YearToAvoid

2013 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 19 Rio years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Kia Rio ranks worst of 14 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 153 complaints, including 18 fires and 8 crashes. Engine problems dominate at 39% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 70,000. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Rio years.

Complaints
153
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
8 / 18
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32
29 city / 36 hwy

Top 2013 Kia Rio problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine59 (39%)
  2. Airbags34 (22%)
  3. Electrical System32 (21%)
  4. Brakes31 (20%)
  5. Other20 (13%)
  6. Steering10 (7%)
  7. Fuel System8 (5%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers6 (4%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain5 (3%)
  10. Structure & Body4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine compartment catches fire while parked or while driving, sometimes with no dashboard warning beforehand.
  • Smoke and flames emerge from under the hood at highway speed, forcing drivers to pull over and exit.
  • Frontal or side airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed collisions, leaving occupants with injuries.
  • Seat belts fail to retract or properly secure passengers after a crash, even when airbags also failed.
  • Electrical burning smell develops while driving, followed by smoke entering the cabin through vents.
  • Unusual whirring, clicking, and banging noises come from the engine before it loses power.
2013 Kia Rio complaints: complaints filed per quarter152012 Q32014 Q32016 Q22018 Q32020 Q22022 Q12023 Q42025 Q3
215 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2023 Q4 (15).

2013 Kia Rio recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V652000Sep 25, 2023Brakes1,730,192 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    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.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    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.

2013 Kia Rio fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
32 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Rio years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Best1724030
2012Caution5654131.5
2013Avoid100153132
2014Caution6152130
2015Avoid8952130

All Kia Rio years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Kia Rio reliable?
Among the 14 Kia Rio model years with data, 2013 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Kia Rio?
NHTSA complaints show Engine issues make up 39% of reports (59 complaints, including 13 fires), followed by Airbags at 22%, Electrical System at 21%, and Brakes at 20%.
Does the 2013 Kia Rio have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2013 Rio, a brake-related campaign (23V652000) advising owners to park outside away from structures until repaired.
At what mileage do 2013 Kia Rio engine problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 70,000 miles at the time engine-related complaints were reported.
How does the 2013 Rio compare to other Rio years for fires?
The 2013 Rio shows 18 fire-related complaints, a notably high count compared to other years in the same complaint dataset.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.