2013 KIA RIO Electrical System Problems

Car started smoking while drive, lucky I was already pulling in my driveway.

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. On June 10, 2024 we had the HECU fuse replaced through a recall that could cause a fire. After we had it "fixed" we had no idea that it could still catch on fire! My son could have been in the car when this happened or other structures could have caught on fire! The fire department was called to put the fire out and the car was inspected by Kia and by our insurance company. Kia does not care that we had the part replaced and that the car STILL caught on fire. They have stated that they will not do one thing about it. They didn't offer a rental car, removal of the burned car or any money to replace the car. I do not know how they get away with this especially when the fire inspector for Kia told me that they knew that changing the fuse wasn't a "fix" but it would hopefully short the fuse before a fire would start! So they knew it was still possible! Kia should not be allowed to manufacture cars!! As of the past week, Kia will not even return my phone calls.

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that after receiving a notice of a recall, the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the recall repair; however, several days later, the contact experienced intermittent difficulty starting the vehicle. 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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 157,000.

Mileage: 157,000

Engline starting smoking and the car was engulfed in flames.

It's very high insurance..I paid twice the amount of the car in insurance and registration Kelly Bluebook said car is worth 5000.00 Brand New...I paid 6995.00 plus taxes There's a recall on my vehicle and it has 147,000 miles and i haven't even drove anywhere but from Palace Station to Decatur

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was smoke coming out from underneath the hood. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a fee for diagnostic testing; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

Dealer has failed to remedy recall 23V652 in a reasonable amount of time. Received the original recall notice dated April 10, 2024. Immediately scheduled an appointment with the dealer. Dealer fixed another outstanding recall but said they didn't have the part for the 23V652 recall. Contacted the dealer several times since and they say they don't have the part to fix the recall and will get back when they do. Contacted Kia and explained the situation. They said they'd get back. Never heard from them. This is a recall for a fire hazard. It was dated April 10, 2024. It is now September 10, 2024.

driver door lock has stopped responding to the key fob and the door no longer unlocks with the key. the key works, but only unlocks the other doors, even when used on the driver side. The driver side lock also does not respond to the inside buttons for unlocking the door. all three other doors work, but not the driver side. dealer was unable to fix.

Engine O2 sensors failing caused car to go into limp mode when attempting to enter a very busy hi way. Key was stuck in the driver's side door. Could not unlock it. Had to call a locksmith. This left me on foot away from home. Key stuck in the ignition. Would not go into park or start. Car has to be towed home.

KIA IS FAILING TO REPAIR A FUSE RECALL IN A TIMELY MANNER. I WAS TOLD I AM JUST OUT OF LUCK THEY AREN'T FIXING

Fire under the hood. It's available for inspection. I opened the hood after seeing smoke and the fire blew up but I wasn't hurt. The fire department put the fire out and wrote report. I called my insurance company and got a claim for it. They said it's most likely going to be a total loss after they examine it every where. I took it to Kia for servicing on September 11,2023 and I told them I had a little whining noise but they didn't say it was anything that could be fatal. Did this car have a recall for anything?

On 04/07/22, I took my vehicle into Covina Valley KIA to replace a fuel line that had melted being constructed too close to the engine. About a month before the line, I noticed smoke was coming from under the hood. Other parts were too close to the GDi engine and were melting, and/or burning. For instance, the ignition coil/engine wire(s) cluster plastic holder which is mounted on the engine, was melting, breaking, and burning. Also the foam from the engine cover had caught fire. My car had also been throwing a knock sensor code p0326 every year. Replace it each time. Then the last time I fixed it, I got another p0326 that changed into fuel too rich code p2192. I inquired to KIA Management about the 2015 Service Bulletin: SB-10089747-5448 concerning the constant codes. But manager said that a ECU Upgrade may not help and to come down just to clear the codes to see if that helped. The car has been maintained, oil/filter changes 3,000 miles and I am the second owner. But these problems occurred without warning. Bad manufacturing, had to also replace the Fuel Pressure Regulator Valve, Fuel Feed Pipe, and all four Injectors due to melted plastic making it into the Delivery Rail from the melted Fuel Line which is plastic. Will attached my service bill and main receipts for parts bought to rectify this problem.

Right now, the interior lights do not work. I have already replaced the windshield wiper system because they stopped working. I just found out through searching for new insurance that there are 7 recalls on my vehicle (this would explain the "brakes sounds" and "no light in the interior". I have had no confirmation that these repairs have been conducted: 1. Fuel System, Gasoline (Recall: 3/31/2021) 24Gi 20V648000 2. Service Brakes, Hydraulic Part #072-9831 (Recall: 09/23/2020) 3. Electrical System (Recall: 08/22/2017) 4. Equipment: 49 CFR, Part 567) (Recall: 05/31/2017) 5. Equipment: "Tire Section and Rims" (FMVSS) #110 (Recall: 03/02/2017) 6. Equipment: FMVSS #110 (Recall: 03/02/2017) 7. Engine and Engine Cooling "engine may seize" (Recall: 03/02/17)

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MEANS THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. KIA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE CLOCK SPRING BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS PLACING ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF IN AN ACCIDENT

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS, AND THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DIFEO KIA (1320 OCEAN AVE, LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP, NJ 08701; (833) 842-8290) WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SWITCH. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPAIRED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT THE TIRE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF LYNCHBURG (434-847-3292, LOCATED AT 3400 OLD FOREST RD, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CHANGED THE OIL AND REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO AN UNKNOWN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN STAYS OFF. FORCING ME TO TURN OFF AND BACK ON THE LIGHTS MANUALLY WITH THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON THEN REPEAT.. THEY TURN OF AND I STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEM ON AND I TRAVEL FOR WORK AND ALLOT OF NIGHT TIME DRIVING. VERY FRUSTRATING AND OTHER DRIVERS THINK I'M FLASHING THEM. VERY UNSAFE AND KIA DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY THEM TO FIX IT. MY CAR HAS 23,000 MILES AT THE MOMENT PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR AROUND 12,000 MILES BUT AGE IS PAST FACTORY WARRANTY. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I'M DRIVING OR IT'S PARKED LIGHTS/WIRING HAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA REFUSES TO FIX.

I WAS DRIVING HOME WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 15 MINUTES. IT WAS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND HAD MY WINDOW DOWN WHEN I NOTICED AND ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM FROM SOMETHING OUTSIDE AND KEPT DRIVING. THE SMELL GOT STRONGER AND STRONGER. AFTER JUST A COUPLE MINUTES OF FURTHER DRIVING SMOKE STARTED POURING IN FROM MY DEFROST VENTS. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST AS I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND IT WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN SECONDS. THE CAUSE OF YET UNKNOWN AND UNDER INVESTIGATION FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER NEEDED ANY WORK DONE TO IT AND JUST PASSED THE MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION FOR REGISTRATION 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.

Mileage: 89,000

JUST BOUGHT A 2013 RIO WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT ON 9/2/16. THE CAR SAT IN OUR DRIVEWAY ALL LAST WEEK BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, SO WE MAYBE PUT 100 MILES ON IT AND DROVE IT 4 TIMES. DROVE 20 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE YESTERDAY, PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND WENT BACK INTO HOUSE TO WORK. WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND CAME RUNNING IN THE HOUSE SAYING THE NEW CAR IS ON FIRE. CALLED 911 AND BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO GET THERE, THE FLAMES WERE AS HIGH AS OUR SECOND FLOOR WINDOWS. CAR WAS PARKED ABOUT 10-15 FEET AWAY FROM HOUSE, BUT THE HEAT DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE AS WELL. I HAVE CONTACTED INSURANCE, BUT I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A KIA ISSUE / PROBLEM, AND WE REALLY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO USE INSURANCE TO REPLACE THE CAR. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY, AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEN LAST NIGHT AFTER THE TOW COMPANY CAME, WE STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND HAVE FOUND MANY, MANY 2012-2014 KIA'S DOING THIS. I LOGGED A COMPLAINT ON YOUR KIA'S WEBSITE, BUT HAVE NOT GOT A RESPONSE BACK YET, AND YES, I FEEL I SHOULD GET A RESPONSE OVER THE WEEKEND. OUR CAR BURST INTO FLAMES, DAMAGED PART OF OUR HOUSE FROM THE HEAT, AND IT COULD OF BEEN MUCH WORSE, ESPECIALLY IF I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE YESTERDAY. WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM KIA, OR OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT WITH ALL OF THE GOOGLE HITS ABOUT KIA'S CATCHING FIRE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON ANY OF THE MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND GET THEM EITHER FIXED, OR OFF OF THE ROAD, AT KIA'S EXPENSE.

Mileage: 28,200

ON2 OCCASIONS I REQUESTED MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOOK AT THE RADIO WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE SECOND CHECK. BOTH TIMES THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED HE HAD FORGOTTEN BUT SURE IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT NEWER CARS ARE SENSITIVE A PUMP IN THE ROAD CAN MAKE THE RADIO JUMP SECOND TIME THE TIRE PRESSURE AS WELL AS THE RADIO JUMPING I WAS TOLD THE SAME NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THEY WILL BE SURE TO CHECK IT ON THE NEXT VISIT. APRIL 2015 I HIT A POT HOLE THE CLUTCH HIT THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO A GAS STATION TO ADD FLUID TO THE CHAMBER. THE CHAMBER WAS FULL. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH IT CAME TO THE TOP LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO I DROVE HOME CAUTIOUSLY. THE NEXT DAY WENT TO LEAVE CLUTCH ON THE FLOOR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN. I THEN CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY&MADE A CLAIM. THEN I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE DAYS BEFORE MY CAR WOULD BE LOOKED AT. THE WEEKEND CAME& WENT BY TUESDAY THEY HAD GOOD NEWS & BAD! ONE WAS COVERED THE OTHER NOT! HOW MUCH? $1,200 . THEY EXPLAIN I NEEDED A CLUTCH & A SLAVE CYLINDER. I AGUED I HAVE DRIVEN STICK ALL MY LIFE AND AT 14000 NO WAY. THEY ARGUED WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES. I THEN TOLD THEM I'D SEND IN MY OWN SPECIALIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY. LOOK AT IT AGAIN CALL ME WHEN YOU HAVE THE REAL ISSUE. ONE DAY LATER THEY CALL COME GET YOUR CAR! WHAT YESTERDAY IT NEEDS $1,200 IN DAMAGES NOW IT IS A MIRACLE IT NEEDS NOTHING? THEY REPLIED COME PICK UP YOUR CAR. I NEED TO CALL MY INSURANCE. THEY REPLIED YOU REPORTED IT TO YOUR INSURANCE? I HIT A POTHOLE. MY INSURANCE WENT OUT & FOUND NO ISSUE DUE TO THE PIT HOLE BUT LATER I FOUND OUT THEY DID SEE OR FOUND OUT IT HAD MECHANICAL ISSUE. I A HAD PICKED UP MY CAR. 3 WEEKS LATER DRIVING 75 MILES PER HOUR IN MODERATE RAIN FAST LANE. THE SMELL OF WIRES BURNING, CLUTCH ON FLOOR, NO GEARS, STEERING LIKE NO POER STEERING HARD,TIGHT 7 LIIGHT'S.IN SORT THEY LEINED MY CAR.

Mileage: 1,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY, ACCELERATE, AND STALL. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,252.

Mileage: 64,252

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70.

Mileage: 70

I WAS STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN FLAMES SHOT UP FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD! THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL THAT ANYTHING WAS EVEN WRONG W/THIS CAR! NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD...NO WARNING! *TR I QUICKLY PUT IT INTO PARK AND JUMPED OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN RIVINE, CAL. I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO CAUSE SUCH A FIRE!

WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART. THE LIGHT HAD TURNED RED AGAIN BEFORE I COULD FIGURE OUT THAT I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO RESTART IT WITH THE KEY. *TR

Mileage: 2,700