There are 5 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2017 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was driving my 2017 Kia Rio at approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began shaking violently. I heard a loud mechanical sound from the engine compartment that sounded like something broke loose and was being thrown around. I immediately began pulling over as smoke started entering the cabin. As soon as I stopped, the car erupted into a fast-moving, intense fire originating in the engine compartment. The fire spread so quickly that the front of the vehicle and the passenger cabin were completely destroyed before the fire department arrived. The Austin Fire Department responded (Incident Type: Engine 2f) and the Travis County Sheriff's Office also opened a case (Case #[Insert Your Sheriff Case Number]). Multiple bystanders also called 911 due to the severity of the fire. The vehicle had under 80,000 miles and was maintained with regular oil changes every 6 months. I believe this fire was caused by a known manufacturing defect related to the engine connecting rod bearings or the HECU electrical short, both of which are subjects of major Kia safety recalls/settlements. The vehicle is currently a total loss
The contact owned a Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power. Various unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was veered to the side of the road and the vehicle was shut off. The contact stated that smoke was observed emanating from the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact no longer has possession of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 112,000.
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the front hood started emitting smoke. In addition, the brake pedal failed to function as intended. All vehicle doors automatically locked up and the contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact noticed fire coming in the vehicle and she had to shatter the window to exit the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a police station where it was deemed totaled. The origin of the fire was unknown. The location of the fire was under the hood. A fire department report was filled. A police department report was not filed. The ambulance had extinguished the fire. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Excessive oil burning causing catalytic converter to go bad. Oil change every 3,000 miles with synthetic oil. Car was making knocking noise and having a hard time accelerating and going up hill.
My car needs oil every 3 to 4 days. There is no blue smoke and there is no signs of oil leaks. The vehicle was in an accident before I purchased it.
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 25, 2026