KnownCarProblems2012 Kia Rio Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Rio, most often about the engine (46% of complaints, typically around 97,000 miles). It is 7th of 24 Rio model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
⚠ Safety advisory1 recall for this car came with a park-outside warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2012 Kia Rio problems
Engine
25 complaints · 46%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles.
Loss of RPM in cars tachometer during driving, then loss power, then car stalled at idle. Now the car doesn't start (work) anymore during ignition. Car now totally failed to start.
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, when depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle failed to accelerate over 25 MPH. The contact stated the vehicle began to hesitate and made an abnormal noise. The contact stated the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was…
Air bags
12 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles.
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 of me. The seatbelt…
Airbag light stays on, car has little over 87,000 miles strictly dealer maintenance no rhyme or reason to explain the light. No accidents no liquiud spills on any seats dealer stated cost could be up to $2000.00 depending on what the $245.00 diagnostic snows. I can not u understand how a safety feature uus not covered…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles.
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 because of this…
Brief loss of throttle control along with engine overspeed possibly due to dirty electrical contacts in connector at electronic throttle body -- restored proper operation via flushing of electrical contacts in connector with 100% isopropyl alcohol aerosol spray -- vehicle was being driven into a crowded parking lot at…
Electrical
6 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles.
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 when I realized…
When I put my car in drive or park my doors automatic lock or unlock. Several times it neither locked or unlocked when put in park or drive.I took it to the dealership several times of course it did not malfunction then.I called Kia corporate office but no recalls or complaints were found.I believe it is a safety…
Speed control
6 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles.
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 is at operating temp…
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the rpms was rising to the red line immediately. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was transmission maintenance needed on the vehicle. The vehicle was…
Brakes
6 complaints · 11%About 3 mths ago started using oil 3 qts extra the went to a qt a week, now using a quart every other day, have had people check. Cant find out where oil is going, have parked it, also, airbag light came on about 4mths ago, Kia Rio has 114,000. The caliber froze up at 88,000 the brake pads kept wearing on left side…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 9%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 wanted to know were…
I have a 2012 Kia Rio and over the last 2 months the oil light spontaneously comes on and turns off while driving. I took it into a Kia dealership and they did a consumption test which indicated the engine is consuming a lot of oil. I was told I need a brand new engine. This car was purchased new, currently has 112k…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 6%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.
The seat belt would often lock up when on the driver/passenger, which would prevent the occupants from moving. Also, the seatbelt would often lock up in the resting position, which would prevent an occupant from putting on the seatbelt upon entering the car. The car had been taken to a Kia dealership two times before…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Kia Rio recalls
Brakes: control unit/module
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the hecu fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed november 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2024 through june 18, 2024. Owners may contact kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is sc284.
Full defect summary
Kia america, inc. (kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 borrego, 2014-2016 cadenza, 2010-2013 forte, forte koup, sportage, 2015-2018 k900, 2011-2015 optima, 2011-2013 optima hybrid, soul, 2012-2017 rio, 2011-2014 sorento, and 2010-2011 rondo vehicles. The hydraulic electronic control unit (hecu) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Hyundai and kia ABS module fires
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received eight hyundai motor america (hyundai) and eight kia america, inc. (kia) part 573 recall reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or hydraulic electronic control units (hecu) manufactured by the equipment supplier mando. The part 573 recall reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by mando. Safety recalls included in this audit query (aq) review include: hyundai recalls 20v-520, 20v-543, 21v-161, 21v-160, 21v-303, 22v-056, 22v-810, and 23v-651. Kia recalls 16v-815, 20v-518, 20v-519, 21v
Engine fires
Summary
On march 29, 2019, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened two preliminary evaluations (pe19-003 on hyundai and pe19-004 on kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year hyundai and kia vehicles.â during the pe investigations, hyundai and kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.â the remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.â additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modif
Questions about the 2012 Kia Rio
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Rio?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (25 complaints, typically around 97,000 miles); air bags (12 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); fuel system (8 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Kia Rio have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2023 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Kia Rio?
- It is 7th of 24 Rio model years by number of complaints, with 54 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.