Kia Rio misfire problems

Filed Mar 23, 2025 · Engine · CA

Coils, I have been through 6 sets of coils since I bought this car in 2011. This causes the engine to run rough , sputter & have no pick up when trying to accelerate. The 1st set I paid the dealer $125 a piece bc they said I must replace all 4 at once even though when 1 coil burned out under warranty they only replaced the 1. I got smart after dealing with the dealer. I bought lifetime coils from autozone and about every 1.5 to 2 years I am replacing them. It's easy to do but thats not the point. I've never had or heard of any car doing this except mine. And please let's not talk about resetting the computer brain. That is an impossible task in LA the land of teaffic....please take a moment & read the hoops you have to go through on kia's Rio forum. After trying to get my car slogged for a year I paid a guy 135.00 gave him my car for the night so he could do it. Utter [XXX] ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 5, 2025 · Engine · 102,316 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a cylinder #1 misfire. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,316.

Filed Apr 25, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · OH

This vehicle has electrical issues none stop. One day it randomly stalled out while still in motion and lost all power. No power at all. It was “repaired” and I had it for 2 weeks and it again lost all power while in motion. It put my life completely at risk as I had to pull over into a parking lot after losing all power turning in the middle of a very busy main intersection. Kia dealership said it was the main wiring harness at first and replaced that but then the second time said that the new harness was out again and needed replaced a second time because of a fuse that was causing too much power therefor blowing the wiring harness again? Now I am having engine and electrical issues months later. I had what appeared to be a need for a tune up. Which was done. It has continued to throw wrong codes and lights come and go on the dash all the time. I’ve gotten several tests done and I always get a code stating misfiring even when there is no light on the dash. The check engine light will come on for 2 weeks then randomly go off for 2 weeks. No matter what it will throw a code as misfiring in the 1&3 cylinders. Spark plugs, coils, air filter. everything has been replaced yet the light still comes and goes and it continues to throw the code. Car has been seen by the dealership multiple times

Filed Mar 24, 2023 · Engine · 139,287 miles · OR

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.

Filed Sep 8, 2019 · Engine · 85,099 miles · TX

Replaced ignition coils 1 and 3 at the end of 2018. Coil 1 had to be replaced again in january 2019. Coils 2 and 4 were both replaced along with all spark plugs february 2018. In july 2019 coil 2 started to fail again and now in august 2019 coil 4 is misfiring as well. This is an ongoing problem that I see many regular posts regarding the short life span of the ignition coils for this car. There is obviously and electrical issue if not something else is obviously wrong. With so many complaints there should be an investigation at least at this point as to why the coils fail so quickly in this type of car. Multiple issues of the car not wanting to start, shutting off while idling and I have even had an incident on the highway where it completely failed and I was lucky enough to get off the highway safely .

Filed Sep 2, 2015 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · TN

Everything seemed okay while driving then suddenly car began to shake, sputter, and did not want to accelerate. Loses power sometimes when stopped. Check engine light flashed then stayed on. Car unsafe and unable to be driven. After 4 weeks, 2 tune ups including new plugs, coil packs checked although two were recently replaced, fuel injetors checked, fuel system flushed, and throttle body cleaned. When checked diagnostic code keeps reading random misfire. Car has been at the shop (not dealership) for 2 days when they finally figured out the problem and its relating to the technical service bulletin affecting the electrical system. This shop has done all the work and feels that since kia is aware of the tsb they should fix the problem. However the kia dealership that I purchased the car from states they need to look at it and if its electrical its $100 an hour. Very frustating because of all the money I have put in this car since I drove it off the lot 1 year ago. Called kia's 800 customer service number and they also state that I need to have it checked out by kia despite knowing the issue. Car will be towed back to my home for now.

Filed Nov 28, 2013 · Body, Engine · 129,500 miles · TX

Parked car at work came back out and the door lock was down tried to pull up but is stuck or caught on something. The way the screws are in the door 2 of them cannot be taken out without having the door open. With long legs its very difficult to get in and out of vehicle!!! Also trouble with the engine misfiring of sparkplug with some loss of power.

Filed Nov 28, 2006 · Acceleration, Electrical · FL

01 rio is a lemon & safety hazard. Many major repairs done including the timing belt & valves rebuilt, new cooling system, both control arms & boots. Wheel defect recently recalled caused excess wear/ tear on control arms, boots, alignment, tires, costing thousands of avoidable repairs. Fuel intake did come lose, nearly causing an engine fire due to defective part which was recalled. It continuously misfires, engine knocks, stalls. Ecm was recalled but didn't fix the problem. Replaced spark plugs & wires (3 times in 6 months), ignition coil, sensors (oxygen, knock, crankshaft, temp). It stops for a 1-2 days, then comes back. Annoying & dangerous. Also has acceleration problem. At times, it won't go over 40 MPH & also accelerates by itself. Brakes have completely failed, though there's no crack in the line, no leaking fluid. The car is a complete lemon. Online, there are hundreds of similar complaints. Dealers are aware but conveniently can't seem to diagnose the problems especially misfiring. Consumers get nickel & dimed doing needless repairs that don't fix the problem. The optima had similar problems w/crankshaft pos. Sensor which was recalled, but dealer denies any relation to problems with the rio. Another problem - lack of availability & high cost of parts. Its bait/switch to sell a car with known problems, then guess at needless repairs & sell parts at an astronomical markup. It's cheap to buy, but repair costs make it very expensive. Research shows misfiring/engine knock has also LED to engine fires. Also problems with air bags. My airbag light has been on since purchased, but dealer has yet to fix it. Also door locking problems, people being locked in vehicles. My drivers door locks by itself (manual locks). In case of engine fire or accident, a lock malfunction could cause unnecessary death/injury. These are known problems with hundreds of complaints, yet kia has done nothing to address them. The 01 rio is a lemon and safety hazard.

Filed Jun 26, 2006 · Acceleration, Electrical · 24,000 miles · PA

My 2004 kia rio started to stall at stop signs and lights @ 24,000 I am also experiencing erratic tachometer readings (up and down) and I have had a continued rough idle. I have brought the car to my dealer on more than 6 occasions and at that point they only returned the computer chip and told me there seems to be nothing wrong with my car. After hiring a lawyer and constant pressure from them to fix the car, they ordered a throttle arm and agreed to try it out. On june 23, 2006 before they put the throttle item in, I stalled @ 30 MPH making a turn onto to a street from a intersection. A car coming the other way and stopped inches short of hitting me on my drivers side door. At this point even with the new part placed in my car, I do not feel safe driving this car since they said there is no way to guarantee the problem will be fixed.

Filed May 4, 2005 · Fuel system · WA

Contact states: the dealer described the problem as a fuel compatibility/temperature problem. Contact says that the vehicle runs rough when cold, and that it cuts out when changing gears. Dealer recommended that he would let his vehicle warm up before he begins to drive, and he always does. However, problem recurred. Dealer fixed the check engine light. Vehicle has been in shop several times for warranty work. No prior warning to the failure.