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Electrical systemPart report

2012 Kia RIO Electrical system Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
11%of 54 total for the year
Median mileage
17,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Kia RIO, 11% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 17,000 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When I put my car in drive or park my doors automatic lock or unlock. Several times it neither locked or unlocked when put in park or drive.I took it to the dealership several times of course it did not malfunction then.I called Kia corporate office but no recalls or complaints were found.I believe it is a safety issue if my doors not unlocking”

NHTSA complaint #10743953, filed 2015-07, 23,000 miles

“Driving car at about 60 MPH and car began to smoke. Got out on side of highway lifted hood and everything was on fire. People assing by along with hero and fire dept made sure flames were put out . I never made any modification to vehicle and we keep it serviced. Feel like problems are with manufacture wiring. I have done insurance claim and contacted manufacture. The miles are aprox 102k”

NHTSA complaint #10903822, filed 2016-09, 60 miles

“My 2012 Kia RIO caught fire the other day. I pulled into the driveway, went into the house to put my laptop down. I had shut the car off. Came back out to grab some stuff from the trunk and the car was smoking from the hood. Thought it had overheated. Pulled hood release and went to open the hood when I realized flames were coming from the right side of the engine area. Tried putting the fire out with a garden hose & was instructed by 911 to get away from the vehicle. Car ended up bursting into flames. Fire department had to come and extinguish. …”

NHTSA complaint #10565984, filed 2014-02, 17,000 miles

“I recently purchased my vehicle and immediately noticed what seems to be oil coming from the engine, pooling on top of the block but also leaking onto the ground after being parked for an hour or so. The walls around the engine, mainly on the left side or passenger side were saturated with presumably the same fluid. Under the car is also saturated from what I am guessing to be a leak, perhaps the same leak from atop the engine block. …”

NHTSA complaint #11383239, filed 2020-12

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia RIO. The contact stated that at engine startup, all of the electrical components failed to work the vehicle was taken to the dealer four times for the same failure. The dealer confirmed that an electrical fire had occurred in the steering column. The manufacturer was contacted however, the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,315 and the current mileage was 4,318.”

NHTSA complaint #10472736, filed 2012-08, 2,315 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2023217%
202218%
202117%
2020519%
201915%
2018518%
2017310%
2016911%
2015917%
2014510%
20132718%
2012611%
2011521%
2010415%
200925%
200812%
2007817%
200634%
2005411%
2004513%
20031520%
200286%
20012511%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia RIO

Engine
24 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsSeat belts
3 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Kia RIO

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology