Kia Rio Recalls (2012-2022)
The Kia Rio has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA across the 2012 to 2022 model years. They cluster mostly around the service brakes, latches/locks/linkages, and steering.
The Kia Rio scores 6 out of 100 (grade F), one of the heavier recall records among the vehicles we track. That score reflects how serious the recalls are rather than how many. 100% involve a critical safety system, none carried a do-not-drive warning, and 40% were issued in the last three years. How the score works.
Those 5 campaigns span 11 model years of the Kia Rio. The single largest affected 1,730,192 vehicles, over service brakes. A recall repair is free at a franchised dealer and most never expire, so an older open recall is still worth fixing. Beyond recalls, you can also see the most common Rio problems owners report and its crash-test safety ratings.
The full record is below, grouped first by model year and then listed in detail. Each entry gives the defect NHTSA describes, the safety risk it creates, the manufacturer's remedy, the number of vehicles in that campaign, and the dates. A recall covers a whole production run, so a campaign listed for the Kia Rio may not apply to your exact vehicle, and one you have already had repaired will still appear in the history. To see what is actually open and unfixed on a specific car, check its 17-digit VIN.
Kia Rio recalls by model year
Recall activity by model year. Select a year to jump to its recalls below. Older years often carry more recalls simply because defects surface over time.
Kia Rio recalls by affected system
Which vehicle systems the recalls touch, using NHTSA's component groups. Select a system to see how it is recalled across every make and model.
Recalls by model year
2021 Kia Rio Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2021 Kia Rio, involving the steering and service brakes.
2020 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2020 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes.
2019 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2019 Kia Rio, involving the latches/locks/linkages.
2018 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2018 Kia Rio, involving the latches/locks/linkages.
2017 Kia Rio Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2017 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes and latches/locks/linkages.
2016 Kia Rio Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2016 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes and latches/locks/linkages.
2015 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2015 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes.
2014 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2014 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes.
2013 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2013 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes.
2012 Kia Rio Recalls
1 recall affects the 2012 Kia Rio, involving the service brakes.
Every Kia Rio recall in detail
Service Brakes
- Affected years
- 2012-2017 Kia Rio
- Vehicles in this recall
- 1,730,192
- Reported
- Sep 25, 2023
- Owners notified
- Mar 29, 2024
Defect: 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 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
NHTSA campaign number 23V652000.
Latches/Locks/Linkages
- Affected years
- 2016-2017 Kia Rio
- Vehicles in this recall
- 319,436
- Reported
- Aug 24, 2023
- Owners notified
- Oct 19, 2023
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
NHTSA campaign number 23V594000.
Steering
- Affected years
- 2021-2022 Kia Rio
- Vehicles in this recall
- 30
- Reported
- May 5, 2022
- Owners notified
- May 27, 2022
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
NHTSA campaign number 22V304000.
Service Brakes
- Affected years
- 2020-2021 Kia Rio
- Vehicles in this recall
- 87
- Reported
- Dec 1, 2021
- Owners notified
- Jan 11, 2022
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.
Risk: Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 11, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC223.
NHTSA campaign number 21V936000.
Latches/Locks/Linkages
- Affected years
- 2018-2019 Kia Rio
- Vehicles in this recall
- 253,074
- Reported
- Aug 9, 2021
- Owners notified
- Feb 10, 2022
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.
NHTSA campaign number 21V622000.
Common questions about Kia Rio recalls
- Does the Kia Rio have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on record for the Kia Rio across the 2012 to 2022 model years. The most common areas are the service brakes, latches/locks/linkages, and steering.
- How many times has the Kia Rio been recalled?
- The Kia Rio has 5 recall campaigns from the 2012 to 2022 model years. A single campaign often covers several model years at once, so the number of recalls is not the same as the number of years affected.
- What is the most serious Kia Rio recall?
- The most serious recall on record involves the service brakes, affecting 1,730,192 vehicles. Owners were told to park outside and away from buildings because of a fire risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Which Kia Rio model year has the most recalls?
- The 2016 Kia Rio has the most, with 2 recall campaigns on record. Older model years often pick up more recalls over time, since defects can surface years after a car is built.
- How do I check if my Kia Rio has an open recall?
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page. It returns the recalls tied to your exact vehicle straight from NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, with no expiration on most safety recalls.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. For how it is sourced and how the safety score is built, see the methodology and data sources. This page is a reference, not legal or safety advice.