Complaint Statistics
32 total complaints
5 crashes 4 injuries
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|
| ENGINE | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
Incident date: Mar 12, 2012
Coils, I have been through 6 sets of coils since I bought this car in 2011. This causes the engine to run rough , sputter & have no pick up when trying to accelerate. The 1st set I paid the dealer $125 a piece bc they said I must replace all 4 at once even though when 1 coil burned out under warran
... ty they only replaced the 1. I got smart after dealing with the dealer. I bought lifetime coils from autozone and about every 1.5 to 2 years I am replacing them. It's easy to do but thats not the point. I've never had or heard of any car doing this except mine. And please let's not talk about resetting the computer brain. That is an impossible task in LA the land of teaffic....please take a moment & read the hoops you have to go through on kia's Rio forum. After trying to get my car slogged for a year I paid a guy 135.00 gave him my car for the night so he could do it. Utter [XXX] ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2014
Painting peeling off the whole car. It’s going to cause the car to rust.Defect in Kia painting process.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2019
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 disab
... led 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 the third incident the car was parked and has not been driven since. After the "dead" car is towed and it sits for a couple of hours it will start again and run for indeterminable amount of time before shutting down.Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2019
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 disab
... led 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 the third incident the car was parked and has not been driven since. After the "dead" car is towed and it sits for a couple of hours it will start again and run for indeterminable amount of time before shutting down.Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
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 intersecti
... on 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 I am concerned that this might happen again unexpectedly. The temperature at the time was about 20 degrees outside.Read more
Incident date: Sep 27, 2018
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 PROTECT ME FROM SLAMMING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL? IT SEEMS MY AIRBAG ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. I REMEMBER IT TOUCHED MY FACE BUT DEFINITELY DID NOT PROTECT ME FROM HITTING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS IN A SERIOUS BRAIN FOG FOR MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND MY LAWYER MIS-ADVISED ME IN NOT PURSUING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURER. NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN SOLD FOR PARTS.Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 18, 2019
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.Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 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 ABOUT MY CAR THAT IT MADE ME PHYSICALLY ILL AND GAVE ME A RASH ALL OVER MY BODY (I HAVE MEDICAL RECORDS TO PROVE IT) AND ONCE THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, ALL OF MY PHYSICAL AILMENTS DISAPPEARED. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE ALL 4 COILS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. THIS LAST SET ONLY LASTED ME 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT STARTED WITH THE SAME ISSUES AGAIN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND DOZEN OF FORUMS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH MY SAME EXACT MAKE, YEAR, MODEL. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN. I KNOW IT'S A KIA BUT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS BEFORE IT BREAKS DOWN. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE I AM, WHAT SPEED I AM GOING OR HOW LONG I AM TRAVELING, THIS ISSUE STILL OCCURS.Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2018
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 SOMETIM
... ES 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 CONTACTRead more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2018
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 SOMETIM
... ES 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 CONTACTRead more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2018
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 SOMETIM
... ES 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 CONTACTRead more
Incident date: May 28, 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 SOMETHI
... NG 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 TIME & THIS WAS YESTERDAY, I GOT TO WORK AND I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT. MY CAR WAS PARKED BUT STILL RUNNING AND IT TURNED OFF. IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP UNTIL ABOUT 15 LATER. SOMETIMES IT WILL START BACK RIGHT AWAY & OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO WAIT FOR 15/20 MINUTES OR MORE AND TRY AGAIN AND IT WILL START. I'VE DONE A DIAGNOSTICS TEST & BATTERY CHECK. EVERYTHING COMES BACK GOOD. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT CAN SOMEONE PLEASE CONTACT ME. I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2017
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.
Incident date: Sep 25, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT ANY STOP, THE ENGINE THREATENED TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE TOWING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED
... . THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2015
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 ALTHOUG
... H 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 BULLETIN AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS SHOP HAS DONE ALL THE WORK AND FEELS THAT SINCE KIA IS AWARE OF THE TSB THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM STATES THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND IF ITS ELECTRICAL ITS $100 AN HOUR. VERY FRUSTATING BECAUSE OF ALL THE MONEY I HAVE PUT IN THIS CAR SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT 1 YEAR AGO. CALLED KIA'S 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY ALSO STATE THAT I NEED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BY KIA DESPITE KNOWING THE ISSUE. CAR WILL BE TOWED BACK TO MY HOME FOR NOW.Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2014
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 *BFRead more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED, VIBRATED, AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FACTORY IGNITION COILS FAILED. THE MAN
... UFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2014
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 A LITTLE TAP THEN MAGICALLY THE DINGING STOPS AND I'M ABLE TO LOCK MY CAR. I TOLD A KIA DEALER FROM THE SAME OFFICE WHERE MY CAR WAS SERVICED WHY MY CAR HAD TWO SETS OF KEYS AND HE CHUCKLED AND ASK WHO DID THAT? WHEN I SAID HIS DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER HE JUST GAVE ME A SAD FACE AND EXCUSED HIMSELF. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS NOT MY ONLY COMPLAINT. *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2014
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 A LITTLE TAP THEN MAGICALLY THE DINGING STOPS AND I'M ABLE TO LOCK MY CAR. I TOLD A KIA DEALER FROM THE SAME OFFICE WHERE MY CAR WAS SERVICED WHY MY CAR HAD TWO SETS OF KEYS AND HE CHUCKLED AND ASK WHO DID THAT? WHEN I SAID HIS DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER HE JUST GAVE ME A SAD FACE AND EXCUSED HIMSELF. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS NOT MY ONLY COMPLAINT. *TRRead more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2014
I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BIT THIS IS WAY HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORKFROM LUNCH WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED FLASHING. IN THE 4 MINS THAT FOLLOWED MY CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER SO I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION ONCE I STOPPED THE CAR I HEA
... RD A KNOCKING SOUNDS AND THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. THERE WAS OIL, IT WASN'T BLACK, IT DID NOT HAVE WHITE SPOTS AND THERE WAS NO SMOKE V OF ANY COLOR COMING FROM THE HOOD OR TAILPIPE. WHAT WAS WEIRD WAS THAT THE ANTIFREEZE RESERVOIR WAS COMPLETELY BONE DRY. I HAD A OIL CHANGE AND FLUIDS CHECK AND TOPPED OFF THE TWO MONTHS BEFORE AND HAD CHECKED THE FLUIDS MYSELF THE MONTH BEFORE AFTER MY SPARK PLUGS WERE CHANGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY FINDING NO ANTIFREEZE IN THE RESERVOIR WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING. HAD 3 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT AND THEY ALL SAID IF THE ASS NO OIL THEY WOULD HAVE SAID THE ROD WAS THROWN OR PISTON BROKEN BUT I NEED TO PAY SOMEONE TO TAKE THE TOP OFF THE ENGINE TO EVEN GET TO WHERE PEOPLE GUESSING THE PROBLEM IS. WORSE THING IS THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND MAINTENANCE IS DONE ON IT SO WHY I'M I HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS? *TRRead more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2014
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
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 28, 2014
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
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 14, 2013
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 VEH
... ICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,400.Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
... REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2012
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. *JSRead more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2011
SO I AM GOING 5MPH WHEN I GO TO PUSH THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE CAR AHEAD OF ME SUDDENLY STOPS. I DON'T STOP BECAUSE THE CAR'S BRAKES BEGAN PULSATING CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. WHEN I CALL THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 3 MONTHS ITS CONSIDERED
... A WEAR AND TEAR WHEN I HAVEN'T PUT THAT MANY MILES ON THE CAR YET. *TRRead more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2011
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 ONE NOR THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAM UP. *TRRead more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2011
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 ONE NOR THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAM UP. *TRRead more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2011
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 ONE NOR THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAM UP. *TRRead more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. POLICE REPORT #TX116X0IRX001 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPAN
... Y. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500.Read more
Crash
NHTSA Safety Investigations — KIA RIO
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE
ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-030) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 12 THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2000.WHEELS
... WERE MANUFACTURED DURING THIS PERIOD USING A TOOL (RING DIE) THAT HAD IMPROPER SURFACE TREATMENT.THIS ALLOWED TOOL DAMAGE TO DEVELOP WITH ACCUMULATED USE AND RESULTED IN AN IRREGULAR SHAPED STAMPING ON THE WHEEL DISC AT THE HAT AREA.THE IRREGULAR SHAPED HAT AREA CREATES A STRESS RISER THAT MAY LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF CRACKS.ODI IS AWARE OF 40 NON-DUPLICATIVE CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE, 6 OF WHICH ALLEGED WHEEL SEPARATION INCIDENTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.AS OF MARCH 31, 2005, KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) HAS PAID 535 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ONE OR MORE WHEELS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DUE TO FRACTURE.BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2005, KIA HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NTHSA RECALL NO. 05V-159) TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WHEELS IN APPROXIMATELY 24,119 SUBJECT VEHICLES.KIA WILL REPLACE ALL FOUR STEEL WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE.THE ACTION TAKEN BY KIA IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE
ON MARCH 24, 2004, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STEEL WHEEL FRACTURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WHEELS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 12 AND OCTOBER 18, 2000.WHEELS WERE MANUFA
... CTURED DURING THIS PERIOD USING A TOOL (RING DIE) THAT HAD IMPROPER SURFACE TREATMENT.THIS ALLOWED TOOL DAMAGE TO DEVELOP WITH ACCUMULATED USE AND RESULTED IN AN IRREGULAR SHAPED STAMPING ON THE WHEEL DISC AT THE HAT AREA.THE IRREGULAR SHAPED HAT AREA CREATES A STRESS RISER THAT MAY LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF CRACKS.ODI IS AWARE OF 30 NON-DUPLICATIVE CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE AND 3 ALLEGED WHEEL SEPARATION INCIDENTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.KIA HAS PAID 576 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR WHEEL REPLACEMENT ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-020) TO FURTHER STUDY THE SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ISSUE.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE
ON APRIL 15, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-016) TO INVESTIGATE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES DUE TO ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 KIA RIO VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON AUGUST 28, 2003.ON SE
... PTEMBER 22, 2003, THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (03V-352) TO INSPECT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR FUEL LEAKS.AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER WAS SUBMITTED TO THE MANUFACTURER ON NOVEMBER 17, 2003 TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SO THAT THE OFFICE COULD EVALUATE THE DEFECT AS REPORTED BY KIA.THE IR LETTER ALSO ADDRESSED OTHER KIA VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION THAT USE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPONENTS IDENTICAL TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 03V-352.KIA?S SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 DEFECT NOTIFICATION LETTER IDENTIFIED QUALITY DEVIATIONS IN THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.DURING MY 2001 PRODUCTION, THE SUPPLIER OF THE FUEL RAIL (FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY) IDENTIFIED QUALITY ISSUES THAT AFFECTED THE INTEGRITY OF PLASTIC WELDS AT THE SERVICE PORT AND/OR FUEL INTAKE NIPPLE.FUEL LEAKAGE COULD ALSO OCCUR IF THE BRASS SERVICE PORT (SCHRADER) VALVE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED INTO THE VALVE RECEPTACLE.THE SUPPLIER ADOPTED CHANGES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AND INSTITUTED A 100% INSPECTION PROCEDURE.SUBSEQUENT TO THIS INVESTIGATION, KIA ALSO CONDUCTED PERFORMANCE TESTING AND ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA.KIA DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL IS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE AT THE INTAKE NIPPLE DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS OR VEHICLE SERVICING.DAMAGE MAY OCCUR WHEN THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE (MAIN FUEL TUBE ASSEMBLY) QUICK CONNECT COUPLING IS IMPROPERLY ATTACHED OR REMOVED FROM THE FUEL RAIL, OR WHEN EXCESSIVE FORCE IS OTHERWISE APPLIED.ODI IS AWARE OF 9 NON-DUPLICATE, NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES CAUSED BY FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS AND AN ADDITIONAL 14 FIRES OF UNKNOWN CAUSE THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI IS ALSO AWARE 6 FIRES IN MY 2002 AND 3 FIRES IN MY 2003 RIO/RIO CINCO VEHICLES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE DEFECT.TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL RAIL DAMAGE, KIA HAS REDESIGNED THE FUEL RAIL TO INCLUDE A STEEL INTAKE NIPPLE, AND THE ATTACHING FUEL LINE QUICK CONNECT COUPLING HAS BEEN CHANGED TO FACILITATE EASIER SERVICING.ON APRIL 7, 2004, KIA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (04V-179) TO REPLACE THESE TWO COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE FOR OWNERS OF ALL MY 2001-2004 KIA RIO AND RIO CINCO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM MAY 4, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2004.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.Read more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
KIA HAS IDENTIFIED 22 NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES OF ANY OR UNSPECIFIED CAUSE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NINE FIRES (OF WHICH 4 WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI) ARE IDENTIFIED AS BEING DUE TO A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK ORIGINATING BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL (P/N 0K30E 13 150) IN THE PASSE
... NGER SIDE AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.THE REMAINING FIRES WERE DUE TO VARIED OR UNKNOWN CAUSES.ALL 9 FIRES CAUSED BY A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK SUSTAINED SEVERE AND TOTAL DAMAGE.ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT 1 FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED QUICK CONNECT BETWEEN THE FLEXIBLE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE (P/N 0K32A 13 49XB) AND THE RIGID LINE MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL; 5 FIRES WERE CAUSED BY A FAILURE OF THE FLEXIBLE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE ITSELF OR ITS RELATED CONNECTORS; THE REMAINING 3 FIRES WERE CAUSED BY UNSPECIFIED FUEL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL, FLEXIBLE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE, AND THE RIGID LINE MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL.KIA REPORTS THAT NEITHER THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL NOR THE FLEXIBLE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL SUPPLY LINE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY MODIFIED SINCE THEIR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2001 MODEL YEAR.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-015) SO THAT ODI MAY COLLECT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CONDUCT FURTHER STUDY OF THIS ISSUE.Read more
EA — Closed
— Model Year: 2002
AIR BAG NON DEPLOY
THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 82 REPORTS ALLEGING NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE DUAL FRONT AIR BAGS.OF THE 82 REPORTS, ONLY ONE INCIDENT, THE FATAL CRASH THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR OPENING THE INVESTIGATION, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MODERATE TO SEVERE CRASH IN WHICH THE AUTOMOTIVE RESTRAINT CONTROLLE
... R ISSUED A COMMAND TO DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORTRead more
PE — Closed
— Model Year: 2001
AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT FRONTAL CRASH
IN ADDITION TO THE DECEMBER 2001 FATAL CRASH REPORTED TO ODI THAT PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR OPENING PE02-022, KIA PROVIDED ODI 29 ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF ALLEGATIONS OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG IN A CRASH.NO ADDITIONAL FATAL CRASHES ARE REPORTED.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO CONDUCT FUR
... THER ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM.Read more