After an oil routine change last May, my mechanic informed me that the engine had almost no oil. I had been hearing a rattle when accelerating at times and noticed the vehicle seemed to be having trouble when increasing speeds were necessary (entering higher traffic areas/highway on ramps). I had always met the scheduled oil change requirements since I bought it in 2019 but this was the first time I had been told of this. The mechanic told me that it has been known that these vehicles have this problem. I usually went to the same reputable mechanic. Now, as requested by the mechanic, I check the oil each week and find that I have to add 1 quart every 10 days or less to keep the engine from failing outright. The engine light periodically comes on and goes off again, but I was told it was possibly related to the catalytic converter. I do not feel confident driving it much longer especially on highways because of possible engine failure on very hot summer days leaving me stranded in the heat.
2015 Kia Rio engine complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 27 of 27, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and the contact smelled an oil burning odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic stated that the engine was misfiring, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the dealer confirmed the misfire and stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 139,287.
Burning excessive oil, rod bearing noise
After two weeks of buying the car from a dealer, I was driving and I heard a noise in the engine, when I checked it had almost no motor oil. I have changed the oil and filter, but it consumes 2 quarts every 2 weeks (less than 1,000 miles). This has been happening since April 2021.
Last night, my car ran exactly as usual. No warning lights on the dash. No strange sounds. This morning when I started the car, there was a weird ticking sound coming from the engine. I decided to take the car into the shop. About a mile from home, it began to have trouble with acceleration and would randomly stall for a fraction of a second before catching again. The ticking sound became unbearable just as the check engine light and oil level lights turned on, so I pulled over and called a tow truck. After inspection at the auto shop, my beloved car was diagnosed with premature engine failure. The mechanic explained that this engine consumed oil rather than just using it to lubricate the moving parts, meaning that even religious oil changes are not enough. Had I continued driving instead of calling a tow, my car likely would have caught fire! Now I have no car (well a car but no engine) and because I am the second owner, the warranty doesn't apply to me. I have been a loyal Kia and Hyundai owner despite bad publicity over the years because I saw major improvements and innovative growth in the company. Kia tells me that because there is no active recall on the engine and I don't qualify for the warranty, there's nothing they can do. Please note they are actively involved in a lawsuit with the goal of recalling the 1.6L Gamma engines in Kia Rio 2015 for this very reason! There are a small percentage of defective engines that pose a fire risk in these cars. Raising awareness by contacting the company directly and reporting to the federal safety agency is the only way that Kia/Hyundai might do something about it!
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 kia rio. While driving 60-65 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle started to jerk and a loud grinding noise was heard without warning. The contact managed to exit the freeway onto a residential street where the contact noticed smoke under the hood. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion under the hood and the contact's head impacted the steering wheel. The vehicle became engulfed with black smoke. The contact sustained a busted lip, bruised eye, a whiplash, and a concussion. Medical attention was not receive as of yet. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed by an independent mechanic to a lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. The VIN was unknown.
I was driving to work, hand heard a pop under my hood. My engine and battery indicator lights started flashing and I lost all power. After polling over and turning my car off, I noticed a tone of smoke coming from under the hood. I popped the hood latch and peaked under with out opening the hood after seeing light. I noticed the flames and grabbed my phone to call 911. Soon after the car was engulfed inflames and 3 bangs where heard. Both tires and I'm guessing the fuel line erupted. The front half of my car was now ablaze starting to reach the interior started to burn before the fire department could put the fire out.
I sent in a complaint about my vehicle .I wrote the wrong problem right problem is catalytic converter
My engine caught on fire as I was driving the car. There was a knock sensor error discovered a couple hours before, but nothing was indicating that there was imminent critical danger.
Driving approximately 40 MPH, car hesitates to accelerate. Check engine light came on. Had car checked, diagnostic says catalytic converter is not operating properly. I had this part replaced less than 4 months ago! Now the same problem is occurring again!
When I frist got my car the engine light came on. Dean mccrary fixed it. Now the light comes back on and off. May car drive slow sometime. I had it checked they said it was cavalier
While driving the vehicle and accelerating the vehicle stalls out.
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.
The engine light is constantly on but when hooked to the machine, there are no error messages. Some days it's on, some days it's not.
Purchased the car from kia dealer on 5/20/17 with limited power train warranty. Had oil change done on 7/22/17and again on 10/14/17(copies were provided to the warranty company). The second one was at the dealer. On 12/8/17 my daughter was driving down the street and felt a jolt and saw smoke coming from the hood of the car. She was able to pull over and get out of the car safely. Someone used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire before the fire department arrived. It was towed to a different kia dealership who said "the engine has internal damage that locked up the engine and caused oil to spill and catch fire." the warranty company denied the claim and said that it was lack of maintenance and there wasn't any oil in the car which contradicts what the dealer said. We tried fighting it but after a month we needed transportation and reported the claim to our insurance company who totaled the car but did not give us full value because the warranty company said it was lack of maintenance. Now we see all the reports on other kia's going on fire and believe our car had the same issue. We lost over $7,000 on the deal.
The engine periodically will stall for 2-3 seconds, usually when starting a left turn from a stop. This can prove hazardous in a busy intersection. This has been going on since I bought the car 12 october 2015. The dealer stated the "hesitation" was a normal function of the engine computer's "acclimation" to the driver. It hasn't adjusted to me, and I'm afraid to let my wife or daughter drive the car.
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.
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