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Vehicle speed controlPart report

2012 Kia RIO Vehicle speed control Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
11%of 54 total for the year
Median mileage
61,750miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2012 Kia RIO, 11% of the 54 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 61,750 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“I filled up with gas and was leaving the gas station. I hit the accelerator to pull out and the car didn't go. It idled out into traffic, on the road but it wouldn't go. It took about 3-4 seconds before it would take off. Since then it has happened multiple times. It mostly happens when the engine is at operating temp and you stop for a couple of minutes.”

NHTSA complaint #10626366, filed 2014-08, 59,500 miles

“Got up early one morning to go to work, started my car, let it run for 2 minutes and put it in reverse and it moved without me pressing on the gas petal and I was parked down hill.now my car starts sometimes and sometimes it won't. It doesn't do it all the time, but it still needs to be repaired. I wanted to know were there a recall on my car for these problems.I haven't took it to a shop to be checked yet, spend enough money on car payments to have to fix my own car and it's under warranty”

NHTSA complaint #10747222, filed 2015-08, 39,240 miles

“My problem is similar to another post on this website. My car would rev high on the rpms when starting it while in park and I would have to put my toe under the gas pedal to stop it and it would have to be repeated if it was still doing it while the car was moving, otherwise the car feels like it is pushing forward. I noticed this happed more often the next day if the car was parked quickly earlier, (but not always) and also happened more with less miles on the car when I first got the one owner used car at a toyota dealership with less than 12000 miles. …”

NHTSA complaint #10872511, filed 2016-06, 52,000 miles

“My 2012 Kia RIO began to accelerate on its own without my foot on the gas to 60mph on a city street. I almost got into an accident. When the tow truck showed up to take my car to dealership, we started the car and the problem subsided. The tow truck driver told me that he would have to charge me for the tow since the problem isn't currently taking place, and Kia said I would get the bill for inspection since the problem isn't able to be replicated. I have had serious problems with this car for the past 5 months with it sporadically not starting, then starting. …”

NHTSA complaint #10662263, filed 2014-12, 66,500 miles

“Car accelerated on its own, RPM's revving while driving down a major highway. Could not get car to slow down so had to steer car into a concrete barrier. Problem existed before the accident doing the same thing(RPM's revving) in park or reverse or accelerating on its own without pushing the gas pedal. Took in for repair and 4 days later was in the accident. Kia dealership telling me that the problem cannot be duplicated while driving it or performing inspection. According to their results, car is safe to drive. The acceleration problem occurred randomly before the accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10959673, filed 2017-03, 105,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Vehicle speed control: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202014%
201915%
201713%
201611%
201536%
201412%
201353%
2012611%
2011313%
201014%
200925%
200837%
200611%
200538%
200438%
200211%
200142%

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
Other or unknown
5 complaints
Seat belts
3 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Electronic stability control
1 complaints
Engine cooling
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 30, 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