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KIA RIO
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History

10 model years analyzed (2014–2023). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database β€” the same data used by federal regulators.

πŸ“‹
317
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
πŸ””
12
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
πŸ’₯
35
Crash-Related
crash complaints
πŸ”₯
35
Fire-Related
fire complaints
πŸ₯
31
Injuries Reported
across all years
πŸ€–
Below Average
AI Rating
reliability score

Checking a specific KIA RIO? Run a VIN check for its exact history.

⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

How to Read NCAP Stars
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5 stars - Excellent
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4 stars - Good
β˜…β˜…β˜…3 stars - Average
β˜…β˜…2 stars - Below average
β˜…1 star - Poor
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
πŸ€–

AI Interpretation

High ConfidenceBelow Average
AI interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

NHTSA complaint data for the Kia Rio (2014–2023) shows a concentration of issues in the engine, service brakes, and electrical system. The highest number of complaints occurred in 2016, 2015, and 2014, while the fewest were reported in 2022, 2023, and 2021. Crash-related complaints account for a notable portion of total reports.

πŸ“Š Key Findings
  • Engine complaints are the most reported component, with 124 complaints.
  • Service brakes and electrical system are also frequently cited, with 56 and 37 complaints respectively.
  • Complaints are highest in model years 2016, 2015, and 2014.
⚠️ Top Concerns
  • Engine issues are the most common complaint.
  • Service brake problems are a recurring concern.
  • Electrical system failures appear frequently.
⚠️ Worst Years

Model years 2016, 2015, and 2014 have elevated complaints, driven primarily by engine and brake issues.

βœ… Best Years

Model years 2022 and 2023 show the fewest complaints, which may indicate improved reliability or lower reporting rates.

βœ… Before You Buy β€” Checklist
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for engine and brake repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
  • Check for any unresolved electrical system issues.
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. Complaint counts may be influenced by reporting bias or vehicle sales volume.

πŸ“… NHTSA Complaints by Model Year

2014
51
2015
52
2016
76
2017
29
2018
26
2019
20
2020
26
2021
15
2022
10
2023
12
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: May 2026

πŸ”” NHTSA Safety Recalls

12 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Campaign #22V304000May 5, 2022

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:COLUMN
Campaign #22V304000May 5, 2022

Safety Recall

Component: STEERING:COLUMN
Campaign #21V622000September 8, 2021

Safety Recall

Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
Campaign #21V622000September 8, 2021

Safety Recall

Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
Campaign #21V936000January 12, 2021

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Campaign #21V936000January 12, 2021

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Campaign #23V594000

Safety Recall

Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
Campaign #23V652000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Campaign #23V652000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Campaign #23V652000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Campaign #23V594000

Safety Recall

Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
Campaign #23V652000

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014–2023. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

πŸ”§ Most-Reported Problem Areas

Based on component keywords extracted from all 317 NHTSA complaints.

1
ENGINE
124 complaints
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
62 complaints
3
SERVICE BRAKES
56 complaints
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
37 complaints
5
HYDRAULIC
34 complaints
6
AIR BAGS
27 complaints
7
POWER TRAIN
25 complaints
8
STEERING
21 complaints

πŸ“‹ NHTSA Complaint Reports

317 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERDec 2025

Back up camera sometimes flips sides, so that obstacles on the right side of the car are shown on the left side of the camera screen. Sometimes the camera doesn't work at all.

STEERINGMay 2025

Steering Gear Assembly completely broke at 81,000 miles. My daughter was backing up in a busy street at 5pm and lost 100 percent of steering control. Lucking cars dodged her and she didn’t get hurt or worse.

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHERNov 2023

Placed car in park got out to open a gate. Car took off forward even when shifter was in Park Position and almost ran a child over.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTIONAug 2023

Center Console Display blank (screen black) upon startup unable to see cameras and backing up affected creating safety concern.

SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2023

seatbelts in rear are inoperable/anti theft not working. Kia dealership told me that its not their issue about the anti theft. I have been told on 3 separate occasions that my seatbelts have been ordered but they haven’t!!!! No one is following up with me, when I call I get told β€œuntil they can get in contact with the dealership Kia the corporate company cannot do anything” have 2 kids Kia the dealership as well as the corporate company knows about this and no one is doing anything!! NO ONE CARES

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMar 2023

At speeds over 20 miles per hours there is a β€œflapping” noise that sounds like a bag or piece of paper that is blowing in the wind. Although I don’t know were the noise originates, I can hear it clearly from the driver’s side b-pillar. It is incredibly annoying and greatly diminishes what is otherwise a solid entry, level vehicle.

STEERING,LANE DEPARTUREMar 2023

On 3/19/23, as I was driving on a dry, straight, two lane road at the posted speed of 40mph, the car began to try to steer into oncoming traffic. I had to exert moderate force to keep the car in my lane. This continued continuously for about 1/2 mile. No low tire pressure indicator lights were illuminated, however the lane assist icon was on and green, indicating normal operation. Just as I was going to turn down a side street to check the tires manually, the steering returned to normal. However, the lane assist icon was now white, and as I drove the remaining approximately 2 miles home, the icon would change from white to green every 20 seconds or so. The car now operates normally. We took the car to the dealer today to be checked and they reported they could not replicate the issue. Attached is their report.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJan 2023

The contol post for lights, turn signal, and high beams is too sensitive. To control the lights, you twist the top of lever. To turn on turn signals, you flip the lever up or down. To turn on brights, the lever goes forward. To turn of lights, the lever is pulled back. The issue..... If you have brights on, when you pull lever back to dim lights, the top automatically twists to shut off the headlights entirely. DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS. My husband doesn't have this problem, but he has longer fingers and his fingers hit the lever more at the base where nothing twists. I have shorter women's fingers and they can't reach all the way down the lever. I have since adjusted how I dim the brights by reacing under the lever, (close to steering column), to pull the lever back. This is very uncomfortable and tends to cause me to make the turn signal come on, which could cause its own traffic accident. My remedy would be to make the headlights twist in the opposite direction for on off, or make the switch for headlights have a little more resistance.

πŸ’₯ CrashSTEERING,SERVICE BRAKESNov 2022

Having been complaining about a noise from under the front right tire, I was initially told it was a little piece of plastic and that got cut off. I was still hear the scraping and squealing and I kept check the from right tire because I thought that's where it was coming from. I mentioned this to every mechanic at kia and was told "that's just how 2021s sound". Finally after months of complaining the noise got louder and you could hear it was clearly something in steering. They schedules an appointment for Dec 7th on Mon Nov 28th. Said it was safe to drive when that night while working I was turning a corner, I heard a loud spring noise, the tire and wheel jerked. It was snowing, so the car slide, only sliding into the curb. The front right break seemed to be locked and when you turn the steering wheel makes even more noise. Haven't been told the issue, but I'm certain it is not safe and definitely shouldn't be on the streets until it's fixed.

POWER TRAINOct 2022

I had driven my wife to her school about 5 miles and headed back to my work another 5 miles when i tried to accelerate pass car I lost almost all power barely making it up a slight hill I kept going trying to make it to my house barely going 10 miles an hour. I thought the transmission had let go cause while I had the gas peddle floored i went at best 10-15 miles an hour I eventually parked the car I knew it would never make it up another slight hill. It was rowed to a nearby dealer where they could find no problem telling me it was just some bad gas. This sounds like what I read about today with a couple of other models of Kia.

STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHERAug 2022

The steering wheel column does not have a lock therefore someone broke into my car and tried to steal it and destroyed it, also no alarm went off when this happened.

ENGINEApr 2022

I was driving 60-70 miles an hour for 45 minutes then car lost all acceleration and engine light came on. I pulled over immediately turned the car off. Turned it back on drove 1/4 of a mile and same thing happened. I pulled over turned car off and had it towed to the dealership.

πŸ’₯ CrashSERVICE BRAKESJan 2022

Vehicle failed to reduce speed effectively while trying to avoid a collision with another vehicle during a left turn, which then caused the vehicle to turn widely and collide with the curb.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJan 2022

Vehicle has less than 4000 miles and throttle body had to be replaced

SERVICE BRAKESJul 2021

On the way to work, I had the brake pedal pressed waiting for a traffic signal to change. After it changed to green, I released the brake pedal and depressed the gas pedal, only for the vehicle not to move forward - as if the brake was still being applied. I took my foot off the gas pedal, waited a second or two, then tried the gas pedal again and it still did not move. I was at the traffic signal for nearly 10 seconds with nothing touching the brake pedal and unable to drive forward. The vehicle did not turn off, display any warning lights, or any signs of other trouble. The parking brake was not applied and the vehicle was in Drive. After putting the vehicle in reverse and back into drive while still stopped at the traffic signal, the car resumed normal operation. The vehicle has less than 200 miles, bought brand new from the dealership a few days prior and has only gone for a car wash at the dealership aside from normal daily commute. The problem has not been reported to the dealership or manufacturer at the time of this report.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESMar 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormally loud bang and believed that the vehicle had been struck in the rear by an object. The contact opened the trunk and became aware that the trunk shocks had become detached from the latch. The contact was able to open and close the trunk lid, but the lid failed to remain open after being raised. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact that the trunk latch spring had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised that the spring and latch mechanism were on back order. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

πŸ₯ 1 InjuryUNKNOWN OR OTHERAug 2025

While attempting to raise the passenger side window slightly, the automatic window mechanism malfunctioned. Instead of stopping when lightly engaged, the window rolled all the way up and trapped my right wrist between the glass and the frame. When I pressed the window down button, the window continued to roll upward, increasing the pressure on my wrist. I was unable to release my hand on my own and had to call for assistance to pry my wrist free. This put my safety at risk by causing a crush injury to my wrist. The vehicle’s anti-pinch safety feature did not activate. The issue has not yet been reproduced or inspected by a dealer or manufacturer. No warning lights, messages, or other indicators were displayed prior to the incident. The component is available for inspection upon request.

πŸ’₯ CrashBACK OVER PREVENTIONJun 2025

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that the rearview camera would intermittently turn on while driving at various speeds. The contact also stated that while in reverse(R), the camera would intermittently display a blank or distorted image. Recently, the contact stated that the rear-view camera had failed to operate as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the head unit would need to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and was given an estimate for the repair. As a result of the camera failure, the contact stated that while backing out of a parking spot, she crashed into a parked vehicle located in her blind spot. No injuries were reported and a police report was not filed; however, the contact did state that she suffered mental anguish as a result of the incident. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

ENGINEFeb 2025

When my car is running it makes a knocking noise from engine I have taken it th the dealer they heard it but said they can figure out where it's coming from. The engine runs hotter than normal. The rods I think are the cause

SERVICE BRAKESNov 2024

When traveling 60 mph and slowing to try to stop, brake pedal went all the way to the floor and vehicle would not brake. Had to engage emergency brake to stop vehicle during normal operation on multiple occasions. Once while stopped at a red light, vehicle was completely stopped, then the brake pedal lowered to the floorboard and the vehicle started rolling forward. I had to turn the steering wheel and engage the emergency brake to avoid colliding with traffic. No dashboard lights came on, no warning lamps or messages. No other symptoms. I went to the Kia Dealership immediately. There was a hole in my front brake line and all of the fluid had leaked out. Vehicle was less than 2 years old, less than 100,000 miles on it.

Showing 20 of 317 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check a Specific KIA RIO

This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.

πŸ“– Understanding This Data

πŸ“‹

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The KIA RIO has 317 complaints on record across 10 model years.

πŸ””

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The KIA RIO has 12 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

πŸ’₯

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 35 of the KIA RIO's 317 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

πŸ€–

How Is the AI Rating Calculated?

The AI reliability rating (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision β€” always verify with a VIN-specific report.

πŸ“Š

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

πŸ”

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all KIA RIO vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two KIA RIO vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

πŸ”Ž

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The KIA RIO has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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