1 NHTSA safety recall covers the 2012 Kia Rio. 1 carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about this model year. Every recall repair is free at any Kia dealer.
Is yours affected? Recalls cover ranges of VINs, not every 2012 Kia Rio. Check your Rio by VIN and confirm open recalls at NHTSA.gov.
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Owners filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Rio, reporting 3 crashes, 9 fires, 4 injuries. Kia has issued at least 122 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 2 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Rio. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
“Waiting to get air in my tire. Car was turned off and the car started fire under the hood.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11716009
“Car started running oddly pulled over went to restart and Fire came up an engine compartment”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11519567
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11470688
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11318387
“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11310602
Search the official database: NHTSA. Excerpts are quoted from the public record, shortened at a sentence and with personal details removed.
Not every 2012 Kia Rio is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Kia dealer.