VehicleVerdict

2012 Kia Rio engine problems

The 2012 Kia Rio has 24 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 33% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

24

Engine complaints

33%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Rio engine complaints by model year56 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 56 complaints2002: 41 complaints2003: 20 complaints2004: 12 complaints2005: 17 complaints2006: 8 complaints2007: 3 complaints2008: 5 complaints2009: 8 complaints2010: 4 complaints2011: 7 complaints2012: 24 complaints2013: 56 complaints2014: 24 complaints2015: 27 complaints2016: 41 complaints2017: 11 complaints2018: 15 complaints2019: 6 complaints2020: 5 complaints2021: 2 complaints2022: 1 complaints2023: 3 complaints
Rio engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DRIVING CAR AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE. GOT OUT ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY LIFTED HOOD AND EVERYTHING WAS ON FIRE. PEOPLE ASSING BY ALONG WITH HERO AND FIRE DEPT MADE SURE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT . I NEVER MADE ANY MODIFICATION TO VEHICLE AND WE KEEP IT SERVICED. FEEL LIKE PROBLEMS ARE WITH…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 3, 2016 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2012 Kia Rio have?

NHTSA has 24 complaints about the 2012 Kia Rio engine — 33% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.