Wrench.Pro

2012 Kia Rio: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2012 / kia / rio
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-04)
complaints54 on file (2012-04-04 → 2026-08-13)
recalls1
investigations2
fars30 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Engine oil consumption requiring added oil between changesENGINE10 complaints2018-04 → 2026-08kia-rio-2012-engine-oil-consumption
  • 11756762 The vehicle has excessive oil consumption despite being consistently and properly maintained
  • 11648247 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
  • 11144971 I TOOK IT INTO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID A CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH INDICATED THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL
Brake recall parts unavailable during hold campaignSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3 complaints2024-01 → 2024-04kia-rio-2012-brake-recall-parts-delay
  • 11583676 The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available
  • 11574695 The contact stated that when her sister started the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated
  • 11566519 The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair
Engine compartment firesENGINE8 complaints2012-08 → 2026-02kia-rio-2012-engine-fires
  • 11716009 Car was turned off and the car started fire under the hood
  • 11470688 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
  • 11318387 THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED AND FLAMES STARTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Airbag warning light illuminated without diagnosisAIR BAGS6 complaints2015-01 → 2026-05kia-rio-2012-airbag-warning-light
  • 11740497 The airbag warning light illuminated on the dashboard and has stayed on permanently
  • 11030751 AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, CAR HAS LITTLE OVER 87,000 MILES STRICTLY DEALER MAINTENANCE NO RHYME OR REASON TO EXPLAIN THE LIGHT
  • 10672210 THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY
Unintended acceleration or high idle RPMVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6 complaints2014-08 → 2022-01kia-rio-2012-unintended-acceleration
  • 11446443 The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the RPMs was rising to the red line immediately
  • 10959673 CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RPM'S REVVING WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY
  • 10662263 MY 2012 KIA RIO BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO 60MPH ON A CITY STREET
Airbags or seat belts failed to activate in a crashAIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS3 complaints2013-01 → 2016-04kia-rio-2012-airbag-seatbelt-nondeployment
  • 10860642 THE SEATBELT DIDN'T CATCH, NOR DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY, AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, CHIN FIRST
  • 10493304 WE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLL AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOOK, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD AND DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT CHEST
  • 10495212 THE SEAT BELT WOULD OFTEN LOCK UP WHEN ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE OCCUPANTS FROM MOVING

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
542012-04-042026-08-1339ENGINE:24; AIR BAGS:12; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:7; SERVICE BRAKES:6; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:6

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
23V65200025/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEKia 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.An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.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.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
AQ23002openHyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE2023-11-17··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-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
EA21003closedEngine FiresENGINE2021-12-222024-02-0523V877On 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.  During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.  The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-202430legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Kia Rio vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/kia/rio
@misc{wrenchpro_2012_kia_rio_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Kia Rio},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/kia/rio}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

hub · known-issues · methodology · license · research (interpretation)