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Engine coolingPart report

2012 Kia RIO Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
1about this part
Share
2%of 54 total for the year
Median mileage
180,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 1 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2012 Kia RIO, 2% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 180,000 miles. 1 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.

“The contact owns a 2012 Kia Rio. The contact stated that after the niece had park and exited the vehicle smoke and flames were present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to scene to extinguish the flames. During the incident the vehicle was destroyed and towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that prior to the incident the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption but no assistance was offered from local dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11470688, filed 2022-06, 180,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201814%
201634%
201548%
201332%
201212%
200913%
200824%
200724%
200668%
20051232%
20041232%
20031926%
20023930%
20015223%

Other parts of the 2012 Kia RIO

Engine
24 complaints
Air bags
12 complaints
Fuel system
8 complaints
Brakes
6 complaints
Electrical system
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
6 complaints
Other or unknown
5 complaints
Seat belts
3 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Electronic stability control
1 complaints
Suspension
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