Kia›Rio›2012›Overview/kia/rio/2012/base/

2012 Kia Rio

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Rio.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Kia Rio is a passenger‑car model that pairs an automatic six‑speed transmission with an engine requiring 3.5 quarts of oil meeting 5W‑20 or 5W‑30 API specifications. EPA fuel‑economy testing records 28 mpg in city driving, 36 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. Reliability documentation shows the 2012 model generated 52 owner complaints, with engine‑related issues accounting for the primary complaint area and a single recall issued. Within a complaint history that spans 2000 to 2023 and ranges from a peak of 227 complaints in 2001 to a low of three in 2000, the 2012 Rio’s 52 complaints reflect a moderate position in the model’s overall reliability record.

Model year2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy28/36/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 550 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	171.7 in
Overall width	67.7 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	101.2 in
Curb weight	2599 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	28 / 36 / 31 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rio of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–9.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 2012 LX 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2012	LX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	7.90 sec	16.40 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	EX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	8.90 sec	16.70 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	EX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	9.00 sec	16.90 sec	138 hp	FWD
2012	SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	9.50 sec	17.20 sec	138 hp	FWD
2013	SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	8.20 sec	16.60 sec	138 hp	FWD
2013	SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-4	8.20 sec	16.50 sec	138 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Oil	5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	3.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	94-101 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	53-56 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	22-26 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	14-19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	145-203 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.64-.86 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5015-6785 ohms
Ignition Timing	3, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance	10 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPM	Idle rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	0.98-1.10 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	3.72-4.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	14-19 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	62.0-68.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	1.5 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	156-178 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure	14.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	Idle rpm

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH REAR DRUM
Torque Caliper to Bracket	16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	36-43 ft-lbs / 58-72 ft-lbs
Wheel Application	14 inch WHEELS / 15 inch WHEELS
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.078 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH REAR DRUM
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.394 in / 0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep M6 bolts: Step 1: 52 inch lbs.

2	104-112 inch lbs.; M8 bolts: Step 1: 7 ft. lbs.	104–112 in
2	14-17

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	13-16 ft. lbs.	13–16 ft. lbs
2	90

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

13-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

13–16 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs at 105,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect)
At 30,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 37,500 mi	Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Kia Rio sits at the peak of the complaint and recall arc for this generation, with 52 complaints and a single recall, compared to 24 complaints the year before and 153 complaints the year after. The recall count stays low overall—only one each year from 2012 to 2015—while investigations spike from 2 in 2012 to 1 in 2016 and back down thereafter. The top complaint areas for 2012 (Engine, Air Bags, Fuel/Propulsion System, Vehicle Speed Control) highlight the most frequent issues, and the crash and fire complaint numbers (3 and 9, respectively) are modest relative to later years. This year marks a transitional point: complaints rise sharply in 2013, then decline steadily through the late 2010s. For a buyer, 2012 represents a higher-than-average complaint rate but still within a low recall environment, suggesting it is a reasonable purchase if recent models are avoided.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

122

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 9 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11’12’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 52 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine11

Air Bags5

Fuel/Propulsion System4

Vehicle Speed Control4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2

Air Bags,Engine2

Air Bags,Seat Belts2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

23V652000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 25/09/2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014… Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 122 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
CS2311_TSB_R4	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER…
CS2312_TSB_R2	2026-06-08	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
TSB_CS2312_R1	2026-02-18	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
CS2311_OWNR_PC201	2025-12-19	Structure	CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is…
TSB_CS2312	2025-12-17	Structure	TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rio. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 121R battery Vehicles taking 3.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Rio take?

3.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Rio have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rio get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 36 highway / 31 combined mpg.