7.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
23,850 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
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problem #6

Jan 282018

Rio LX 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,646 miles

Bought this car wanting to try out kia. Car was treated with great care from previous owner and have maintenance records. I put less than 19k on it in about 7 months. Noticed fuel economy was bad shortly after buying. Checked and cleaned original plugs and were fine. Right before my warranty ended I cleaned my throttle body, put in new OEM NGK spark plugs, and have used fuel injector cleaner regularly. The fuel economy is terrible on this car and I don't even drive it that hard. I get around 10-13l/100km in the city, 9-10l mixed if I'm lucky, and about 7.5-9.5 highway at best. I have had several cars, and this by far is the worst. The dealer tries and sells you snake oil services to get more money out of you, but doesn't want to admit these cars have a problem. I took it in twice for warranty issue. Its pretty pathetic that a car like this only gets around 330-420 km a tank mixed.

- Waleed A., Hamilton, ON, Canada

problem #5

Jul 012013

Rio LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150 miles

Well I bought the car new. It was always a gas hog and if I tried to drive up a hill and I to turn the air off so it could get up the hill or else it would lose power. Bottom line is it was a gas hog and I had it four years. I would love to have the money I spent just putting gas in it and feel angry because the selling point was that it was a small car that was (great) on gas. What a flat out lie!

- sharonbrown, Columbus, US

problem #4

Mar 162015

Rio LX 1.6L Gdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,700 miles

This Vehicle is the Worst I have owned on Gas Mileage. I have Put Synthetic oil in, Better Air FIlter, and Gas Saving Tires to get Better Fuel Economy. I have also Taken Part in the KIA gas mileage reimbursement program, and have also sent in a Claim for the class action lawsuit for some money.

I will Not Recommend Kia to anyone, I have taken my vehicle in for other problems at the KIA dealership and have had them try and sell me a KIA Optima. Im going with Another Brand when I buy my next car, Something more reliable than KIA.

- indiana_guy84, North Judson, IN, US

problem #3

Jun 192014

Rio LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,243 miles

I took the car in because there was a steering issue and pinging. Graham Kia Victoria BC did a reset for the pinging and since then I have been getting 9.9 L/100 km and still pinging. or $15 every other day. When I purchased the car, used a few weeks prior, I was getting 6.5L/100 according to the car. Also, since the reset, when I first drove away and took a left turn, slowed then pressed the gas peddle, the car slowed instead of going and I was almost hit by an oncoming car because the car wouldn't engage. Then it suddenly engaged and took off out of control. The car has continued to do this at the most opportune times and the gas gauge goes down.

I took the car to the dealer I bought it from and they confirmed my findings. I will be taking back to KIA to fix. KIA seems to be not wanting to fix the car since I bought it used and not from them with all kinds of excuses and trying to avoid warranty repairs.

I've heard similar complaints from other people, same with Victoria Hyundai's service department.

- dollars1tk, Victoria, BC, canada

problem #2

Dec 182012

Rio LX+ 1.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,138 miles

Terrible Fuel Mileage at 20,000 k.m. I get 340 k.m. on a full tank (42L) with ECO and ISG systems engaged. Well off the manufacturers ratings. This began when the car had 1.832 k.m. Contact me at tomdamario@hotmail.com if anyone has similar results. Already in conversation with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and CAMVAC. I have being flagrantly ignored by Trento Kia.

- Tom D., Woodbridge, Ontario, canada

problem #1

Aug 202013

Rio LX 1.6L

  • CVT transmission
  • 20,016 miles

I purchased this car after trading in a fully loaded GMC Envoy. The reason I bought this car was the 58mpg which was advertised in 330 font on the side of a RIO in the lot. I realize by writing this now the cat is out of the bag and Kia/Hyundai have admitted they falsified their information. The cars now gets 52 mpg according to the energy guide ratings.

After driving my car for 2000 km approximately I began to notice that I was not getting close to the 52 mpg, 42mpg, or even 35mpg. Combined I was getting 440-480 km per tank for roughly 33 mpg, and in town driving I was getting 340km on a tank for a putrid 34 km/gal. I know I am mixing measurements, and mpg doesn't exist according to Kia Canada.

I went to my dealership was told the car needed to have 16000 km, be driven in a wind tunnel and to watch my driving habits in order to achieve the rated fuel consumption. I accepted the "break in" period, though the other items were met with some discourse.

Fast forward to March 2014 and my car is still getting 340km per tank around town and 370-400 km on combined driving.

I am about to go into Kia and attempt to address this however am not holding my breath. I am sure they will skew what I have to say.

- Kevin M., Kingston, NS, canada