2014 KIA RIO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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4/5

★★★★

Safety Rating

73

Owner Complaints

14 Crashes 11 Fires

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

10

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2014 KIA RIO

The 2014 KIA RIO has received a total of 73 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. 10 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 (7 complaints), and Service Brakes Hydraulic (7 complaints).

Recalls for the 2014 KIA RIO

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2014 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...

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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 2014 KIA RIO

73 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2014 KIA RIO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11661646 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
I tried to get the parts fixed from the recall. However, when I tried to get it serviced I was adviced that the parts would take a few weeks to arrive. With an appending move to Helena, Mt from Lambertville, Mi they informed me that they would not be able to fix the recall issues. There is no KIA dealership within a reasonable distance from my current location. I am having issues with the dealership towing the rio without charging me the amount of $1300. The engine had completely stopped. I towed the car from Michigan to Montana with a Uhaul because of the recall issues.
#11651826 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
The engine started to lose power, and the check engine light illuminated. The power drop was most noticable when accelerating from a stop. At times, randomly, the engine RPMs would dip down to 200-300 at idle and would almost stall. Upon further investigation, the engine has been excessively consuming oil. I brought the vehicle to a local mechanic shop to get a detailed diagnosis, they informed me the catalytic converter was clogged and constricting exhaust flow. The engine has developed a ticking/knock. The catalytic converter, and an O2 sensor was replaced with that visit. The ticking/knock persists.
#11610720 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | N/A miles
Driving to work I exited US-26 in Hillsboro, Oregon at the 185th exit. The exit is an uphill ramp with a traffic signal at the top of the hill. The traffic signal at the end of the ramp was green. I was following a Tesla Model Y and I saw the brake lights activate. I applied my brakes causing my car to slow down and then I had to proceed through a yellow light because I did not think I could stop safely without ending in the intersection. At the next traffic signal, I rolled down my window and yelled to the other driver to not apply their brakes when they are proceeding uphill through a green light. The other driver told me it is "regenerative braking." Unnecessary braking causes disruptions in the flow of traffic. It does not make sense that brake lights would activate if the driver is not applying the brakes.
#11592161 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | | 133,223 miles Fire
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Rio. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). After the recall remedy was completed, the dealer provided documentation indicating that engine rods #3 and #4 were failing and could soon cause the engine to explode if not immediately repaired. Approximately 2 weeks later while the daughter was driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle began to decelerate and emit smoke from underneath the hood. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road and safely exit the vehicle as it caught on fire. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled since the fire consumed it. A dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 133,223.
#11578079 | ENGINE | | 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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Safety Rating for the 2014 KIA RIO

The 2014 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 2014 KIA RIO

Kia America, Inc. has issued 10 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2014 KIA RIO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

CS2307_TSB_R6 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

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_OWNRUB — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner 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...

TSB_FUE043 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: FUEL SMELL ECU LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND CHARCOAL CANISTER REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Engine Control Unit (ECU) and replace the evaporative system charcoal canister on some 2014-2017MY Rio (UB) vehicles with Gamma 1.6 GDI engines, produced from September 17,...

TSBCLI043 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

TSB - A/C FAN CONTROL LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND COOLING FAN/COOLING FAN RESISTOR INSPECTION OR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect, and if necessary, replace the cooling fan resistor and/or the cooling fan motor, and to upgrade the cooling fan control logic on certain Manual Temperature Control (MTC)...

TSBFUE040 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TSB - CANISTER CLOSE VALVE (CCV) REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the Canister Close Valve (CCV) on some 2012-2017MY Rio (UB) vehicles, produced from June 21, 2011 through March 28, 2016, which may exhibit the engine warning lamp DTCs P0455 and P0456 for an evaporative emission...

TSBCLI042 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB - BLOWER MOTOR AND RESISTOR REPLACEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to replace the blower motor and resistor on some 2014-2015MY Rio (UB) vehicles, produced from April 1, 2014 through August 31, 2014, which may experience an inoperative blower motor except at the highest speed.

TSBELE091 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB: IDENTIFYING HEAD UNIT SOFTWARE VERSION FOR DIRECT EXCHANGE - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE ON HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RECORD THE HEAD UNIT SOFTWARE LEVEL ON VARIOUS HEAD UNIT PLATFORMS AND GENERATIONS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL NOW BE REQUIRED WHEN ORDERING HEAD UNITS THROUGH THE DIRECT EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

TSBENG150 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

TSB: SERVICE ACTION: MIL ON WITH DTC(S) P0326/P0441(SA194) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE OF SOME 2014MY RIO (UB), PRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 01, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2014, AND SOME 2014MY SOUL (PS) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM AUGUST 26, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 24, 2014, WHICH MAY...

TSBENG150 — ENGINE

TSB: SERVICE ACTION: MIL ON WITH DTC(S) P0326/P0441(SA194) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE OF SOME 2014MY RIO (UB), PRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 01, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2014, AND SOME 2014MY SOUL (PS) VEHICLES, PRODUCED FROM AUGUST 26, 2013 THROUGH JANUARY 24, 2014, WHICH MAY...

TSBENG146R1 — ENGINE

TSB: ECM UPGRADE – RIO, SOUL MIL ON WITH DTC(S) P0456/P0461/P050A/P2188/P2192/P0128/P0326/P0441 - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ECM SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR SOME 2012~2014MY RIO (UB), SOME 2012~2013 SOUL (AM) AND SOME 2014MY SOUL (PS) VEHICLES, WHICH MAY EXPERIENCE A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL...

NHTSA Investigations for the 2014 KIA RIO

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the KIA RIO

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Other KIA Models

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