2015 Kia Rio Electrical Problems

tHE ENTIRE CAR FAILED. cAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE CONSOLE AND PASSENGER SEAT WHILE DRIVING ON 1-15 . 8.15.2025 . Car filled wit black moke and fire.l was driving blind. brakes failed, power failed, burning the entire time. I somehow got out of burning vehicle and ran about 100 yards and watched the car explode!! Had car tuned up at Findlay Honda whede it was bought, 4 months ago, and they said it was fine... fire and police both told me i should not be here. Since, my life is in shambles. No car, no ID for a motnh, no license for 3 weeks. I bought car in 2023--- car was recalled in 2020. But was it and if it was, why did this EXACT problem occur? Someone must be responsible. On anxiety pillxs

NHTSA ID

11687911

Incident

Aug 15, 2025

My Kia had be under an unresolved recall that can cause a fire, not only putting myself and my family, but other drivers at risk. I have a toddler who rides with me and would be extremely hard to get out of a car seat if the car caught on fire, as such I have reduced driving with them to ensure safety, but this is an issue that cannot continue and I should not have to put myself and others at risk. I cannot afford to buy a new car and should not be forced to due to a manufacturing issue

NHTSA ID

11581907

Incident

Sep 30, 2023

My vehicle consumes oil according to my Midas repair shop. I was unaware that when I brought it in for regular servicing, the engine was almost empty of oil according to the mechanic. It had been rattling upon acceleration and lacking power set on ECO, but I ignored it. Now, I have to check and add 1/2 to 1 quart of oil every 7-10 days as the dipstick shows oil is low and also very dark. There is also an engine warning light on most of the time but it comes up as from the Catalytic Converter which I doubt. The electrical system also flashes on the dash where the a/c settings and circulation fan are on ocassion but is corrected when the temp guage is adjusted 1 click toward the warmer setting. I was notified of the lack of oil on my visit to Midas for an oli change back in April 2023. The mileage was 110,000 then. Everyone I know who has/had a Kia has had this problem and 3 have lost their engines as a result. Kia has lost my confidence because nothing was advised to owners until I found out of this common and costly issue just by chance. I wont buy another Kia now.

NHTSA ID

11543423

Incident

Apr 3, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BLIND SPOT, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARWORLD (LOCATED AT 11916 PRAIRIE AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250, (833) 219-9951), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,241.

NHTSA ID

11267756

Incident

Sep 28, 2019

Mileage

87,241 mi

STOPPED CAR, PUT IN PARK, TURNED ENGINE OFF, OPENED DOO, STARTED TO GET OUT, CAR BEGAN TO ROLL, ONE LEG OUT OF CAR, ONEED IN, FELL UNDER CAR, REAR WHEEL RAN OVER MY LEGS.

NHTSA ID

11208183

Incident

May 10, 2019

Mileage

21,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TURNING RIGHT DECELERATING AS I TURNED. ONCE I TURNED, ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS DISENGAGED AND NO ACCELERATION WAS HAPPENING. BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT PRESS THE BRAKES. WHEN I COASTED TO A STOP, THERE WAS VISIBLE FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TEMP GAGE NEVER REGISTERED AS HIGH WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN A MATTER OF A COUPLE MINUTES, THE WHOLE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS I WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ARRIVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND AND DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. CAR WAS MAINTAINED REGULARLY FOR OIL. HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR OVERHEATING AND TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND RELEASED ME. CAR IS TOTALED NOW.

NHTSA ID

11183368

Incident

Feb 22, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE KIA RIO BOUGHT BRAND NEW AT HADDAD KIA IN BAKERSFIELD, CA BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN THE YEAR 2018. IT BEGAN WITH OVERHEATING. KIA SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A FUSE, AND THE REPLACED IT. UPON REPLACING IT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED FOR 2 DAYS. THE OVERHEATING PERSISTED, AND WENT BACK TO HADDAD KIA. THEY THEN "TIGHTENED A LOOSE HOSE" THIS FIXED THE OVERHEATING FOR 2 WEEKS. IT THEN RETURNED TO THE STAGE OF OVERHEATING. IT WAS ONCE AGAIN RETURNED TO HADDAD KIA WHERE THEY SAID THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD A LOOSE CONNECTOR, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE JOB TOOK 2 WEEKS, UPON GETTING THE CAR BACK IT DIDN'T OVERHEAT FOR 45 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE CAR WENT BACK TO KIA WHERE THEY NOW SAY IT WAS A MELTED FAN CONNECTOR. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN FOR REPAIRS AND UNKNOWN IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM OF OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

11140133

Incident

Aug 25, 2018

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHENEVER THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER MOVED FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INADVERTENT SWITCH FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL MODE WITH THE SLIGHTEST OF TOUCH TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER FAIRFIELD CADILLAC KIA NISSAN LOCATED AT 5815 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014, (513) 682-2500 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AUTOMATIC/MANUAL MODE WAS A FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO REMOVE THE FEATURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,437.

NHTSA ID

11072464

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

12,437 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

NHTSA ID

10778005

Incident

Sep 26, 2015

Mileage

1,600 mi