34 of the
218 complaints about the 2013 KIA RIO are about the
airbag system — 16% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
74,000 miles.
I received a letter from KIA corporation that they would voluntarily replace a part (the clockspring assembly) in the steering wheel shaft as the malfunction would impair the proper functioning of the air bags, in the letter they stated specifically that this would not cost me any money out pocket including the diagnostic, I took the car to one of their dealers and they refused to service my vehicle if I did not pay upfront. I called another of their dealers but they also said I would have to pay for the diagnostic. I then called corporate and also corresponded with them via email but they did not solve the problem. Ever since I have been involved in two separate collisions and the air bags did not deploy, also the horn stop functioning and after doing some online research I found out it also depends on the part that was supposed to be replaced to function, the steering wheel control such as cruise control etc. also stopped working. Corporate has not gotten back to me and I feel they are just going to let it die out and not do anything about it. Meanwhile I am driving the vehicle without air bags, horn and steering wheel controls. I have no choice because my family only owns this vehicle. Please let me know what I need to do to get help to get a solution for this issue/s. thank you. Note: At this moment I only have information related to one of the collisions but I could provide for the other if need be. Also, the car belongs to my wife [XXX] ) but I was the driver at both collisions as I am the primary driver in my family household. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11548828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ontario, CA
AIR BAGS
Passenger air bag light on No accidents…. Light just recently turned on.
NHTSA complaint #11523730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chino, CA
AIR BAGS
air bag sensor showing up on dash as issue.
NHTSA complaint #11491609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Penn Hills, PACrash
AIR BAGS
I was sitting behind a S.U.V . when it started to move i doubt if we were going 5 miles I slightly moved my steering wheel not even a half a turn to move straight behind the S.U.V. My car shot to the right jumped a curb, hit a pole, thru two trees down a hill and into a fence. when it was all said and done my car wouldn't stop, my airbag never deployed and my car was totaled. i kept asking if there was a way this car could be examined.the insurance company took the car.i had started having problems prior to this incident that started around the end of May. but before that the car ran pretty good and only had 52,000 miles.1st it wouldn't start after driving it for a while. you would have to wait a few minutes and it would restart. So my husband took it to our mechanic. he couldn't find anything wrong and it even passed inspection. About a week and a half later i am driving and the car just stopped while I am driving no power.I finally get it to start again.get it to a safer place and called AAA towing. they towed it to Kia. they replaced some type of sensor i believe it was a crank.it ran smooth but it still didn't feel right.it had a hard time pulling hills and the acceleration wasn't right. it kept losing acceleration like it was going to stop on me again then it would seem to kick back in. I had planned that Weekend to take it up to pep boys for diagnostics and take it back to Kia to see what was wrong with it. but I had the incident that friday . i uploaded a police report. and i do have repair ,inspection & and tow bill if needed
NHTSA complaint #11484878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesGeorgetown, TX
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated when he started the vehicle, he noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the air bag sensor on the driver’s side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but a diagnostic test was not preformed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11483228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hawley, TX
AIR BAGS
The air bag light has come on and as I understand I am no longer protected in case of an accident.i do not find a recall but there should be as I am seeing many complaints for the same issue
NHTSA complaint #11454697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,236 milesLenoir, NC
AIR BAGS
BOUGHT CAR USED IN NOVEMBER OF 2020 FROM A USED CAR LOT MADE NOTE OF AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND NO HORN THEY SAID THEY WILL SCAN IT AND THEY DID SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING AND THEY WERE GONNA ORDER ONE. NEVER GOT IT ABOUT A MONTH LATER CALLED LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS AND DID NOT FIX IT WHEN I HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND CAN BE DEADLY AS I HAVE NO HORN OR AIRBAG TO PROTECT ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11396175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesPooler, GA
AIR BAGS
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
NHTSA complaint #11374939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 41,800 milesBelleville, NJ
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE FLASHES AND THEN STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. UNDERSTAND KIA IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP CONSUMERS. THIS IS SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11341539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesSpringfield, VA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING AND FIRST STARING UP. NO ACCIDENTS TO CAUSE THIS. CAR HAS JUST OVER 65K. AFTER SEEING MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE SENSORS RANDOMLY COMING ON AFTER 60K MILES OR SO, SEEMS THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WHEN A CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE. CODES PROVIDED WERE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSANGER SIDE IMPACT SENSORS. AGAIN, NO CRASH OR ACCIDENTS. CAR IS GENTLY DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #11341393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11 milesNorcross, GA
AIR BAGS
THE CLOCK SPRING LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR IS NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MY CAR AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SAFETY OF DRIVING SINCE IT EFFECTS THE AIRBAG. IF IT GET STOPPED I CAN GET A TICKET FOR THE LIGHT BEING ON.
NHTSA complaint #11331106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesEncinitas, CA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR CAME ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE AFTER WARRANTY ON THE BAG HAD JUST EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME NEW THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BAG, WHICH I DID. THEN AFTER REPLACING, THEY SAID THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND HAD TO REPLACE SOME KIND OF PIN. BUT THEY SWORE THE BAG REALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. DID I PAY $800 FOR A BAD PIN....MAYBE. OR, IS THERE A PATTERN OF AIRBAGS GOING OUT FOR NO REASON? THE BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED IN MY PRESENCE, BUT AFTER THAT BEING THE FOURTH "BAD PART" GO OUT ON THIS CAR, I FEEL I SHOULD REPORT IT. BEFORE I GOT THE NEW BAG, THE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WHEN I TURNED SHARP CORNERS. CAR WAS AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. IT TOOK ME ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO REPLACE....THE CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS FAULTY PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #11321345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesSunnyvale, CA
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON MY 2013 KIA RIO LX SOMETIME SHORTLY AFTER THE MILEAGE HIT 80,000 MILES. IT WOULD GO ON AND THEN TURN OFF. IT DID THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. I CALLED KIA TO ASK IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THE AIR BAGS AND THEY TOLD ME NO. THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $350-$400 JUST TO CHECK IT OUT. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS BY OTHER KIA RIO OWNERS ON THIS WEBSITE. THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11282960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 66,000 milesCanovanas, PR
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING
NHTSA complaint #11270041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,416 milesNewport News, VA
AIR BAGS
THE CAR A 2013 WHY IS MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON? THE CAR BEEN SERVICE AT KIA CASEY DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE INVOICE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING ALREADY THE CAR 6 YEARS OLD
NHTSA complaint #11257958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesSAN Bernardino, CA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY CAME ON. IT WILL PERIODICALLY COME OFF, BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING, BUT ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT IS A SHAME THAT KIA IS YET TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND NONE OF THEM CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
NHTSA complaint #11233960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,800 milesSouth Pasadena, CA
AIR BAGS
A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AIR-BAG WARNING LIGHT BECAME ON DURING DRIVING. I TRIED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BUT IT WON'T GO AWAY. NOTHING HAPPENED SO FAR. NO ACCIDENT, NO DAMAGE, AND ETC.
NHTSA complaint #11229499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conyers, GA
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY TURNING ON AND OFF AS I AM DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11218750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY STARTED COMING ON AND THEN TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW IT STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. NO ACCIDENTS OR REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST A LOT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WRONG AND KIA SHOULD RECALL AS THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THERE EVER IS AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG WON'T WORK, AND THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #11203265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nuevo, CA
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED OUT BY IT WOULD FLASH ON EVERY SO OFFTEN THEN IT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHEN ID TURN MY CAR. THEN IT CAME ON AND STAYED FOR A COUPLE DAYS NOW IT JUST STAYS ON . I WAS TOLD THE IT WOULD COST ME ALOT TO JUST HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT BY KIA . AND THAT IF IM TO EVER HAVE A ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS WONT WORK. I FEEL THAT KIA IS AT FAULT AND MY CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11197243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 milesVirginia Beach, VA
AIR BAGS
I ONLY DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK AND BACK, IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DAY I DRIVE TO WORK, WORK MY 8 HOURS THEN GET IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT COMES ON, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF FOR A COUPLE DAYS, NOW IT JUST STAYS ON. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, SUPPOSEDLY THIS HAPPENS ONCE YOU GET IN THE 80+ THOUSAND MILE MARK. I CHECKED UNDER MY SEATS FOR LOOSE CONNECTION AND FOUND NOTHING. I ALSO LOOKED AT HOW MUCH THE DEALER CHARGES AND ITS ASTRONOMICAL. IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE I THINK THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11171358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesIrving, TX
AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF, IT STAYS ON NOW. KIA TELLS ME THE CLOCK SPRING SHORTED OUT. NO IDEA WHY! THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING. DRIVERS SIDE. THE CODE IS B134600. THE PRICE $1037.47 + TAX !! THAT'S 2 HOURS LABOR. THEY TOLD ME IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT BEING FIXED. HELP-NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #11132215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Moreno Valley, CA
AIR BAGS
UPON RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE KIA RIO HAS THE SAME ENGINE USED IN THE KIA OPTIMA WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. JUST RECENTLY METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND MY KIA RIO WHY ARE NOT ALL CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE BEING RECALLED?
NHTSA complaint #11102630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inverness, FL
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING THEY'RE NOT WORKING AND THAT THEY WON'T GO OFF IN A CRASH IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN MY CAR ON
NHTSA complaint #11101524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 123,000 milesCharleston, SCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
DURING A FULL SIDE IMPACT COLLISION THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE DRIVER SIDE CENTER GOING 30 MPH. I WAS TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON SAVANNAH HIGHWAY NEAR CALIBER COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #11098951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesHouston, TX1 injured
AIR BAGS
ON AUGUST 22 2017 8:45 PM WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, FOR NO REASON CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RUN OVER A MEDIAN IN THE ROAD. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT TO AVOID ANY FURTHER INCIDENT AND INSPECT ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR. WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING, I WALKED THE PERIMETER OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, WITH NO BODILY DAMAGE VISIBLE I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING, I WENT TO CHECK ON MY KIA RIO AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND REPORTED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID I SHOULD CONTACT KIA CORPORATION AND REPORT THE AIR BAG FAILURE I DID AS REQUESTED. THEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT THE AREA AND DELAYED ANY ACTIONS TAKEN. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK KIA TOWED THE CAR TO THEIR LOT FOR INSPECTION. KIA ASKED WHAT I WANTED, I REPLIED REPAIR OR REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THEY WROTE A REPAIR COST ESTIMATED AT $9200.00 AND SAID THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND DENIED MY CLAIM AFTER ANOTHER WEEK PASSED. I HAD TO FILE THE CLAIM ON MY INSURANCE AT THAT TIME AND SEND IT TO ANOTHER SHOP FOR INSPECTION. ANOTHER WEEK PASSED BEFORE MY INSURANCE FILED IT A TOTAL LOSS. AFTER ALL THIS LOST TIME FROM WORK AND RENTAL COST EXPENSES THAT HAVE YET TO BE REIMBURSED. THEN HAVING TO GO FIND A CAR THAT I FEEL WOULD BE TRUSTWORTHY AND DEPENDABLE AFTER THESE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES HAS PROVED TO BE DIFFICULT. REFINANCING ANOTHER CAR INSURING IT. I DON'T FEEL KIA CORPORATION HELD UP THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN THIS SITUATION. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT KIA HAD MANY AIRBAG RECALLS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND AIRBAG FAILURES IN OTHER KIA AUTOMOBILES ACROSS MULTI-YEAR MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #11030684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesLake Elsinore, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DCH KIA IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL IN THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10993295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesLynchburg, VA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH PRODUCED A FAILURE CODE AT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10969681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,600 milesMaricopa, AZ
AIR BAGS
I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW 13JUL2012, AND HAVE HAD NO SERIOUS PROBLEMS. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO THE MILEAGE REACHED 60,000 WHICH ENDED THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AT MILEAGE OF ABOUT 60,600 WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER IT WENT OFF, THEN ON AGAIN AND OFF AGAIN, AND ETC. I EMAILED MY KIA DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND THEY REPLIED THAT SINCE THE BTOB WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED I WOULD BE COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS VERY UNFAIR TO ME AS THE CAR JUST EXCEEDED THE 60,000 WARRANTY MILEAGE BY ABOUT 1% (600 MILES). AT A MAXIMUM CHARGING ME 1% OF THE TOTAL REPAIR COSTS SEEMS FAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10958632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,000 milesQuebradillas, PRCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA RIO. AFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
NHTSA complaint #10875234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.