MY 2012 KIA RIO BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO 60MPH ON A CITY STREET. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP TO TAKE MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP, WE STARTED THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME FOR THE TOW SINCE THE PROBLEM ISN'T CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE, AND KIA SAID I WOULD GET THE BILL FOR INSPE…
2012 kia Rio cruise control problems
severe 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I FILLED UP WITH GAS AND WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OUT AND THE CAR DIDN'T GO. IT IDLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ON THE ROAD BUT IT WOULDN'T GO. IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD TAKE OFF. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMP AND YOU STOP FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. *TR
GOT UP EARLY ONE MORNING TO GO TO WORK, STARTED MY CAR, LET IT RUN FOR 2 MINUTES AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT MOVED WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS PETAL AND I WAS PARKED DOWN HILL.NOW MY CAR STARTS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. I WANTED TO KNOW WERE THERE A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THESE PROBLEMS.I HAVEN'T TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO BE C…
MY PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER POST ON THIS WEBSITE. MY CAR WOULD REV HIGH ON THE RPMS WHEN STARTING IT WHILE IN PARK AND I WOULD HAVE TO PUT MY TOE UNDER THE GAS PEDAL TO STOP IT AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPEATED IF IT WAS STILL DOING IT WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING, OTHERWISE THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS PUSHING FORWARD. I NOTICED THIS HAPPED MORE OFTEN THE NEXT DAY IF THE CAR WAS PARKED QUICKLY EARLIE…
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 kia Rio?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.