- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Kia Rio Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 54 complaints about the 2012 Kia Rio with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (25) and the airbags (12). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 9 fires and 4 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in September 2023 for the control unit / module. For comparison, the 2011 has 24 and the 2013 has 153.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Rio year, for its age
#118 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 54
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 9
- Injuries
- 4
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Kia Rio problems
Share of all 54 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Kia Rio recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
54 complaints about the 2012 Kia Rio
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 3.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2012 Kia Rio, which currently has approximately 150,000 miles. I first became aware of these problems at approximately 120,000 miles. The vehicle has excessive oil consumption despite being consistently and properly maintained. I have been meticulous about maintenance because the vehicle has a lifetime powertrain warranty, and I have documentation and receipts for required maintenance, including regular oil changes and other scheduled services. On multiple occasions, I...
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have taken the vehicle in for a scheduled oil change and discovered that it had little or no oil remaining. Because of this, I have had to begin having oil added between regularly scheduled oil changes. I do not know the exact amount of oil being consumed because I initially had no reason to monitor or measure oil consumption between oil changes. The vehicle also has a recurring catalytic-converter/check-engine warning that comes on, goes off, and later returns. It has experienced noticeable loss of power and has developed a clicking or knocking sound from the engine. When the vehicle is sitting or idling, it can also indicate that it is running hot even though it does not appear to actually be overheating. These problems have continued despite regular, documented maintenance. I am concerned about the safety implications of a vehicle consuming enough oil to have little or no oil remaining before its next scheduled oil change, particularly when there may be no consistent warning to alert the driver that the oil level is dangerously low. I am also concerned about the recurring catalytic-converter warning, loss of engine power, abnormal engine noise, and the possibility of engine or catalytic-converter failure while the vehicle is being driven. I understand that other Kia vehicles have been subject to recalls and investigations involving engine-related defects. I am asking NHTSA to review complaints involving the 2012 Kia Rio and investigate whether exces
I went to honk my horn as someone was backing up and didn't see me as we were on an incline . This vehicle sits low and they were in a jeep. Due to the failure of my horn, I was unable to give a warning and they hit my car. No airbag was deployed and my seatbelt/airbag light is on. No injuries reported thankfully. I was told these things were related and repairs needed which is going to be extensive. The airbag may not deploy and horn does not work. I consider this a definite safety issue.
The airbag warning light and the ABS warning light turned on simultaneously while driving. This is a severe safety hazard as both critical, life-saving safety features are currently compromised. I have already contacted Kia Customer Care regarding this issue, but I am filing this official complaint with the NHTSA to ensure a proper safety investigation is documented for this vehicle.
The airbag warning light illuminated on the dashboard and has stayed on permanently. This indicates a malfunction in the supplemental restraint system (SRS). Because the warning light is active, there is a severe safety risk that the airbags may not deploy correctly or at all in the event of a crash, putting the driver and passengers at risk of serious injury. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request
Waiting to get air in my tire. Car was turned off and the car started fire under the hood.
I brought my Kia in for a recall, and they determined the part was discontinued thus making my vehicle inoperable. When I brought my vehicle in, it was driveable-now I have been without my vehicle for over a month.
I went to the Kia dealership in Laredo Texas and was told that they cannot fix the fault, that my vehicle has had an aftermarket parts, that they are not going to fix the HECU. That they don't fix vehicle with aftermarket parts.
The GDI 1.6L engines are manufactured with a flaw that affects piston rings and makes oil consumption go up which in turn can make the engine run dry and damage the engine, which if you're in a bad location could be dangerous. My car has been dealing with the issue and I searched yet found no recalls for the engine. 2. It can put me and others at risk, if my car breaks and I'm driving in a snowy or hot area, or breaks when driving up hill or down hill. 3. Look all over the internet GDI 1.6 Oil consumption issue. 4. Yes, repair shop. 5. Plenty of times barely drove 200 miles and I get the red lamp for no oil/low oil level.
Our granddaughter bought this car from a private seller. My son is a mechanic and when he inspected the undercarriage he found a small leak in the seam of the gas tank. The local KIA dealer said it is not covered. This, to me, is a safety and emissions issue. Please assist. The car is available at any time for inspection. Thank you
The contact owns a 2012 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 that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact's sister owns a 2012 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that when her sister started the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 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 that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Car started running oddly pulled over went to restart and Fire came up an engine compartment
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Rio. The contact stated that after the niece had park and exited the vehicle smoke and flames were present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to scene to extinguish the flames. During the incident the vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that prior to the incident the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption but no assistance was offered from local dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
Check engine light comes on. I pull the code of p050a. I looked that up and there is a Techincal Service Bulletin, from Kia on this problem of Cold start idle air control system performance. Kia only put out a recall on the Kia Soul and not the Kia Rio. They have the exact same engine and computer with the 1.6L. The bulletin list both vehicle but the recall is only for the 1 vehicle. I was told by Kia dealer sorry to fix this I would have to pay to reprogram the computer. Kia originally was replacing the throttle body on the engine than decided because of cost, to reprogram the computer.
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...
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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.
Will not start early morning, use about 3 quart oil a week, before warranty ran out Kia dealer check out and said to drive it another 900 miles, which made no sense, and bring back in Then they said it was out of warranty, what a scam Kia dealership is.they had overfill oil level 3 times before this problem
2012 Kia rio, not currently subject to any recall, and having been maintained correctly, is experiencing dangerous levels of oil consumption. Current milage 108,000. Two weeks ago I sent the attached letter via case to kia consumer customer affairs seeking safety advice from the company relating to the issue. Kia never responded, opting to close the case without a word regarding the issue. Oil consumption is very high, and effecting engine performance. I assume the only recourse is to have the engine taken...
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apart and examined, a costly review, however due to lack of response from kia I haven't yet; I was hoping they could coordinate through either a dealer or 3rd party investigator. Currently the car is not being used, as this anomalous issue is a concern for safety when driving. Considering the recent recall, as well as how the symptoms align with previously recorded issues to similar engines, I wished to create this report, if only to add my case to nhtsa's accounts. Thank you for your time joseph elliott
I recently purchased my vehicle and immediately noticed what seems to be oil coming from the engine, pooling on top of the block but also leaking onto the ground after being parked for an hour or so. The walls around the engine, mainly on the left side or passenger side were saturated with presumably the same fluid. Under the car is also saturated from what I am guessing to be a leak, perhaps the same leak from atop the engine block. I've had the car repaired and paid for a system fault diagnostic, and in both...
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cases haven't received any helpful info as to what it is, the cause or where the leak is coming from, or how to treat it. I very recently had the oil changed and the invoice showed a comment stating that my car appears to be leaking oil. There was no further commentary. I fear that my kia rio may be dangerous to drive for reasons such as a fire hazard or breakdown from overheating possibly resulting in leaving me on the side of a highway, stranded. Also the a/c and heater do not operate as they should. The panel controls are out of whack and neither a/c or heat perform in sync with the commands. A mechanic has said this appears to be due to electrical issues, possibly with the main computer, though the systems fault diagnostics was performed after the mechanic informed me of this, and seeing that I was charged for that service I can only assume that the main computer is doing what it is meant to do, relaying the info to the tech's computer. I just don't know if I have a good car that needs a lot of work or if I'm driving a deathtrap. No recalls for this vehicle but I see a lot of kia's vehicles being recalled. And I believe they no longer make the kia rio. Just at a loss as to what is happening and what to do about it. Times are tough financially or I would definitely have more proper detailed info to give, that or have a good running car...
I was driving and chech engine light came on . I had it tested and it was the knock senor. I looked it up and their was a recall I purchased the car 9/02/2019
I can not believe I took this much time to actual file a complaint on the following problems on my kia. My 2012 kia rio sx hatchback has been burning oil since it reached the 70,000 mile mark. I have all receipts and records for every oil change since I bought the car new back in late 2011. Oil has been changed every 3,000/4,000 miles on this vehicle. No leaks have been found by my local valvoline shop and it continues to burn oil now at its current odometer reading of 113,000 miles. The oil level now reaches the...
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last dotted line on the oil metal reader stick (low mark) every 300 to 400 miles. I have to add oil 8 to 10 times between oil changes. No oil light has ever turned on. My driver airbag light has turned on and have no idea why. It first turned on june of 2018 and it has not turn off since then. The vehicle has not been involved in any accidents at all since I bought new. *Tr
I'm at 96k miles. The mechanic pulls codes for the airbags. They are showing a defect and the reason is unknown. I'm also hearing a rattling in the engine. We are discovering it is common in kia rio and the reason kia gives is we are getting our oil changes done at places other than them. I used only experienced, licensed mechanics. The issue continues to go undiagnosed as to know if the engine will catch fire causing death or injury. The car is not safe. A fix need forced.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 kia rio. The contact stated while her son was driving at 30 mph, white smoke appeared and flames started from the engine compartment. Fire in the engine compartment the vehicle was destroyed the driver pulled over to the side of the road and all occupants were able to exit without injuries. The flames quickly engulfed the entire vehicle within seconds. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A police a report was filed. The manufacturer stated they would investigate and offered a low book value to replace the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 155,000.
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.
Tl* 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 able to park on the side of the road for 10 minutes before continuing to drive. However, he continued to experience the failure and saw smoke exiting the hood. The contact was able to park on the...
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side of the road and open the hood and saw fire in the engine compartment. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to unknown location for inspections. The insurance adjuster deemed the vehicle was a total loss. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000. *Ln*jb
Kia Rio: every year compared
All Rio years2012 Kia Rio vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Kia Rio | 54 | 1 | C | |
| 2012 Hyundai Accent | 153 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Honda Fit | 113 | 11 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Nissan Versa | 0 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Toyota Yaris | 0 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic | 0 | 7 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Ford Fiesta | 0 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Mini Cooper | 0 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2012 Kia Optima | 923 | 5 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Kia Rio
Does the 2012 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Kia Rio: control unit / module (September 2023). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Kia Rio?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (25), airbags (12), fuel system (8).
How many complaints has the 2012 Kia Rio had?
54 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on April 4, 2012 and the latest on August 13, 2026. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 9 a fire, and together they report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Kia Rio a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 48 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Kia Rio year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Kia Rio years have the most complaints?
2001 (224), 2013 (153), 2002 (152). See every Kia Rio year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Kia Rio has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data