2012 Kia Rio Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2012 Kia Rio, and owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2012 Kia Rio
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module Park outside
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which…
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk,…
54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Kia Rio have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 65,301 miles. Complaints peaked in 2020 with 8 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2012 Kia Rio, which currently has approximately 150,000 miles. I first became aware of these problems at approximately 120,000 miles. The vehicle has excess”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 13, 2026 · Engine
“I went to honk my horn as someone was backing up and didn’t see me as we were on an incline . This vehicle sits low and they were in a jeep. Due to the failure of my horn, I was unable to give a warni”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 6, 2026 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Kia Rio. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 31–32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 28–29 / 36–37 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Rio model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Rio model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Kia Rio | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 Kia Rio | 3 | 223 |
| 2002 Kia Rio | 1 | 128 |
| 2003 Kia Rio | 3 | 74 |
| 2004 Kia Rio | 2 | 38 |
| 2005 Kia Rio | 1 | 37 |
| 2006 Kia Rio | 1 | 74 |
| 2007 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2008 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2009 Kia Rio | 0 | 39 |
| 2010 Kia Rio | 0 | 26 |
| 2011 Kia Rio | 0 | 24 |
| 2012 Kia Rio | 1 | 54 |
| 2013 Kia Rio | 1 | 153 |
| 2014 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2015 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2016 Kia Rio | 2 | 77 |
| 2017 Kia Rio | 2 | 31 |
| 2018 Kia Rio | 1 | 28 |
| 2019 Kia Rio | 1 | 21 |
| 2020 Kia Rio | 1 | 27 |
| 2021 Kia Rio | 2 | 15 |
| 2022 Kia Rio | 1 | 11 |
| 2023 Kia Rio | 0 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2012 Kia Rio
How do I know if my 2012 Kia Rio has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2012 Kia Rio; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 23V652000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.