2013 Kia Rio problems and recalls

Owners have filed 153 complaints on the 2013 Kia Rio, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Engine (53 complaints).

153
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
18
Fire reports
8
Injuries
104.7
Severity index

Severity index 104.7 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 104.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 16 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 89% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 53 complaints (34.6%)53 35%Air BagsAir Bags: 34 complaints (22.2%)34 22%Service BrakesService Brakes: 30 complaints (19.6%)30 20%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 27 complaints (17.6%)27 18%HydraulicHydraulic: 21 complaints (13.7%)21 14%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 19 complaints (12.4%)19 12%SteeringSteering: 10 complaints (6.5%)10 7%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 7 complaints (4.6%)7 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE5334.6%
AIR BAGS3422.2%
SERVICE BRAKES3019.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2717.6%
HYDRAULIC2113.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1912.4%
STEERING106.5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM74.6%

Complaints filed per year

012232012: 22013: 102014: 72015: 112016: 52017: 72018: 122019: 182020: 102021: 62022: 182023: 142024: 232025: 62026: 4 (partial year)12131415161718192021222324232526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20122
201310
20147
201511
20165
20177
201812
201918
202010
20216
202218
202314
202423
20256
2026 (year to date)4
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (43 against 34).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V65200025/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEKia 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

Other Kia Rio model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 11 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.