KnownCarProblems2013 Kia Rio Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Kia Rio, most often about the engine (37% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Rio model year since 2000 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 2013 Kia Rio problems
Engine
56 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles.
After only 70000 miles I was told the engine has sludge build up and needs to be replaced and is unsafe to drive. The car was always maintained at the dealership and the oil was changed on a regular, timely basis through the dealer. The dealer records were sent to Kia who would not gaurantee to cover the replacement…
As I was driving to laundrymat my engine starts making noise and then the check engine came on, all the oil had burned out of car, the car stalled and I was stranded. There wasnt any oil or engine warning signs at all b4 this happened, im heartbroken and still have 2 years to pay, this engine is faulty! My aunty who…
Air bags
34 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 74,000 miles.
My airbag light came on then went off, it stays on now. Kia tells me the clock spring shorted out. No idea why! They tell me I need a new airbag and clock spring. Drivers side. The code is b134600. The price $1037.47 + tax !! That's 2 hours labor. They told me it won't pass inspection without being fixed. Help-not…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for diagnostic testing, which produced a failure code at the air bag sensor located in the steering wheel area. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The…
Brakes
30 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic stated that the ABS unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contact, and the manufacturer stated that there was…
The contact owns a 2013 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 contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was…
Electrical
27 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle would jerk violently, accelerate, and stall. All the lights on the instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but the failure was unable to be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle shook and the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the windows did not roll down automatically. The vehicle was taken to Kia of lynchburg ([phone], located at 3400 old forest rd, lynchburg, va 24501) where…
Other or unspecified
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles.
I was driving on the highway at 70mph with one other person in the vehicle, when there was a combination of whirring, clicking, and banging sounds from the engine. As we pulled off on the exit it sounded as if parts were falling out from under the car, but when we looked in the rear view mirror there was no debris on…
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. Wife came home from work…
Steering
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.
My power steering is cutting in and out intermittently. This is accompanied by a number of indicator lights turning on. The dealership is not treating my issue with any urgency, and is content to have me continue driving my vehicle for 6 days while the power steering has been cutting in and out. I want to file a…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the power steering malfunctioned and caused the steering wheel to become difficult to turn. The contact indicated that the sensor lights for the electronic power steering, electronic stability control and the anti-lock braking system…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: delivery.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle shook and the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the windows did not roll down automatically. The vehicle was taken to Kia of lynchburg ([phone], located at 3400 old forest rd, lynchburg, va 24501) where…
My Kia Rio will stall at slow speeds. Several times while I was stopped or backing up and the car stalls. When I was driving in a parking lot my car stalled while I was accelerating. I took my Kia to a mechanic. He said the problem was the rear fuel filter. He replaced my fuel filter. This did not resolve the problem.…
Visibility and wipers
6 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 500 miles.
1) replaced ox sensor@ 35000 miles 2) replaced right front wheel bearing @ 45000 miles 3) rear window is too small to see safely. Blind spot is large. 4) headlight auto-sensor setting does not initiate lights in daylight rain conditions. 5) seat design does not provide lumbar support and headrest is permanetly angled…
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle shook and the check engine and air bag warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the windows did not roll down automatically. The vehicle was taken to Kia of lynchburg ([phone], located at 3400 old forest rd, lynchburg, va 24501) where…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 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 2013 Kia Rio
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Rio?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (56 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); air bags (34 complaints, typically around 74,000 miles); brakes (30 complaints, typically around 95,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 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 2013 a bad year for the Kia Rio?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Rio model year since 2000, with 153 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.