2012 Kia Rio: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 70 complaints
70
Total Complaints
59,500mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

17,000 25th Percentile
59,500 Median Mileage
97,205 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
23
AIR BAGS
10
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
SEAT BELTS
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3
WHEELS
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
12
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE FUEL HOSE VENT LINE LEAKED FUEL INTO BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE WHILE FUELING, TAKEN TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT KIA SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AND I SPILT GAS ON THE SEAT. *TR"
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED TO WORK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD OCCURRED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WA..."
"WE RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLL AT ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOOK, PASSENGER HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HEAD AND DRIVER HIT HIS CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND HURT CHEST. *TR"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28