There are 2 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2011 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T LET THE KEY OUT. HAD SIX MECHANICS TRY TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK AND A KIA PERSONAL(OVER THE PHONE), WITH NO SUCCESS. HAD TO TOW MY CAR 20 MILES PAID $165 TO TOW IT, THEN KIA SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME ANOTHER $430 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GOT THE CAR BACK WITH AN EXTRA SET OF KEYS. ONE SET TO OPEN THE DOORS AND ONE SET TO START THE CAR. GUESS WHAT ELSE...NOW THE CAR IGNITION DINGS LIKE THE KEYS ARE STILL IN IT EVEN WHEN NO KEYS ARE IN IGNITION AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR! UNLESS HOWEVER I ACT LIKE THAT FONZFROM HAPPY DAYS AND GIVE THE STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE TAP THEN MAGICALLY THE DINGING STOPS AND I'M ABLE TO LOCK MY CAR. I TOLD A KIA DEALER FROM THE SAME OFFICE WHERE MY CAR WAS SERVICED WHY MY CAR HAD TWO SETS OF KEYS AND HE CHUCKLED AND ASK WHO DID THAT? WHEN I SAID HIS DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER HE JUST GAVE ME A SAD FACE AND EXCUSED HIMSELF. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS NOT MY ONLY COMPLAINT. *TR
FIRST THE CAR WAS PULLING TO THE DRIVER SIDE WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE AIR WAS TOO LOW. IT WAS ONLY 25PSI THEY FIXED ALL MY TYRES AND CHECKED ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE THEN THE CAR STARTED PULLING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUDDENLY. STARTED GETTING JERKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW KIA RIO 2011 NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS OLD. ALSO THE DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS LESS AIR. THE TIRE WAS AT 25PSI AND IT DIDN'T SHOW ME ANY INDICATION ON MY SPEED ODOMETER NOR THE TPMS LIGHT TURNED ONE NOR THE LOW PRESSURE LIGHT CAM UP. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026