AI Damage2013 KIA RIO: common problems
Owners of the 2013 KIA RIO filed 153 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 153
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 35% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 22% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 53 complaints (35% of all).
- Air bags: 34 complaints (22% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 30 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 27 complaints (18% of all).
- Steering: 10 complaints (7% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 153 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 53 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 34 | 7 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Ever since I have been involved in two separate collisions and the air bags did not deploy, also the horn stop functioning and after doing some online research I found out it also depends on the part that was supposed to be replaced to function, the steering wheel control such as cruise control etc.
when it was all said and done my car wouldn't stop, my airbag never deployed and my car was totaled. i kept asking if there was a way this car could be examined.the insurance company took the car.i had started having problems prior to this incident that started around the end of May.
During a full side impact collision the side airbags did not deploy. I was traveling 45 mph and the vehicle that hit the driver side center going 30 mph. I was traveling north bound on savannah highway near caliber collision.
The contact stated that while the contact's mother was approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact's mother noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact's mother stated that the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop.
Was sleeping and heard a pop looked and there was a fire under the hood tried to extinguish it got it outside on the road, and it burned to the ground basically
The recall repair was performed; however, while starting the vehicle the check engine, ABS, and oil warning lights and several other unknown warning lights illuminated.
On July 17, 2025, shortly before 4am, my son's 2013 Kia Rio caught fire, while sitting in the driveway turned off, and was totally destroyed. The car was parked in the driveway at his house and there were not any warning signs before it happened.
Additionally, the vehicle occasionally stalled while coming to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,601 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 7% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RIO has 52 complaints (25 years in the data). This year has 153, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- RIO 20003 sources
- RIO 2001223 sources
- RIO 2002128 sources
- RIO 200374 sources
- RIO 200438 sources
- RIO 200537 sources
- RIO 200674 sources
- RIO 200746 sources
- RIO 200846 sources
- RIO 200939 sources
- RIO 201026 sources
- RIO 201124 sources
- RIO 201254 sources
- RIO 201452 sources
- RIO 201552 sources
- RIO 2016160 sources
- RIO 201788 sources
- RIO 201885 sources
- RIO 201976 sources
- RIO 202093 sources
- RIO 202174 sources
- RIO 202232 sources
- RIO 202331 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 KIA RIO?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, service brakes. Total complaints: 153. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (24%), smoke, burning smell, fire (20%), airbag warning light (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 KIA RIO?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 KIA RIO from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.