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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Kia Rio Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 11 recall campaigns for the Kia Rio, across 19 model years from 2001 to 2022. The 2003 has the most (3); the fewest among years with a recall is 2022 (1).

Kia Rio years to avoid by our method: 2001 (7.5× the median year), 2002 (4.2× the median year) and 2003 (2.7× the median year).

Model years
19

2001–2022, with a recall

Recall campaigns
11
Most recalls
2003

3 recalls

Owner complaints
1,295

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 1,295 complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Rio across 24 model years; the most, 223, concern the 2001.

Owners marked a crash on 162 of the Kia Rio complaints (13%) and a fire on 94.

Across all Kia Rio model years, owners name the air bags most often (at least 265 complaints), then the engine (232).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Kia Rio in 2004: 97, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Kia Rio is service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module, in 6 model-year listings.

The newest Kia Rio recall, 23V652000, was reported on September 25, 2023 and concerns the service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Kia Rio, model years owners have filed complaints about.

Kia Rio years to avoid

The 2001 Kia Rio stands out most: 168 complaints between 2000 and 2004, 23% of them naming the engine and engine cooling.

The 2001 also carries 3 recalls, against a median of 1 for the ranked Kia Rio years.

The best-measured Kia Rio years are 2016 (0.6×), 2019 (0.6×) and 2015 (0.6×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Kia Rio, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2023012—not ranked
20221129not ranked
202121513
0.7×
202012720
1.3×
201912211
0.6×
20181286not ranked
20172315not ranked
201627911
0.6×
201515212
0.6×
201415223
1.2×
2013115335
1.7×
201215413
0.8×
201102411
0.7×
201002610
0.6×
200903911
1.0×
200814622
1.4×
200714617
0.9×
200617419
1.2×
200513713
0.8×
200423818
1.0×
2003avoid37450
2.7×
2002avoid112895
4.2×
2001avoid3223168
7.5×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Kia Rio years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Kia Rio

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE6
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY4
  • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH4
  • CHILD SEAT3
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE3
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
  • STEERING:COLUMN2
  • WHEELS1
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
  • SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1

Kia Rio model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Kia Rio recall campaign (11)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Kia Rio, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
23V652000September 25, 2023service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module2012–2017fire and injurypark outside1,730,192
23V594000August 24, 2023latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch2016–2017injury319,436
22V304000May 5, 2022steering: column2021–2022crash30
21V936000December 1, 2021service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder2020–2021crash87
21V622000August 9, 2021latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch2018–2019injury253,074
12V244000May 31, 2012air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive2006–2008injury72,568
06V294000August 4, 2006seat belts: rear/other2003crash and injury32,257
05V557000December 12, 2005child seat2003–2005crash, injury and death90,865
05V159000April 20, 2005wheels2001crash24,119
04V179000April 9, 2004fuel system, gasoline: delivery2001–2004fire187,790
03V352000September 24, 2003fuel system, gasoline2001fire57,340

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Kia Rio. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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