2013 Kia RIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
153 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
64,626 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 153 complaints (34.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 19.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 53 |
| Air Bags | 34 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 21 |
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Engine: 53; Air Bags: 34; Electrical System: 26; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 21; Unknown Or Other: 19; Steering: 10; Service Brakes: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2012: 2; 2013: 10; 2014: 7; 2015: 11; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2018: 12; 2019: 18; 2020: 10; 2021: 6; 2022: 18; 2023: 14; 2024: 23; 2025: 6; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10465265 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
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. THE LIGHT HAD TURNED RED AGAIN BEFORE I COULD FIGURE OUT THAT I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT WITH THE KEY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466101 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
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 SUPPOSED ENGINE OVERHEAT WARNING LIGHT NEVER COMES ON DURING THE LIGHT BULB CHECK PHASE, SO THAT THE OPERATION OF ITS LIGHT BULB CANNOT BE VERIFIED. NOTE THAT THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS, OIL PRESSURE, BRAKES, ETC COME ON DURING THIS PHASE AND THEIR WARNIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10557878 · 2013-12-30 (December 30, 2013)
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 TWICE AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70.
Owner-reported narrative. 70 miles reported. Look up ODI 10557878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560124 · 2014-01-15 (January 15, 2014)
TL* 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 WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BUT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,215.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10779937 · 2015-10-05 (October 5, 2015)
TL* 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,252.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745774 · 2015-08-03 (August 3, 2015)
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 TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS JUST NORMAL WEAR ON THE CAR. THE SECOND IS SOMETHING WITH THE STARTER, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, ETC. I USE THE WORD "SOMETHING" BECAUSE NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A N…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10745774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11030684 · 2017-10-01 (October 1, 2017)
ON AUGUST 22 2017 8:45 PM WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OVER A MEDIAN IN THE ROAD. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID ANY FURTHER INCIDENT AND INSPECT ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR. WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING, I WALKED THE PERIMETER OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, WITH NO BODILY DAMAGE VISIBLE I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO CHECK ON MY KIA RIO AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11470703 · 2022-06-23 (June 23, 2022)
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted but stalled again. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the radiator, transmission, and other parts were melted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11470703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628307 · 2014-08-26 (August 26, 2014)
KIA RIO5 LX 2013 STARTED TO MAKE RATTLING / PINGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AT 70000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T HEAR IT. THE NOISE STARTED TO GET LOUDER AT 89000 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE CARBON. THEN WAS TOLD TO DO DECARB, REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT, FUEL TANK FILTER & SPARK PLUGS AND THE PINGING WOULD GO AWAY. THE PINGING WAS STILL THERE BUT NOT AS BAD AROUND 94000 MILES BROUGHT IT BACK FOR PINGING HAD THE TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH ME AND HE AGREED IT WAS PINGING ALL …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256665 · 2019-09-19 (September 19, 2019)
TL* 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 removed], LOCATED AT 3400 OLD FOREST RD, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CHANGED THE OIL AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256665 at NHTSA ↗