2013 Kia RIO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Kia RIO has 218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: when we pulled up to the red light, the idle stop and go system engaged and stopped the engine. when the light turned green, i released the brake and, as we were on a downslope, we immediately began rolling into the intersection. unfortunately the go part didn't work and the engine didn't restart.. ⚠️ 31 fire reports filed.

31 fire reports 10 crash reports 10 injuries

218

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

56 complaints

26%

• WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.
• DEFECTIVE ENGINE OVERHEAT WARNING SYSTEM THIS VEHICLE, 2013 KIA RIO, 1.6L GDI, 6-SPEED MANUAL, DOES NOT HAVE A COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. IT SUPPOSEDLY RELIES ON ONE WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INDICATE AN OVERHEATED ENGINE, A LIGHT WHOSE CORRECT OPERATION CANNOT BE VERIFIED. THIS SUP
• I DETECT A NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR AND WENT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER ON JANUARY 14, THEY MAKE A TEST DRIVE AND SAID THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM IS WITH A "LIFTER" THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE FOR THE 28 OF JANUARY. ON JANUARY 22 I LEFT MY CAR AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A FEW DAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 13 fire reports

“WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

34 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD PASSENGER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUI
• I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING TO THAT NATURE. WE BOUGHT OUR DAUGHTER A 2013 KIA RIO. I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT IS MUCH LOWER THAN TO DRIVERS SEAT. I REALIZED GOD FORBID IF THE AIRBAG GOES OFF, THE PERSON WILL BE HIT IN THE FACE INSTEAD OF THE
• AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TILL VEHICLE WAS ROLLED OVER. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD PASSENGER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

30 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
• CAR HAS 62,000 MILES, REAR BRAKE WENT OUT FIRST, UPON INSPECTION, ON THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT, ON THE SIDE OF THE PADDING THERE WAS METAL TO METAL, MIDDLE PART HAD MINIMAL HAIR LINE MINIMAL OF PADDING LEFT HOWEVER THE LEFT ONE STILL HAD HALFWAY PADDING, PRETTY GOOD, ROTOR WOULD NOT TURN, BRAKES HAD
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

27 complaints

12%

• WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.
• I WAS STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN FLAMES SHOT UP FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD! THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT ANYTHING WAS EVEN WRONG W/THIS CAR! NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD...NO WARNING! *TR I QUICKLY PUT IT INTO PARK AND JUMPED OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE IN A MATTER
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 8 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

20 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AC CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE
• I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2013 KIA RIO. THE FIRST ISSUE IS ACCELERATION. AROUND THE 30,000 MI MARK, I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WHICH INCLUDED AN INDUCTION SVC. SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THE SAME GOOD ACCELERATION ABILITY IT HAD WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR
• JUST BOUGHT A 2013 RIO WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ON 9/2/16. THE CAR SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, SO WE MAYBE PUT 100 MILES ON IT AND DROVE IT 4 TIMES. DROVE 20 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT BACK INTO HOUSE TO WORK.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AC CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 218 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD PASSENGER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)