10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,373 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Kia Rio engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Kia Rio Owner Comments

problem #6

Jul 152020

Rio

  • 64,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure continued. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and the towing technician noticed that the accelerator pedal was stuck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

- Simpsonville, SC, USA

problem #5

Jan 312017

Rio

  • 105,000 miles
Car accelerated on its own, RPM's revving while driving down a major highway. Could not get car to slow down so had to steer car into a concrete barrier. Problem existed before the accident doing the same thing(RPM's revving) in park or reverse or accelerating on its own without pushing the gas pedal. Took in for repair and 4 days later was in the accident. Kia dealership telling me that the problem cannot be duplicated while driving it or performing inspection. According to their results, car is safe to drive. The acceleration problem occurred randomly before the accident. I do not feel safe to get back in the car and drive again.

- Glenwood Springs, CO, USA

problem #4

Jun 032016

Rio

  • 52,000 miles
My problem is similar to another post on this website. My car would rev high on the rpms when starting it while in park and I would have to put my toe under the gas pedal to stop it and it would have to be repeated if it was still doing it while the car was moving, otherwise the car feels like it is pushing forward. I noticed this happed more often the next day if the car was parked quickly earlier, (but not always) and also happened more with less miles on the car when I first got the one owner used car at a Toyota dealership with less than 12000 miles. Had a issue with it when at a 3 way intersection where a car tapped my bumper hard enough to push me forward. The car immediately engaged in the "acceleration mode." Luckily I wasn't hit by any other cars while my car pushed itself out into traffic despite putting my foot hard on the brake. I managed to get my toe under the gas pedal to stop the acceleration and put on the brake after turning right. This happed in approx. 2014 or 2015. Never has happened on the highway as of this time. When I had a Kia dealership looking at the car for another unrelated problem, they said that they would look at the acceleration problem. Despite inspecting and test driving, the mechanics said they couldn't find any acceleration problems. Yesterday on June 3, 2016 (after leaving our house with rough road out front that is to be repaired, ) I was moving forward after stopping at a 4 way intersection, when the car started revving again. I had to brake, throw the car into park, turn on my hazards, and lift up the gas pedal with my toe all at once before going on the highway. Never had this happen while the car was moving until now. I don't know if going over a stone on the rough area of our residential street at approx. 10 mph led to yesterday's problem. There is a sense of loss of control over driving the car when this happens. Help!

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #3

May 162015

Rio

  • 39,240 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 there a recall on my car for these problems.I haven't took it to a shop to be checked yet, spend enough money on car payments to have to fix my own car and it's under warranty

- Hollis, NC, USA

problem #2

Dec 042014

Rio

  • 66,500 miles
My 2012 Kia Rio began to accelerate on its own without my foot on the gas to 60mph on a city street. I almost got into an accident. When the tow truck showed up to take my car to dealership, we started the car and the problem subsided. The tow truck driver told me that he would have to charge me for the tow since the problem isn't currently taking place, and Kia said I would get the bill for inspection since the problem isn't able to be replicated. I have had serious problems with this car for the past 5 months with it sporadically not starting, then starting. Kia was unable to replicate the problem, so never fixed it as they don't actually work at looking for the problem, but want the car to be in an inoperable condition so that the code reader can do the work for them. Today was a new problem. I could have died! Kia Corp is just ignoring me. I am paying alot of money for this car and can't drive it because it is dangerous. I am terrified of it now!

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 022014

Rio 4-cyl

  • 59,500 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 and you stop for a couple of minutes.

- Conore, TX, USA

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