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2011 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

20 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2023
Electrical SystemEngine

The engine and all electrical shuts down without warning. This happened three times in heavy traffic and nearly caused an accident. The engine stops running and the electrical components turn off which shuts down power steering and power brakes. Each time this has happened the electrical is disabled and the car is completely …

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The engine and all electrical shuts down without warning. This happened three times in heavy traffic and nearly caused an accident. The engine stops running and the electrical components turn off which shuts down power steering and power brakes. Each time this has happened the electrical is disabled and the car is completely dead with zero response when the ignition key is turned; no dash lights, no starter, no power. After the first incident the plugs and coil packs were changed out. After the second incident the fuse block was changed out which was said to have been overheating. After the third incident the car was parked and has not been driven since. After the "dead" car is towed and it sits for a couple of hours it will start again and run for indeterminable amount of time before shutting down.

NHTSA ODI #11542347

70,000 miles · Sep 2, 2015
Electrical System

EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY WHILE DRIVING THEN SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SPUTTER, AND DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. LOSES POWER SOMETIMES WHEN STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED THEN STAYED ON. CAR UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2 TUNE UPS INCLUDING NEW PLUGS, COIL PACKS CHECKED ALTHOUGH TWO WERE RECENTLY REPLACED, …

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EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY WHILE DRIVING THEN SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SPUTTER, AND DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE. LOSES POWER SOMETIMES WHEN STOPPED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED THEN STAYED ON. CAR UNSAFE AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER 4 WEEKS, 2 TUNE UPS INCLUDING NEW PLUGS, COIL PACKS CHECKED ALTHOUGH TWO WERE RECENTLY REPLACED, FUEL INJETORS CHECKED, FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHED, AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. WHEN CHECKED DIAGNOSTIC CODE KEEPS READING RANDOM MISFIRE. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SHOP (NOT DEALERSHIP) FOR 2 DAYS WHEN THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM AND ITS RELATING TO THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS SHOP HAS DONE ALL THE WORK AND FEELS THAT SINCE KIA IS AWARE OF THE TSB THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM STATES THEY NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND IF ITS ELECTRICAL ITS $100 AN HOUR. VERY FRUSTATING BECAUSE OF ALL THE MONEY I HAVE PUT IN THIS CAR SINCE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT 1 YEAR AGO. CALLED KIA'S 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND THEY ALSO STATE THAT I NEED TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT BY KIA DESPITE KNOWING THE ISSUE. CAR WILL BE TOWED BACK TO MY HOME FOR NOW.

NHTSA ODI #10761064

30,000 miles · Sep 8, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED, VIBRATED, AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FACTORY IGNITION COILS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED, VIBRATED, AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FACTORY IGNITION COILS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10631575

62,000 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET THE KEY OUT. HAD SIX MECHANICS TRY TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK AND A KIA PERSONAL(OVER THE PHONE), WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD TO TOW MY CAR 20 MILES PAID $165 TO TOW IT, THEN KIA SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME ANOTHER $430 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK WITH AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS. ONE SET TO OPEN …

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IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET THE KEY OUT. HAD SIX MECHANICS TRY TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK AND A KIA PERSONAL(OVER THE PHONE), WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD TO TOW MY CAR 20 MILES PAID $165 TO TOW IT, THEN KIA SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME ANOTHER $430 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK WITH AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS. ONE SET TO OPEN THE DOORS AND ONE SET TO START THE CAR. GUESS WHAT ELSE...NOW THE CAR IGNITION DINGS LIKE THE KEYS ARE STILL IN IT EVEN WHEN NO KEYS ARE IN IGNITION AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR! UNLESS HOWEVER I ACT LIKE THAT FONZFROM HAPPY DAYS AND GIVE THE STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE TAP THEN MAGICALLY THE DINGING STOPS AND I'M ABLE TO LOCK MY CAR. I TOLD A KIA DEALER FROM THE SAME OFFICE WHERE MY CAR WAS SERVICED WHY MY CAR HAD TWO SETS OF KEYS AND HE CHUCKLED AND ASK WHO DID THAT? WHEN I SAID HIS DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER HE JUST GAVE ME A SAD FACE AND EXCUSED HIMSELF. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS NOT MY ONLY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610218

3,679 miles · Sep 8, 2011
Electrical SystemSteeringWheels

FIRST THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIR WAS TOO LOW. IT WAS ONLY 25PSI THEY FIXED ALL MY TYRES AND CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE THEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUDDENLY. STARTED GETTING JERKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD TH…

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FIRST THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIR WAS TOO LOW. IT WAS ONLY 25PSI THEY FIXED ALL MY TYRES AND CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE THEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUDDENLY. STARTED GETTING JERKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW KIA RIO 2011 NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS OLD. ALSO THE DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS LESS AIR. THE TIRE WAS AT 25PSI AND IT DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION ON MY SPEED ODOMETER NOR THE TPMS LIGHT TURNED ONE NOR THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAM UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424339

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.