Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2018 | 2 | 7% | — |
| 2016 | 4 | 5% | 1,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2014 | 4 | 8% | 32,000 miles |
| 2013 | 8 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2012 | 8 | 15% | 80,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 4% | 66,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 8% | 88,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 8% | 75,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 4% | 32,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 4% | 112,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 4% | 42,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 8% | 38,000 miles |
| 2004 | 6 | 16% | 54,000 miles |
| 2003 | 7 | 9% | 58,000 miles |
| 2002 | 15 | 12% | 50,000 miles |
| 2001 | 24 | 11% | 36,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On June 29, 2022, I was driving on I-5 southbound when I heard a loud sort of tapping sound coming from my engine. About 30 minutes later, before I had time to get to a gas station, there was a loud "BOOM!" sound and all of a sudden, the catalytic converter light and some other dash lights started to flash and I started to lose power. I pulled over to the left shoulder of the highway and before I could even pop the hood, I noticed flames immediately licking from the underside of the hood. I grabbed my phone and pulled my rabbit in her cage from the back seat of the car and called 911. My car continued to burn, starting a small brush fire, until the fire department finally came and put the fire out. The whole front of my car was completely incinerated and it had made its way to the back hatch in less than hour. …
On May 29th 2021 my 2016 Kia Rio engine caught on fire after multiple attempts of letting Kia know that my engine had a possible recall/detect. I was told that my car wasn't apart of the recall list of considered on the list of the 1.6 million or billion others who's engines have blown up as well. I have paper work/trail of recent mechanical work/mechanics informing me with "possible recall issues as well". Paid for an oil change May 21st, visited the mechanic and 8 days later my car was in flames at an EXXON gas station pump, literally traumatized.
On many occasions, since we purchased this 2014 Kia Rio, it has had a horrible, intense odor of gasoline that is so strong it overwhelms anyone near it. It starts after 20-30 minutes of driving. I have taken it to the dealer 4 or 5 times and the workers can not find anything wrong with it. One one occasion, the mechanics changed something called the purge canister but the problem continues. I read on the NHTSA that at least two other car owners complained of the same. I have a new born and a 7 year old and I no longer feel safe in this car.the car was purchased for my daughter who has two
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Kia Rio. While driving various speeds, a strong fuel odor was present in the vehicle. The failure was persistent. The passenger on many occasions had to be rushed to the hospital due to the fuel odor. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
On 04/07/22, I took my vehicle into Covina Valley KIA to replace a fuel line that had melted being constructed too close to the engine. About a month before the line, I noticed smoke was coming from under the hood. Other parts were too close to the GDi engine and were melting, and/or burning. For instance, the ignition coil/engine wire(s) cluster plastic holder which is mounted on the engine, was melting, breaking, and burning. Also the foam from the engine cover had caught fire. My car had also been throwing a knock sensor code p0326 every year. Replace it each time. Then the last time I fixed it, I got another p0326 that changed into fuel too rich code p2192. I inquired to KIA Management about the 2015 Service Bulletin: SB-10089747-5448 concerning the constant codes. But manager said that a ECU Upgrade may not help and to come down just to clear the codes to see if that helped. …
We purchased a very low miles (42K) Kia from the dealer as a 2nd owner. In less than 6 months the car has serious safety issues. The vehicle shuts off and stalls while idling at stop lights, stop signs or slow traffic with no warning. All other powered components like radio, lights etc remain on and functioning. The car is hard to start after the vehicle shuts off and has stalled and takes multiple tries to turn over. When accelerating the vehicle will randomly not respond at all to the gas pedal, will not increase speed, RPM will not move and the car will not respond. When the car does accelerate, it will sputter and rpm will increase dramatically. This is very dangerous to those driving and those on the road. If the vehicle does not respond to acceleration the risk to the driver and occupants is serious. There could be an accident from oncoming traffic both rear and from behind. …
Our granddaughter bought this car from a private seller. My son is a mechanic and when he inspected the undercarriage he found a small leak in the seam of the gas tank. The local KIA dealer said it is not covered. This, to me, is a safety and emissions issue. Please assist. The car is available at any time for inspection. Thank you
This car has a tendency to rev up to the red line on the tach - sometimes when you start it, sometimes when you are in traffic, sometimes when you are stopped at a traffic signal. I have witnesses to this fact and it is making me feel very unsafe when I am driving it. I almost got in two accidents because of this condition. It May appear if I am driving down the highway a couple times this occurred and the only way that this is remedied is turning off the ignition and restarted it, sometimes you have to do this 2 or 3 times. Other times it will happen when you start the engine it will go right to the top of the tach if you do not turn off ignition. It has also happened at a traffic light stop I felt the car increasing in revs while I was stopped, thank god I turned off the ignition before it crashed into the car in front of me. I have idea when it will occur. …
Related recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel intake nipple of the fuel distributor is subject to fracture or cracking during removal of the quick connect coupling securing the main fuel tube assembly to the fuel intake nipple, or when force is accidentally applied to the intake nipple during the vehicle assembly process or during…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel distributor and main fuel tube assemblies. The recall began June 18, 2004. Owners should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles, fuel leaks May develop at the fuel distributor assembly because of quality deviations.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel distributor and fuel connector assemblies. Owner notification is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2004. Owners should contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Kia has identified 22 non-crash engine compartment fires of any or unspecified cause on the subject vehicles.nine fires (of which 4 were also reported to odi) are identified as being due to a fuel system leak originating between the firewall and the fuel injector rail (p/n 0k30e 13 150) in the passenger side area of the engine compartment.the remaining fires were due to varied or unknown causes.all 9 fires caused by…
Fuel rail leakage
On April 15, 2003, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe03-016) to investigate engine compartment fires due to alleged fuel system leaks in model year (my) 2001 Kia rio vehicles.the investigation was upgraded to an engineering analysis on August 28, 2003.on September 22, 2003, the manufacturer notified the agency that it would conduct a safety recall (03v-352) to inspect the…
Frequently asked questions
Which Kia Rio years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (24), 2002 (15), 2012 (8), 2013 (8) and 2003 (7) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Kia Rio fuel system problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 04V-179 (delivery, Apr 9, 2004); 03V-352 (fuel system, gasoline, Sep 24, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Kia Rio fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the delivery (16 mentions), followed by the storage › tank assembly (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.