RecallPlainVehicle recalls, explained in plain English

2011 Kia Rio recalls & complaints

24 owner complaints on file. Recall list must be checked by VIN (see below).
0recalls
0high risk
0stop-driving
24complaints

Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.

Recalls: check by VIN

NHTSA files recalls for the Kia Rio under individual trim or body names rather than "Rio", so we can't match them automatically. Enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the definitive list. The owner complaints below are matched correctly.

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Owner complaints filed with NHTSA

24complaints
4crashes
0fires
3injuries
0deaths

Most complained-about parts: Engine (7), Electrical system (5), Airbags (5), Brakes (4), Vehicle Speed Control (3).

Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.

Read recent complaints (8)

03/23/2025 · Engine
Coils, I have been through 6 sets of coils since I bought this car in 2011. This causes the engine to run rough , sputter & have no pick up when trying to accelerate. The 1st set I paid the dealer $125 a piece bc they said I must replace all 4 at once even though when 1 coil burned out under warranty they only replaced the 1. I got smart after dealing with…

12/29/2024 · Body / structure
Painting peeling off the whole car. It’s going to cause the car to rust.Defect in Kia painting process.

09/03/2023 · Electrical system
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…

12/21/2022 · Vehicle Speed Control
It was 12/21/2022 at about 3:15 PM in the afternoon and I had just turned right into the parking lot of St. Alexius Medical Center, 1555 Barrington Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. I took a left turn, and went north about fifty feet and stopped at a stop sign. A car was stopped at the same intersection from the right facing west. As I waited for the other c…

04/02/2020 · Airbags · crash
AS I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OF WHICH I HAD A GREEN LIGHT, THE VEHICLE COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION FAILED TO YIELD AND TOOK A LEFT TURN HITTING ME HEAD-ON. WE WERE EACH GOING BETWEEN 30-35 MILES PER HOUR. I SLAMMED MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL, SHEARING MY BRAIN FROM THE INSIDE OF MY SKULL RESULTING IN A MASSIVE IN…

11/15/2019 · Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 8 IN LA MESA CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE ON MY VEHICLE STUCK. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED REVVING UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA OF EL CAJON WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY THROTTLE CABLE AND THR…

02/27/2019 · Engine
IGNITION COILS. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY KIA IN 2015 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. AT FIRST, WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD JUMP AND EVEN SHUT OFF ON ME WHEN IDLING. IT TOOK 3 MONTHS OF ME TAKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH TO TH…

01/02/2019 · Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ROUGH AND FINALLY STOPPED.

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