2010 Kia Rio

Routine

Owners filed 26 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags9
706
Unknown or Other3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
101
Service Brakes2
000
Electrical System2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body1
101
Steering1
000
Power Train1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 7, 2022140,000 milesPA

The contact owned a 2010 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed head-on into a guard rail. During the crash, the front-end of the vehicle was severely damaged; however, no air bags were deployed. No injuries were reported; however, the contact was concerned that the air bags had not been deployed to provide protection to the driver or the front seat passenger. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 26, 201965,000 milesGA

HAVING TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE FUEL INJECTOR EACH YEAR. USUALLY NUMBER ONE PLUG.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 4, 2018100,100 milesWA

AFTER DRIVING TO WORK APPROXIMATELY A 25 MINUTES TO WORK I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND SMELT SOMETHING LIKE BURNT PLASTIC. ASSUMED IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE AREA I WORK. AFTER MY SHIFT ROUGHLY 8 HOURS I HEADED HOME AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR THEN COMPLETELY DEAD. AFTER THE TOW TRUCKED LIFTED THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO SEE SEVERE MELTING OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE PLASTIC. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. IT WAS TOWED TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAVE NO IDEA TO WHY YET THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DANGER TO JUST HAPPEN TO A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE RANDOMLY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 28, 2018131,000 milesFL

SINCE JANUARY MY 2010 KIA RIO HAS STALLED AT TRAFFIC STOPS. IT USUALLY STARTS AGAIN AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, ALTHOUGH RECENTLY IT NEEDED A JUMP START. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THREE MECHANICS WHO ALL SAY THEY CAN'T FIND A CODE OR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I'VE TRIED GAS ADDITIVE, NEW CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, TUNE UP. NOTHING WORKS. I'VE CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT I STILL HAVE A CAR I THINK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE STALLED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS AND STATE ROADS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH KIA, AND PLAN TO TAKE IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN ONE MORE EFFORT TO FIND CODE OR WHAT'S WRONG. I DON'T HAVE REPAIR INVOICES HANDY BUT HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $500.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 24, 201762,000 milesCA

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 18, 2017CA

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 6, 201688,000 milesMD

WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL DRIVING. THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DO IS RUN THE CODE BUT NOTHING COMES UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2016 AND HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY SINCE THEN.THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR COULD STALL ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT AND OTHER DRIVERS COULD GET HURT. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 4, 2016126,000 milesCA

I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH EXITING ON THE FWY OFF RAMP WHICH TURNS TO THE RIGHT. INITIALLY MY BRAKES WORKED AND THEN IT MADE A AWFUL WINDING SOUND. THE CAR WAS GAINING SPEED AS I MADE THE TURN AND I TOTALLY LOST MY BRAKES AND HAD TO USE MY HAND BRAKE TO STOP BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF A CAR. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY SHOES WERE VERY GOOD BUT I WEN AHEAD AND PUT NEW ONES ON ANYWAY. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE FWY HAVING TO USE MY BRAKES AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH CAUSE THE SAME NOISE AND NO BRAKES UNTIL I HAVE SLOWED BELOW 40MPH.

Power Train
Filed Nov 23, 2015KY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE ENGINE STALLED. ONCE THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V258000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 23, 201588,000 milesLA

MY HAD MY CAR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND IT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT I HAD TO PAY FOR TWO DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 95.00 EACH. THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS NOW ALMOST EXACTLY ANOTHER YEAR PAST AND SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW DEALERSHIP CAN'T READ KIA CODES AND WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT 60 MILES AWAY WITH THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING. THE KIA DEALERSHIP MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIX BUT HAVE TO GET THE CAR THERE. I DID MY OWN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AUTOZONE AND A REPAIR SHOP. THEY GOT THE CODES SAYING IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUGS, EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND POSSIBLE CATLYTIC CONVERTER WITH AN ESTIMATE OF 1260.00

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 3, 201570,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GARAGE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Engine
Filed Dec 16, 201480,000 milesGA

TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND CYL. TO BE MESSED UP... ? KIA I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MY CAR, WHY ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS COMING UP? MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!!! I EXPECT TO GET ANSWERS ON THIS AND IT BE TAKEN CARE OF, I WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WHEN I'VE DONE MY PART IN MAINTAIN G MY CAR. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 19, 201460,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S CD PLAYER OVERHEATED AND PRODUCED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000...UPDATED 10/08/14 *BF THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER $97.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE OBVIOUS FAULTY WIRING. UPDATED 10/21/14

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 13, 2014PR

EL VEHICULO CUANDO SE FRENA EN LAS MAANA LOS FRENOS TRASEROS TRANCAN SOLO ATRAS Y EL MISMO SE BARRE EN LA CARRETERA Y ES UN PELIGRO LLEGUE A LLEVARLO A LA KIA Y ME DIJERN QUE ERA UN DEFECTO DE FABRICA Y QUE EL FABRICANTE NO VA A RESPONDER POR ESO Y DE VERDAD ES PELIGRO YA EH PASADO VARIOS SUSTOS Y CUANDO LA CARRETERA ESTA MOJA ME DA HASTA MIEDO CUANDO TENGO QUE FRENAR POR FAVOR AYUDENME SE LOA AGRADECERIA. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 29, 2014123,000 milesFL

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SLID FORWARD UPON IMPACT.. *TR

Structure › BodyCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 11, 2014MI

TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HIT THE TIRES OF A SEMI TRAILER, THAT COLLISION THREW ME DOWN AN EMBANKMENT WHERE I HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Mar 7, 201363,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT AN INVESTIGATOR WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 21, 201359,874 milesTN

ON FEBRUARY 19, 2013 I WAS IN A COLLISION I HIT THE CAR FROM BEHIND AND TOTALED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LEAVING ME WITH NECK AND BACK INJURIES. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AND WHY ISN'T OR WASN'T THERE A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REPORTED INCIDENT OF NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. MY CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE FIRST COLLISION THAT I HAVE EVER HAD AND FOR THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE NOT DEPLOYED LEAVES ME WITH A LOT OF CONCERNS. MY FATHER IS ACTUALLY HAVING ME CONSIDER A LAWSUIT DUE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. IM HOPING THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE MY WRECK WAS PRETTY SERIOUS AND I ALSO HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME AT THE TIME. *TR

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jun 4, 201252,980 milesAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDERS AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,980.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 29, 201112,000 milesAK

MY 20 YEAR OLD BROTHER WAS ON HIS WAY HOME AND LOST CONTROL ON BLACK ICE TRYING TO AVOID A DOG. HE BEGAN TO SWERVE AND SPUN OUT, RESULTING IN A SINGLE FLIP INTO A DITCH. THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND BELIEVED TO BE TOTALED. THE CAR LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD-FIRST IN THE DITCH. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR IT'S SAFETY FEATURES CONSIDERING THE WEATHER WHERE I LIVE. IF I HAD TAKEN MY 5 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER TO TOWN (WHICH I WAS PLANNING TO DO AFTER MY BROTHER RETURNED HOME), I HONESTLY BELIEVE SHE WOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED IF I HAD BEEN IN A SIMILAR SITUATION TO MY BROTHER'S. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS AND IT HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. *KB

20 of 26 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202312000Routine
202211100Routine
202115200Routine
202027153Fatalities reported
201921110Routine
201828120Routine
201731260Routine
201677250Routine
2015521100Routine
201452180Routine
20131531180Routine
201254190Routine
201124000Routine
2010 — this page26000Routine
200939000Routine
200846100Routine
200746111Fatalities reported
200674100Routine
200536141Fatalities reported
200438220Routine
200374320Routine
2002128161Fatalities reported
20012233141Fatalities reported
20003000Routine

Compare every Rio year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.