10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 11
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,609 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.

2013 Kia Rio engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Kia Rio Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #41

Feb 152024

Rio

  • miles

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

My 2013 KIA Rio began dying while I was driving it in mid January 2024. Approximately three weeks after this began occurring, my oil pressure sensor light started flickering when I would turn the corner. As soon as I got home, I checked the oil and it was empty. I had not previously experienced this and always kept up with the manufacturer-??s recommended maintenance schedule. The incidences of my car dying while driving have increased while I waited to get into the dealership to have it checked (it was a one week wait and there were no earlier appointments available. I took my car to Suntrup KIA South. Service Advisor Brian Richter texted me to ask if he could call me. During our phone conversation, he stated that this is a known issue with KIA vehicles excessively burning oil, which then causes the catalytic converter to clog and the engine to die. It is a fatal flaw and there is no fix other than to replace the engine, which I would have to pay for. He said KIA extended certain warranties, but mine was not one of them. The last time I drove my car before taking it to the dealership, I barely missed getting hit when my car stopped while turning a corner and there was a car behind me. I found information indicating that a class action lawsuit had previously been filed, but was dropped by the class with no details given as to the reason. I now have to buy a car because it will cost more to replace the engine than the car is worth. It only has 107,000 miles on it. I would appreciate any help or advice that you can offer. Thank you.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #40

Dec 142023

Rio

  • miles
a few months last year took my car in for regular oil change and within about 3 weeks after the oil change the car was out of oil from the point had to start adding oil once a month and then more recently the car just would stop oil would be practically empty have to jump the car recently the car just started smoking and almost stopped on the highway I never saw where the oil was leaking from looked it up and the exact same engine in Hyundai cars was recalled

- Loganville, GA, USA

problem #39

Oct 062023

Rio

  • miles
Engine O2 sensors failing caused car to go into limp mode when attempting to enter a very busy hi way. Key was stuck in the driver's side door. Could not unlock it. Had to call a locksmith. This left me on foot away from home. Key stuck in the ignition. Would not go into park or start. Car has to be towed home.

- Vian, OK, USA

problem #38

Nov 032023

Rio

  • miles

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

Fire under the hood. It's available for inspection. I opened the hood after seeing smoke and the fire blew up but I wasn't hurt. The fire department put the fire out and wrote report. I called my insurance company and got a claim for it. They said it's most likely going to be a total loss after they examine it every where. I took it to Kia for servicing on September 11,2023 and I told them I had a little whining noise but they didn't say it was anything that could be fatal. Did this car have a recall for anything?

- Lumpkin, GA, USA

problem #37

Mar 012023

Rio

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. After shifting to park and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The contact stated that the failure once occurred while driving approximately 50 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Hampton, NH, USA

problem #36

Mar 112023

Rio

  • miles
Engine caught fire, oil consumption, miss firing, knocking brought to dealer they found nothing wrong with it back in December 2022. Car stopped working on March 11,2023 had fire underneath police had vehicle towed to the house. Insurance company will be here Monday. Will also be contacting Kia dealer in alliance Ohio on Monday. The engine light was on and checked missing firing cylinder one

- Alliance, OH, USA

problem #35

Aug 152022

Rio

  • miles

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

I own a 2013 Kia Rio While driving my regular speed limit, my car stopped working. I heard a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment and it also sounded like something was lose. I tried having the car jumped but it would not start. I had to get it towed to a mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle as the starter needed replacement, oil was leaking and oil pan gasket need to be replaced. It was also noted there was internal engine damage but I was not notified about this before the other repairs were done & approved by me. I also had my car in the shop for the same issue on January 24, 2022 and had an oil changed then but the issue was not fixed.The repair work was completed both times but the issues was not fixed. I was informed that I needed a new motor/engine. I only have 87,000 miles on my car.. All other models have been recalled already due to engine knocking because of carbon build up. I need Kia Corporate to right the wrong & do a Recall on 2013 Kia Rio or approved me for a free engine replacement. The engines are faulty. The AC is inoperable & need to be replaced. The tech. noted on piece of paper that both cv axle boots are torn, ECM codes, PO335 Crankshaft Position Sensor, PO011 Intake Crankshaft Position Sensor, PO014 Exhaust Crankshaft Sensor, PO441 Evap Purge Valve Soildroid. The engine wasn't replaced & no further work was completed. Engine failure 87,000 miles.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #34

Aug 012022

Rio

  • miles
100000 - low oil out (2liters) when service was completed : NO LOW OIL LIGHT WARNING 105000 - low oil out (1.5liters) when service was completed : NO LOW OIL LIGHT WARNING 110000 - low oil out (1.5liters) when service was completed : NO LOW OIL LIGHT WARNING 120000 - low oil out (1liters) when service was completed : NO LOW OIL LIGHT WARNING 120409 - Engine making knocking sound : was taken to 3 different mechanics all diagnosed with same issue of MAIN CRANK SHAFT BEARING FAILURE. Had to buy a new engine to replace. just over 100000 miles starting having issues and no warning lights. Engine is a LEMON

- Chino, CA, USA

problem #33

Sep 052022

Rio

  • miles
I was driving home one night and my brakes stopped working, then all the lights on my dashboard came on. Thankfully I was able to pull over safely off the freeway exit and another car pulled over next to me to let me know my car was on fire. The fire looked like it was in the center bottom of the car. I lifted the hood to the front of the car. There were two bystanders who were able to get a bucket of water and put the fire out before it got too big. There is no visible damage to the outside of the car.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #32

Aug 262022

Rio

  • miles
I have 2013 Kia Rio with I have been putting oil into it for months. MONTHS! At the end of my work week, before I drive to work on Monday I check the oil. If I drive more than usual on a weekend, I check the oil on Sunday. It-€™s crazy ! My mechanic told me I need to replace the engine I don-€™t understand why I take very good care of my car. But Kia needs to a recall on all these vehicles

- Reseda, CA, USA

problem #31

May 042022

Rio

  • miles

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

Driving car home Going about 35 Smelled car in front of me, that car smells, seems it was my own car try to do brake To pull over. No breaks loose able to coast into parking lot use emergency brake, stop flames shut up through Car into car got out people tried to help put it out fire trucks were called.

- Yarldey , PA, USA

problem #30

Mar 062022

Rio

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, she heard a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle as having no oil in the engine. The contact stated that the oil was topped off and the contact was informed to return after one-month. The contact returned to the mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle as having no oil. The mechanic determined that the oil had entered the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. Additionally, the contact stated that the air conditioning system was inoperable. The mechanic diagnosed that the A/C system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #29

Feb 152022

Rio

  • miles
On 04/07/22, I took my vehicle into Covina Valley KIA to replace a fuel line that had melted being constructed too close to the engine. About a month before the line, I noticed smoke was coming from under the hood. Other parts were too close to the GDi engine and were melting, and/or burning. For instance, the ignition coil/engine wire(s) cluster plastic holder which is mounted on the engine, was melting, breaking, and burning. Also the foam from the engine cover had caught fire. My car had also been throwing a knock sensor code p0326 every year. Replace it each time. Then the last time I fixed it, I got another p0326 that changed into fuel too rich code p2192. I inquired to KIA Management about the 2015 Service Bulletin: SB-10089747-5448 concerning the constant codes. But manager said that a ECU Upgrade may not help and to come down just to clear the codes to see if that helped. The car has been maintained, oil/filter changes 3,000 miles and I am the second owner. But these problems occurred without warning. Bad manufacturing, had to also replace the Fuel Pressure Regulator Valve, Fuel Feed Pipe, and all four Injectors due to melted plastic making it into the Delivery Rail from the melted Fuel Line which is plastic. Will attached my service bill and main receipts for parts bought to rectify this problem.

- West Covina, CA, USA

problem #28

Feb 012022

Rio

  • miles
I drove to a local store while my friend went shopping I remained in the vehicle and let it idle I proceeded to drive away to head home and the car started having idle and throttle malfunction to where there was no gas peddle response and eventually car died I barely got to a parking lot nearby restarted car and same symptoms occurred I was able to give it enough throttle to creep down the road i Had to keep restarting motor to get it to move at to which it finally wouldn-€™t move at all, prior it was leaking oil severely out the bottom what looked like near the oil filter, it now starts and dies immediately with no gas peddle response won-€™t even rev up to a idle

- St. Cloud , MN, USA

problem #27

Feb 282022

Rio

  • miles
Engine is knocking because of carbon build up caused by KIA installing faulty engines. Most all other models have been recalled already.

- Hendersonville , TN, USA

problem #26

Dec 022021

Rio

  • miles
I was driving the car and heard something explode/pop. I was on the right lane and was able to pull over. Smoke was coming out of the car and oil was dripping from the bottom. The motor seems to have combusted and cracked. A mixture of oil and water continue to drip from the bottom of the vehicle.

- Whittier, CA, USA

problem #25

Sep 072021

Rio

  • miles
We purchased a very low miles (42K) Kia from the dealer as a 2nd owner. In less than 6 months the car has serious safety issues. The vehicle shuts off and stalls while idling at stop lights, stop signs or slow traffic with no warning. All other powered components like radio, lights etc remain on and functioning. The car is hard to start after the vehicle shuts off and has stalled and takes multiple tries to turn over. When accelerating the vehicle will randomly not respond at all to the gas pedal, will not increase speed, RPM will not move and the car will not respond. When the car does accelerate, it will sputter and rpm will increase dramatically. This is very dangerous to those driving and those on the road. If the vehicle does not respond to acceleration the risk to the driver and occupants is serious. There could be an accident from oncoming traffic both rear and from behind. There is great life threatening risk. Local mechanic stated the car throws no codes when diagnosed, and there is no check engine light on. Kia knows their vehicles have this issue and has recalled many other models in the same years. There are multiple identical NHTSA.GOV complaints noting identical vehicle problems. The problem is not able to be found with diagnostic. The KIA RIO should be recalled and repaired immediately. The car was sold with serious safety issues. There was a class action even that did not proceed that alleges the gamma engines cause sudden stalling, excessive oil consumption, engine failures and fires in the vehicles.

- Garfield, NJ, USA

problem #24

Mar 012021

Rio

  • 127,000 miles
Car hardly ever indicated low oil. Had to add oil constantly between oil changes. No problems until the car got over 100K miles. Check engine light came on we checked the oil it was 2 quarts low. Added oil engine started knocking. Mechanic said we had too much oil. Got an engine flush and another oil change engine was still knocking and oil was very dirty. Mechanic indicated this is a common problem with most Kia with the gdi engines. 2 weeks after oil change the car started smoking and was almost completely out of oil. Took it to another mechanic who said the engine should be recalled and he didnt understand why it wasnt. He said my engine was doing what all the other engines have done on the other models recalled. I called the local Kia dealership who told me that I have had the car since 2014 and it was just old. They wont be recalling. I took good care of this car hardly ever went too far past an oil change this shouldn't have happened and I had to get a new car. This should be recalled like all the other Kia it's unfair they sell cars that break once you go past 100K miles.

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #23

Apr 132019

Rio

  • 12,400 miles
Self destroying. Car cylinder can get impacted to the ceiling. Knock sensor not working correctly it is functioning properly but not working correctly, causing an engine to deteriorate at a rapid rate non-intended use, has same engine as other key is in Hyundai in this one is not on the recall and is having the same issue same issues as the recalls. Knock sensor catastrophic failure. For the date of the start of the issue it was well before then don't remember the exact date. Car will not drive smells like the engines going to catch on fire

- Everett, MA, USA

problem #22

Aug 012018

Rio

  • 115,000 miles
Oil consumption with no obvious tail pipe smoke. Not leaking oil. Perhaps a quart of oil added to engine every 750 miles. This issue started around 115,000 miles. No low oil pressure indicater light activated. I had to replace catalytic converter do to oil deposits.

- Marshall, WI, USA

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