Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 Kia Rio problems
Owners filed 26 complaints about the 2010 Kia Rio with NHTSA between Mar 2010 and Jul 2022. The most-cited component is air bags (12).
Complaints
26
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags12
- Electrical system4
- Engine4
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Service brakes2
- Structure2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Power train1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Wheels1
- Equipment1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Steering1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
3
1
2
5
3
2
2
2
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
12 reports8 crashes
“The contact owned a 2010 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed head-on into a guard rail. During the crash, the front-end of the vehicle was severely damaged; however, no air bags were deployed. No injuries were reported; however, the contact was concerned that the air bags had not been deployed to provide protection to the driver or the front seat passenger. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and the local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.”
Electrical system
4 reports
“WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR STALLS FOR NO REASON (THERE IS FUEL IN THE CAR, HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES, AND A BRAND NEW BATTERY). IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN TURN RIGHT OFF, BUT THE RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL DRIVING. THERE IS A JERKING MOTION WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS BECOMING UNSAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DO IS RUN THE CODE BUT NOTHING COMES UP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER 2016 AND HAS HAPPENED EVERY DAY SINCE THEN.THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR COULD STALL ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING AND I COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT AND OTHER DRIVERS COULD GET HURT. *TR”
Engine
4 reports2 crashes
“TOOK MY CAR TO GET FIXED, AND LOOKED AT THE 2ND CYL.. APPARENTLY, TONS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2ND CYL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE ABOUT IT. I HAD THEM TRY ALL MY COILS AND ITS NOT A COIL PROBLEM. I HAD ALL SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND TUNE UP WAS DONE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON MY 2ND CYL. TO BE MESSED UP... ? KIA I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MY CAR, WHY ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS COMING UP? MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!!! I EXPECT TO GET ANSWERS ON THIS AND IT BE TAKEN CARE OF, I WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR SOMETHING WHEN I'VE DONE MY PART IN MAINTAIN G MY CAR. *TR”
Fuel/propulsion system
2 reports
“HAVING TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE FUEL INJECTOR EACH YEAR. USUALLY NUMBER ONE PLUG.”
Service brakes
2 reports
“I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH EXITING ON THE FWY OFF RAMP WHICH TURNS TO THE RIGHT. INITIALLY MY BRAKES WORKED AND THEN IT MADE A AWFUL WINDING SOUND. THE CAR WAS GAINING SPEED AS I MADE THE TURN AND I TOTALLY LOST MY BRAKES AND HAD TO USE MY HAND BRAKE TO STOP BEFORE ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF A CAR. I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT MY SHOES WERE VERY GOOD BUT I WEN AHEAD AND PUT NEW ONES ON ANYWAY. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE FWY HAVING TO USE MY BRAKES AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH CAUSE THE SAME NOISE AND NO BRAKES UNTIL I HAVE SLOWED BELOW 40MPH.”
Structure
2 reports2 crashes
“WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE WE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER CAR WAS AT A STANDSTILL AND WE HIT THEM AT ABOUT 30 MPHS. THE DRIVER AND MYSELF BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS. THE DRIVER INJURIES HER LEFT KNEE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK THAT IF THEY DID HER KNEE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SLID FORWARD UPON IMPACT.. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.