Kia Rio complaints by model year
1,290 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2017 | 31 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2016 | 77 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 2015 | 52 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| 2014 | 52 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| 2013 | 153 | 8 | 18 | 1 |
| 2012 | 54 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 46 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | 46 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 74 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| 2004 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | 74 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| 2002 | 128 | 25 | 6 | 1 |
| 2001 | 223 | 21 | 14 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2014–2023. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 24 | 23 | 38 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 4 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 12 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Air bags | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Structure | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Kia Rio recalls (11)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Rio model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V652000 | Sep 25, 2023 | HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire | 2012–2017 | 32.4% |
| 23V594000 | Aug 24, 2023 | Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401 | 2016, 2017 | 46.1% |
| 22V304000 | May 5, 2022 | Unsecured Steering Column | 2021, 2022 | 70% |
| 21V936000 | Dec 1, 2021 | Reduced Braking Performance | 2020, 2021 | 66.3% |
| 21V622000 | Aug 9, 2021 | Trunk Emergency Release May Fail/FMVSS 401 | 2018, 2019 | 53.7% |
| 12V244000 | May 31, 2012 | OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT | 2006, 2007, 2008 | — |
| 06V294000 | Aug 4, 2006 | AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR/FMVSS 208 | 2003 | — |
| 05V557000 | Dec 12, 2005 | FMVSS 225/CHILD SEAT ANCHORASGE SYSTEM | 2003, 2004, 2005 | — |
| 05V159000 | Apr 20, 2005 | STEEL WHEELS | 2001 | — |
| 04V179000 | Apr 9, 2004 | KIA/FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY | 2001–2004 | — |
| 03V352000 | Sep 24, 2003 | KIA/FUEL LEAKAGE | 2001 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2012 | ★★★★☆ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Kia Rio FAQ
How many recalls has the Kia Rio had?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns that cover at least one Kia Rio model year from 2000 to 2023. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Kia Rio year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2013 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (153) and the 2021 the fewest (15). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Kia Rio problems?
Across the 2014–2023 model years, owners most often name the engine, unknown or other, service brakes in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Kia Rio get?
EPA rates the 2023 Kia Rio at 36 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.