Reliable Auto DB

2013 Kia Rio reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Kia Rio holds 153 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 10 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 Rio years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Brake control module.

2012 Kia Rio
Photo by Makizox, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

153

Per year

10

Recalls

1

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (53 of 153), then Air bags (34) and Electrical system (27). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 18 that report a fire, and 7 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Rio has 54 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 52 complaints, 7 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Kia Rio. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
Summary 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 can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
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, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Complaints by component (153 total)

Engine
53
Air bags
34
Electrical system
27
Hydraulic brakes
21
Steering
10
Service brakes
8
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Exterior lighting
6
Powertrain
5
Speed control
5
Visibility and wipers
5
Engine and engine cooling
3
Seat belts
3
Structure
3
Air brakes
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Equipment
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Wheels
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

18

Injury reports

7

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22012102013720141120155201672017122018182019102020620211820221420232320246202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact called on behalf of her mother, who owned a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while the contact's mother was approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact's…"
    Hydraulic brakes · filed 2026-04-20
  • "Was sleeping and heard a pop looked and there was a fire under the hood tried to extinguish it got it outside on the road, and it burned to the ground basically"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-03-24
  • "Case numberODI11697241"
    Steering, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-02-02
  • "Vehicle showed all defect warnings as described in recall #23v652 .To include loss of all hydraulic components. Your reference Claim # [XXX]. I would like to know the status of this claim as the dealer still has my…"
    Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2026-01-15
  • "The contact owns a 2013 Kia Rio. The contact had notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The recall repair was…"
    Hydraulic brakes, Engine · filed 2025-11-03

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2013 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 29 37 32 MPG $2050
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 28 36 31 MPG $2100
Rio Eco 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 30 36 32 MPG $2050

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (YB), 2012–2017
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (1.6L Gamma) , 3.8 qt capacity
Tire size 185/65R15 to 195/55R16 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 23V652000. 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 can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. 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, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Kia Rio Next year 2014 Kia Rio See every Kia Rio model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Kia Rio reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Kia Rio holds 153 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 10 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 Rio years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Brake control module.

What are common problems with a 2013 Kia Rio?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (53 of 153), then Air bags (34) and Electrical system (27). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 18 that report a fire, and 7 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Kia Rio more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Rio has 54 complaints, 3 per year, and the 2014 has 52 complaints, 7 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Kia Rio been recalled?

The 2013 Kia Rio has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 153 complaints about the 2013 Kia Rio with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Kia Rio get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Kia Rio is 31.7 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia Rio take?

YB (2012-2017) 1.6L Gamma: 5W-20 or 5W-30. YB2 (2018-2023) 1.6L Smartstream: 0W-20. Confirm the manual.

What does NHTSA campaign 21V936000 cover on later Rio?

Certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles: the brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.

When did the YB2 Rio generation start?

Model year 2018 (through 2023 on this site).