← NHTSA complaints

2017 KIA RIO — ENGINE

fire · 2191042 · 2026-03-27

Vehicle

Make
KIA
Model
RIO
Year
2017
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Component
ENGINE
Speed
80 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

I was driving my 2017 Kia Rio at approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began shaking violently. I heard a loud mechanical sound from the engine compartment that sounded like something broke loose and was being thrown around. I immediately began pulling over as smoke started entering the cabin. As soon as I stopped, the car erupted into a fast-moving, intense fire originating in the engine compartment. The fire spread so quickly that the front of the vehicle and the passenger cabin were completely destroyed before the fire department arrived. The Austin Fire Department responded (Incident Type: Engine 2f) and the Travis County Sheriff's Office also opened a case (Case #[Insert Your Sheriff Case Number]). Multiple bystanders also called 911 due to the severity of the fire. The vehicle had under 80,000 miles and was maintained with regular oil changes every 6 months. I believe this fire was caused by a known manufacturing defect related to the engine connecting rod bearings or the HECU electrical short, both of which are subjects of major Kia safety recalls/settlements. The vehicle is currently a total loss

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
11727456
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown