2011 Kia RIOProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 24 owner complaints about the 2011 Kia RIO, most often about the engine. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 23, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Where the 2011 Kia RIO has problems
24 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 |
| 1 other systems | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2011 Kia RIO recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
2011 vs. every other RIO year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RIO median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2011 Kia RIO safety ratings
2011 Kia Rio SW FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
What RIO owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Coils, I have been through 6 sets of coils since I bought this car in 2011. This causes the engine to run rough, sputter & have no pick up when trying to accelerate. The 1st set I paid the dealer $125 a piece bc they said I must replace all 4 at once even though when 1 coil burned out under…
The engine and all electrical shuts down without warning. This happened three times in heavy traffic and nearly caused an accident. The engine stops running and the electrical components turn off which shuts down power steering and power brakes. Each time this has happened the electrical is…
IGNITION COILS. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY KIA IN 2015 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. AT FIRST, WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD JUMP AND EVEN SHUT OFF ON ME WHEN…
Own a 2011 RIO?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.