2011 Kia Rio Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 7

“The engine and all electrical shuts down without warning. This happened three times in heavy traffic and nearly caused an accident. The engine stops running and the electrical components turn off which shuts down power steering and power brakes. Each time this has happened the electrical is disabled and the car is completely dead with zero response when the ignition key is turned; no dash lights, no starter, no power. After the first incident the plugs and coil packs were changed out. After the second incident the fuse block was changed out which was said to have been overheating. After t…”
NHTSA complaint #11542347, 2019

“IGNITION COILS. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY KIA IN 2015 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. AT FIRST, WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD JUMP AND EVEN SHUT OFF ON ME WHEN IDLING. IT TOOK 3 MONTHS OF ME TAKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH MY CAR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE IGNITION COILS. ONCE THEY WERE REPLACED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON TOP OF THIS, I WAS SO STRESSED OUT AB…”
NHTSA complaint #11182851, 2019

“I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED.”
NHTSA complaint #11164526, 2018

Air Bags 5 4 crash 3 injury

“AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OF WHICH I HAD A GREEN LIGHT, THE VEHICLE COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FAILED TO YIELD AND TOOK A LEFT TURN HITTING ME HEAD-ON. WE WERE EACH GOING BETWEEN 30-35 MILES PER HOUR. I SLAMMED MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SHEARING MY BRAIN FROM THE INSIDE OF MY SKULL RESULTING IN A MASSIVE INTERNAL BLEED. I ALSO SUFFERED A SEVERE CONCUSSION AND TORE SEVERAL LIGAMENTS IN MY NECK. I CURRENTLY CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM TERRIBLE MIGRAINES AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESUME MY PREVIOUS PROFESSION AS AN ARCHITECT. WHY DID MY AIRBAG NOT PROT…”
NHTSA complaint #11320026, 2018 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH. THE AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY!! LUCKILY, HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AND SUFFERED BRUISING ON HIS HIP AND SHOULDER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE VIEWED OTHER REPORTS ONLINE THAT REPORTED THE SAME THING WHERE THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 01/07/15 *BF”
NHTSA complaint #10664814, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I WAS IN COLLISION ON 3/28. I HIT ANOTHER CAR FROM THE BACK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. UPDATED 07/16/14 *BF UPDATED 3/17/2015 *JS”
NHTSA complaint #10608963, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Electrical System 5

“The engine and all electrical shuts down without warning. This happened three times in heavy traffic and nearly caused an accident. The engine stops running and the electrical components turn off which shuts down power steering and power brakes. Each time this has happened the electrical is disabled and the car is completely dead with zero response when the ignition key is turned; no dash lights, no starter, no power. After the first incident the plugs and coil packs were changed out. After the second incident the fuse block was changed out which was said to have been overheating. After t…”
NHTSA complaint #11542347, 2019

“EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY WHILE DRIVING THEN SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SPUTTER, AND DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. LOSES POWER SOMETIMES WHEN STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED THEN STAYED ON. CAR UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2 TUNE UPS INCLUDING NEW PLUGS, COIL PACKS CHECKED ALTHOUGH TWO WERE RECENTLY REPLACED, FUEL INJETORS CHECKED, FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED, AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. WHEN CHECKED DIAGNOSTIC CODE KEEPS READING RANDOM MISFIRE. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR 2 DAYS WHEN THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM AND ITS RELATING TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BUL…”
NHTSA complaint #10761064, 2015

“IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET THE KEY OUT. HAD SIX MECHANICS TRY TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK AND A KIA PERSONAL(OVER THE PHONE), WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD TO TOW MY CAR 20 MILES PAID $165 TO TOW IT, THEN KIA SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME ANOTHER $430 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK WITH AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS. ONE SET TO OPEN THE DOORS AND ONE SET TO START THE CAR. GUESS WHAT ELSE...NOW THE CAR IGNITION DINGS LIKE THE KEYS ARE STILL IN IT EVEN WHEN NO KEYS ARE IN IGNITION AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR! UNLESS HOWEVER I ACT LIKE THAT FONZFROM HAPPY DAYS AND GIVE THE STEERING WHEEL…”
NHTSA complaint #10610218, 2014

Service Brakes 4 1 crash 1 injury

“I WAS IN COLLISION ON 3/28. I HIT ANOTHER CAR FROM THE BACK. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON. I WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. UPDATED 07/16/14 *BF UPDATED 3/17/2015 *JS”
NHTSA complaint #10608963, 2014 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“FELT LIKE I COULD NOT GO SPEED I WAS ATTEMPTING. THE BRAKES STARTED TO LOCK UP AND ONE SIDE WAS SMOKING, NOW BOTH SIDES ARE SMOKING AND IS STILL LOCKING UP.”
NHTSA complaint #11014958, 2017

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE DISKS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,400.”
NHTSA complaint #10549821, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control 3

“It was 12/21/2022 at about 3:15 PM in the afternoon and I had just turned right into the parking lot of St. Alexius Medical Center, 1555 Barrington Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. I took a left turn, and went north about fifty feet and stopped at a stop sign. A car was stopped at the same intersection from the right facing west. As I waited for the other car to turn in front of me, my 2011 Kia Rio started to surge in speed without my foot on the accelerator. I instinctively jammed on my brake pedal to avoid hitting the car turning in front of me. Luckily, I did not hit the other vehicle, but…”
NHTSA complaint #11498472, 2022

“I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 8 IN LA MESA CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE ON MY VEHICLE STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA OF EL CAJON WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY THROTTLE CABLE AND THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING, AND IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE TRAFFIC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION.”
NHTSA complaint #11280415, 2019

“SOLD A CAR THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A 'LEMON' AFTER ONLY A MONTH OF HAVING IT BEGAN BREAKING DOWN THE MOST RECENT ISSUE BEING THE CADILLAC CONVERTER MAKING IT A LITTLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE SPEED IS AFFECTED ALONG WITH TOXIC FUEL, WHENEVER I DRIVE UP A HILL THE CAR IS LOUD SLOW TO WHERE IT SOMETIMES ROLLS BACKWARDS OR STOPS AND AT A GREEN LIGHT CAR CAN NOT REACH MINIMUM SPEED CAUSE OTHER CARS ANGER AND STRONG FUEL ORDER SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING CAR, CAR CUT OFF ONCE AT RED LIGHT AND WHEN TURNING VEHICLE MOVES ENTIRELY TOO SLOW TO WHEN ONCOMING CARS ALMOST MAKE CONTACT”
NHTSA complaint #11118042, 2018

Steering 2

“IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET THE KEY OUT. HAD SIX MECHANICS TRY TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK AND A KIA PERSONAL(OVER THE PHONE), WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD TO TOW MY CAR 20 MILES PAID $165 TO TOW IT, THEN KIA SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME ANOTHER $430 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK WITH AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS. ONE SET TO OPEN THE DOORS AND ONE SET TO START THE CAR. GUESS WHAT ELSE...NOW THE CAR IGNITION DINGS LIKE THE KEYS ARE STILL IN IT EVEN WHEN NO KEYS ARE IN IGNITION AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR! UNLESS HOWEVER I ACT LIKE THAT FONZFROM HAPPY DAYS AND GIVE THE STEERING WHEEL…”
NHTSA complaint #10610218, 2014

“FIRST THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIR WAS TOO LOW. IT WAS ONLY 25PSI THEY FIXED ALL MY TYRES AND CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE THEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUDDENLY. STARTED GETTING JERKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW KIA RIO 2011 NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS OLD. ALSO THE DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS LESS AIR. THE TIRE WAS AT 25PSI AND IT DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION ON MY SPEED ODOMETER NOR THE TPMS LIGHT TURNED…”
NHTSA complaint #10424339, 2011

Structure 2

“Painting peeling off the whole car. It’s going to cause the car to rust.Defect in Kia painting process.”
NHTSA complaint #11632991, 2014

“THE BREAK PEDAL & GAS PEDAL ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER & ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT LEVEL THAT WHEN YOU APPLY THE BREAKS TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN YOU SPEED UP, THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES, BEEN LUCKY TO AVOID A CRASH,, BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHERS NOT SO LUCKY, THE GAS & BREAK PEDAL NEEDS AT LEASE 4 INCHES OF CLEARANCE SO NOT TO HAPPEN. *JS”
NHTSA complaint #10455798, 2012

Unknown Or Other 2

“I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED.”
NHTSA complaint #11164526, 2018

“MY CAR KEEPS RANDOMLY TURNING OFF WHILE I'M AT A STOP OR WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT & THEN I TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AFTER IT TURNED GREEN AND IN THE MIDDLE OF ME TRYING TO TURN IT TURNED OFF. THANK HIS THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND OR ELSE SOMETHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. RANDOM PEDESTRIANS HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE WAY. & AFTER TRYING TO RESTART IT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTE SIT FINALLY STARTED. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS THE VERY NEXT DAY. I WAS WAITING AT A RED LIGHT AND IT JUST TURNED OFF. BUT IT STARTED BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THE THIRD…”
NHTSA complaint #11102870, 2018

Fuel/Propulsion System 1

“SOLD A CAR THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A 'LEMON' AFTER ONLY A MONTH OF HAVING IT BEGAN BREAKING DOWN THE MOST RECENT ISSUE BEING THE CADILLAC CONVERTER MAKING IT A LITTLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE SPEED IS AFFECTED ALONG WITH TOXIC FUEL, WHENEVER I DRIVE UP A HILL THE CAR IS LOUD SLOW TO WHERE IT SOMETIMES ROLLS BACKWARDS OR STOPS AND AT A GREEN LIGHT CAR CAN NOT REACH MINIMUM SPEED CAUSE OTHER CARS ANGER AND STRONG FUEL ORDER SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING CAR, CAR CUT OFF ONCE AT RED LIGHT AND WHEN TURNING VEHICLE MOVES ENTIRELY TOO SLOW TO WHEN ONCOMING CARS ALMOST MAKE CONTACT”
NHTSA complaint #11118042, 2018

Wheels 1

“FIRST THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIR WAS TOO LOW. IT WAS ONLY 25PSI THEY FIXED ALL MY TYRES AND CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE THEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUDDENLY. STARTED GETTING JERKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW KIA RIO 2011 NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS OLD. ALSO THE DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS LESS AIR. THE TIRE WAS AT 25PSI AND IT DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION ON MY SPEED ODOMETER NOR THE TPMS LIGHT TURNED…”
NHTSA complaint #10424339, 2011