2012 KIA RIO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
70
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
29
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2012 KIA RIO
The 2012 KIA RIO has received a total of 70 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. 29 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (23 complaints), Air Bags (10 complaints), and Fuelpropulsion System (7 complaints).
Recalls for the 2012 KIA RIO
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2012 KIA RIO, potentially affecting up to 3,460,384 vehicles.
Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2012 KIA RIO
70 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 KIA RIO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 23 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control Esc | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
Safety Rating for the 2012 KIA RIO
The 2012 KIA RIO received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2012 KIA RIO
Kia America, Inc. has issued 29 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2012 KIA RIO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
CS2311_TSB_R3 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder...
CS2307_TSB_R7 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the...
CS2307A_OWNR2 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-notification advising that Kia has developed a software upgrade that can be installed on the vehicle to restrict the operation of the vehicle's ignition system should a locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in and theft attempt without...
CS2307L_OWNR2 — EQUIPMENT
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly to certain Kia vehicle owners. These devices can help deter a theft attempt. We are making this device available to customers free of charge and will...
CS2307_TSB_R4 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the...
CS2307X_OWNRUB — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia previously sent a letter for a steering wheel lock device, and their vehicle is equipped with a factory burglar alarm and is therefore eligible to receive the software upgrade. Kia has developed a software upgrade...
SC264_TSB — STRUCTURE
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: APPLICATION OF ADDITIONAL ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL (SC264) - This bulletin provides information to apply additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody components on certain 2012-2017MY Rio (UB) and 2017-2018MY Forte (YD/YDm) vehicles produced within the date ranges shown below and originally sold or currently registered in one of the...
CS2307_TSB — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the Integrated Body Control Unit (IBU) or Body Control Module (BCM) system on some 2012-2017MY Rio (UB), 2018-2021MY Rio (SC) vehicles produced from June 1,...
TSB_TRA046_R3 — POWER TRAIN
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, refer to applicable vehicles in the chart starting on page 2.
WTY017_DPSM — AIR BAGS
WARRANTY EXTENSION - NOTICE TO DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGERS - This document is notice to the dealer parts and service managers of the warranty extension on the driver's front airbag clock spring assembly on 2012-2013 MY Rio and 2014-2015 MY Forte and Forte Koup vehicles to fifteen (15) years...
Showing 10 of 29 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2012 KIA RIO
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA RIO
- 2007 KIA RIO — 64 complaints
- 2008 KIA RIO — 57 complaints
- 2009 KIA RIO — 54 complaints
- 2010 KIA RIO — 38 complaints
- 2011 KIA RIO — 32 complaints
- 2012 KIA RIO (current)
- 2013 KIA RIO — 216 complaints
- 2014 KIA RIO — 73 complaints
- 2015 KIA RIO — 69 complaints
- 2016 KIA RIO — 108 complaints
- 2017 KIA RIO — 34 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints