2012 Kia RIO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Kia RIO has 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: my 2012 kia rio caught fire the other day. i pulled into the driveway, went into the house to put my laptop down. i had shut the car off. came back out to grab some stuff from the trunk and the car was smoking from the hood. thought it had overheated. pulled hood release and went to open the hood wh. ⚠️ 12 fire reports filed.
73
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
24 complaints- • MY 2012 KIA RIO CAUGHT FIRE THE OTHER DAY. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN. I HAD SHUT THE CAR OFF. CAME BACK OUT TO GRAB SOME STUFF FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. THOUGHT IT HAD OVERHEATED. PULLED HOOD RELEASE AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD WH
- • I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OUT AND THE CAR DIDN'T GO. IT IDLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ON THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD TAKE OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE
- • THIS CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO REV UP TO THE RED LINE ON THE TACH - SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START IT, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE WITNESSES TO THIS FACT AND IT IS MAKING ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. I ALMOST GOT IN TWO ACCIDENTS B
“MY 2012 KIA RIO CAUGHT FIRE THE OTHER DAY. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN. I HAD SHUT THE CAR OFF. CAME BACK OUT TO GRAB SOME STUFF FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. THOUGHT IT HAD OVERHEATED. PULLED HOOD RELEASE AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD WH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
12 complaints- • WE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLL AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOOK, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD AND DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT CHEST. *TR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W
- • I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, GOING ABOUT 55-60 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN (LIKE THEY ALMOST MISSED THE STREET AND TRIED TO COMPENSATE LAST MINUTE) I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS BUT COULD NOT STOP IN TIME AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT O
“WE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLL AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOOK, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD AND DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT CHEST. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
8 complaints- • THE FUEL HOSE VENT LINE LEAKED FUEL INTO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE WHILE FUELING, TAKEN TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT KIA SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND I SPILT GAS ON THE SEAT. *TR
- • THIS CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO REV UP TO THE RED LINE ON THE TACH - SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START IT, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE WITNESSES TO THIS FACT AND IT IS MAKING ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. I ALMOST GOT IN TWO ACCIDENTS B
- • THIS IS MY SECOND POST. MY FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACTING UP THE LAST 1-2WKS. I NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THAT THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE NEEDLE MOVED TO EMPTY ON MY DASHBOARD. I HAD PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS IN MY CAR LESS THAN 24HR EARLIER AND ONLY DRIVEN 20MI. SO I WAS QUITE ALARMED. I STOPPED
“THE FUEL HOSE VENT LINE LEAKED FUEL INTO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE WHILE FUELING, TAKEN TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT KIA SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND I SPILT GAS ON THE SEAT. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
6 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO WORK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WA
- • MY 2012 KIA RIO CAUGHT FIRE THE OTHER DAY. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN. I HAD SHUT THE CAR OFF. CAME BACK OUT TO GRAB SOME STUFF FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. THOUGHT IT HAD OVERHEATED. PULLED HOOD RELEASE AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD WH
- • THIS CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO REV UP TO THE RED LINE ON THE TACH - SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START IT, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. I HAVE WITNESSES TO THIS FACT AND IT IS MAKING ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. I ALMOST GOT IN TWO ACCIDENTS B
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO WORK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
6 complaints- • I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OUT AND THE CAR DIDN'T GO. IT IDLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ON THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD TAKE OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE
- • MY 2012 KIA RIO BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO 60MPH ON A CITY STREET. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP TO TAKE MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WE STARTED THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME FOR
- • GOT UP EARLY ONE MORNING TO GO TO WORK, STARTED MY CAR, LET IT RUN FOR 2 MINUTES AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT MOVED WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS PETAL AND I WAS PARKED DOWN HILL.NOW MY CAR STARTS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. I
“I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OUT AND THE CAR DIDN'T GO. IT IDLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ON THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD TAKE OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 73 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: MY 2012 KIA RIO CAUGHT FIRE THE OTHER DAY. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN. I HAD SHUT THE CAR OFF. CAME BACK OUT TO GRAB SOME STUFF FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. THOUGHT IT HAD OVERHEATED. PULLED HOOD RELEASE AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD WH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: WE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLL AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOOK, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD AND DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT CHEST. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THE FUEL HOSE VENT LINE LEAKED FUEL INTO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE WHILE FUELING, TAKEN TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT KIA SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND I SPILT GAS ON THE SEAT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO WORK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia RIO — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 73
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 12
- Crash reports
- 5
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Kia RIO