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10664595, 2014