2012 Kia Rio: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
52
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
9
Fire reports
4
Injuries
188.5
Severity index
Severity index 188.5 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 129 2012 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2012 Kia Rio ranks 3 of 129 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 98% of its model-year peers. See the full 2012 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 23 | 44.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 12 | 23.1% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 7 | 13.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 | 11.5% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 | 11.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 | 11.5% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 | 7.7% |
| HYDRAULIC | 3 | 5.8% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 23 of 52 complaints (44.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 3 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V652000 | 25/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 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 Con |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.