Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of bad manufacturing and run-arounds from auto companies. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
Smaller cars are popular with drivers in urban settings or when saving fuel is essential. One top choice has been the 2019 Kia Rio. It seems like a practical option, considering the automaker claims, “small can do big things,” when discussing the newer models. Our research shows that this model does do big things – in terms of failure. It suffers from a defective steering system, faulty air bags and malfunctioning service brakes.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2020 2021
Contents
Don’t be stuck with a lemon. You have legal rights to cash, return or buyback.
The law makes Kia pay legal fees.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
NHTSA Complaints for the 2019 Kia Rio
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Air Bags | |
| Steering | |
| Engine | |
| Electronic Stability Control | |
| Power Train | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Suspension |
Problems with the Steering?
When navigating city roads, it’s essential that owners have complete control over the vehicle. Otherwise, it becomes very easy to hit someone or another object. That’s what is happening with the 2019 Kia Rio.
One Cars.com review states, “Nice car until you drive on windy day. The car is all over the road while on the interstate when it’s windy. Scary to drive.”
Sadly, this isn’t the only comment that talks about how difficult it is to keep on the road. Plus, the automaker has discovered issues with the steering system. Service Bulletin #TSBCHA084_R4 goes through an entire flow chart of steering problems that could be noticed. Problems range from failure with the motor-driven power steering motor to trouble with the electronic control unit. Either way, owners need to work on building up their muscles just to keep this compact car on the road.
Problems with the Air Bags?
Air bags have been standard in vehicles for several decades and shouldn’t need to be tweaked any longer. Yet, Kia is struggling to get this basic system working on the Rio.
Read this NHTSA complaint. “The contact owned a 2019 Kia Rio. While driving 35 mph in the right lane, another vehicle turned from the center lane and crashed head on into the contact’s vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained neck, shoulder, right foot, and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. The contact called [dealership] and informed them of the crash and air bag failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided [case number]. The cause of the failure was not determined. The approximate failure mileage was 102.”
None one wishes to have a totaled vehicle with only 102 miles on the odometer, but that’s precisely the occurrence listed above. While Kia isn’t willing to talk about major air bags issues, there is one communication. Service Bulletin #PS645 only discusses how there is an air bag crash pad surface imprint that cannot be eliminated and part of the design. If the company can’t get simple things right, how can anyone expect the intricate aspects of the vehicle to work?
Problems with the Brakes?
Another vital safety feature that continues to fail in the Kia Rio is the service brakes. Again, with such a basic system in place, there’s no reason for the trouble.
Yet, here is one NHTSA review that states otherwise. “I was driving on a city street when I approached a green light, it turned yellow. I mash down on my brake, it engaged for a couple of seconds and it gave on me and I could not get the brake to engage again. I could not stop for the light and was involved in an accident.”
Hopefully, the air bags worked for this customer. Otherwise, there are multiple issues that needed to be addressed. However, no driver should ever have to worry about the brakes, or any other safety system working as it is designed. Unfortunately, Kia has no communications related to the service brakes. Maybe they expect customers to be like Fred Flintstone and stop the car with their feet instead.
Is your 2019 Kia Rio a Lemon?
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Kia pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Complaint Data
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 08, 2022 |
| State | MD |
| Description | On 09/08/2022 my 2019 kia rio was stolen due to a flaw in the ignition that allows thieves to easily start the vehicle with a phone charger. See baltimore city police report 5220902309. A national recall on the kia models affected would help to end the widespread danger that the thieves are causing as they 'joy-ride' the stolen vehicles. For more information in this issue please see: https://www. Pacermonitor. Com/public/case/45853068/zanmiller_v_kia_america,_inc_et_al |
| Category | Engine, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Apr 26, 2022 |
| State | PA |
| Description | Unknown of specifics. I was driving up a hill. I heard a loud pop. I pulled off the side of the road. The battery light, oil light, and one other came on. I turned my car off. Tried to start it, again however it sounded like the starter wasn't working. Then smoke started to come out of the car. Within 10 minutes my entire car was consumed in flames. A bystander stated the same thing happened to someone she knows- same make & model of car... About two weeks prior. Police believe there was something faulty within the car. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Mar 08, 2022 |
| State | FL |
| Description | The driver interior door latch will not fully retract. As a result it is nearly in the open position. With the door latch nearly in the open position, the door could unexpectedly open creating a safety hazard. Kia is unable to determine if this is covered by the warranty without paying a hefty diagnostic fee. There were no prior symptoms before this issue occurred. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 21, 2022 |
| State | OK |
| Description | No incident's with my vehicle, just need my recall to be complete before I ship my vehicle from la to hawaii. |
| Category | Air Bags |
| Date | Dec 01, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 kia rio, the contact stated that while his daughter was driving at 42 mph, while in the left lane to go straight. Another vehicle was in the turning lane to make a left turn, the vehicle made a right turn instead and crashed into the vehicle left front tire causing the tire to explode with impact. The driver lost control of the vehicle, the other vehicle pushed the vehicle at high speed, the vehicle landed into a ditch and came to a stop. As a result, the driver hit her head against the steering wheel. The air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained back, arm head, foot and right wrist injuries that required medical attention. The other driver did not sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000. |
| Category | Electronic Stability Control, Power Train, Vehicle Speed Control |
| Date | Mar 02, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2019 kia rio. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle hesitated while changing gears. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to kia of stockton located at (6215 holman rd, stockton, ca 95212) but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000. |
| Category | Service Brakes, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 17, 2020 |
| State | FL |
| Description | I was driving on a city street when I approached a green light it turned yellow I mash down on my brake it engaged for a couple of seconds and it gave on me and I could not get the brake to engage again I could not stop for the light and was involved in an accident. |
| Category | Steering |
| Date | Nov 01, 2019 |
| State | MO |
| Description | Steering has an intermittent pull to the left. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 14, 2019 |
| State | PR |
| Description | The car vin number is not recognized in any sites by kia. So how I can get any information on recalls or any other issue with my car?? |
| Category | Air Bags |
| Date | May 06, 2019 |
| State | AR |
| Description | Tl* the contact owned a 2019 kia rio. While driving 35 mph in the right lane, another vehicle turned from the center lane and crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained neck, shoulder, right foot, and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed. The contact called cavenaugh kia (located at 3315 stadium blvd, jonesboro, ar 72404, (870) 933-8888) and informed them of the crash and air bag failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 13159355. The cause of the failure was not determined. The approximate failure mileage was 102. |
| Category | Steering, Suspension |
| Date | Jan 23, 2019 |
| State | TN |
| Description | The car drifts all over the road |
Share your story
Does this ring a bell? Have you had a bad experience too? Sound off and share your experience with other visitors in the comment box below.
About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
See more posts from Brian Jones
I live in Oklahoma. Here anything under 20MPH winds are considered a calm day. I just drove 142 miles in my 2019 Kia Rio Sport with a forward quartering head wind of about 15MPH. Eighty miles an hour and no issues with control. All Kia’s seem to have very tight steering and if the driver is not familiar they tend to over correct for minor wobbles.
I just purchased Kia Rio 5 2 months ago…Dince then been in and out of repair shop for slow acceleration…. Jerkiness and poor Slow acceleration….I need big help addressing this issue