2015 Kia RIO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2015 Kia RIO has 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (39% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owned a 2015 kia rio. while driving 35 mph, the engine lost power. the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. the contact noticed smoke and fire coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. in addition, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehic. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.
69
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
27 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC
- • THE ENGINE PERIODICALLY WILL STALL FOR 2-3 SECONDS, USUALLY WHEN STARTING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP. THIS CAN PROVE HAZARDOUS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 12 OCTOBER 2015. THE DEALER STATED THE "HESITATION" WAS A NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER'S "ACC
- • PURCHASED THE CAR FROM KIA DEALER ON 5/20/17 WITH LIMITED POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. HAD OIL CHANGE DONE ON 7/22/17AND AGAIN ON 10/14/17(COPIES WERE PROVIDED TO THE WARRANTY COMPANY). THE SECOND ONE WAS AT THE DEALER. ON 12/8/17 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND FELT A JOLT AND SAW SMOKE COMING
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
12 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPL
- • The contact owns a 2015 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The m
- • The contact owns a 2015 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contac
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
9 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INADVERTEN
- • THE KIA RIO BOUGHT BRAND NEW AT HADDAD KIA IN BAKERSFIELD, CA BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THE YEAR 2018. IT BEGAN WITH OVERHEATING. KIA SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A FUSE, AND THE REPLACED IT. UPON REPLACING IT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED FOR 2 DAYS. THE OVERHEATING PERSISTED, AND WENT BACK TO HADDAD KIA. T
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
5 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS WELL AS MINOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND HIS VEHICLE ULTIMATELY HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE OTHER AIR BAGS DID NOT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED S
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPL
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS WELL AS MINOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
4 complaints- • I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2015 WITH LOW MILEAGE AND THE ECO BUTTON DIDNT WAS USED FOR WHAT THEY EXPLAINED BECAUSE GAS WAS BURNING ALOT FASTER UNTIL I GOT OVER 50,000 MILES. WHEN GOING UP A HILL IT MAKES A WEIRD NOSE LIKE THE MOTOR IS ABOUT TO GO OUT WITH A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND ITS ABOUT TO MAKE A STOP
- • STOPPED CAR, PUT IN PARK, TURNED ENGINE OFF, OPENED DOO, STARTED TO GET OUT, CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, ONE LEG OUT OF CAR, ONEED IN, FELL UNDER CAR, REAR WHEEL RAN OVER MY LEGS.
- • TAKARA RECALL I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY CAR BY A SEMI DOING APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH IN DOING SO MY CAR WENT INTO A SPIN AND THE BACK OF MY CAR HIT A CONCRETE BRIDGE, ON A 2 LANE INTERSTATE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!
“I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2015 WITH LOW MILEAGE AND THE ECO BUTTON DIDNT WAS USED FOR WHAT THEY EXPLAINED BECAUSE GAS WAS BURNING ALOT FASTER UNTIL I GOT OVER 50,000 MILES. WHEN GOING UP A HILL IT MAKES A WEIRD NOSE LIKE THE MOTOR IS ABOUT TO GO OUT WITH A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AND ITS ABOUT TO MAKE A STOP”
— 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 69 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS WELL AS MINOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A
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 2015 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 69
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 14
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 19
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2015 Kia RIO