2016 Kia RIO
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2016 Kia RIO has 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 kia rio. while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle restarted independently after a few moments. the failure recurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined. the vehicle was not repaired. the ma. ⚠️ 14 fire reports filed.
110
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.4x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
41 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE AT A STOP OR TRAFFIC LIGHT.
- • THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2017 (LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO). THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP WITH A NUMBER OF ICONS AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED ON (SEE PHOTO FROM DECEMBER). THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS A BITTERLY COLD DAY AND THE ICONS POPPED UP A
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
18 complaints- • From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car ou
- • I was driving down the road and suddenly my check engine light starts flashing and the vehicle starts surging. I pull over and shut the car off. I get outside to the hood to open it, as there is steam coming out, and as I put my hand on the hood release, a fire erupts from the engine going over my w
- • The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The m
“From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car ou”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
15 complaints- • WHEN I TURNED MY RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT ICON STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD.
- • VEHICLE HAS UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHUT OFF WHILE IN LINE AT A DRIVE THRU LOCATION IN CORPUS CHRISTI
- • AT 148,000 MILES ON THE FREEWAY THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT GIVE ANY POWER, STILL RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT GO, STALLED A FEW TIMES. HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT, RESTART AND GO A FEW MILES, PULL OVER AND WAIT, THEN GO, ETC. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS NOT A DROP OF OIL LEFT. AFTER REPLENISHING, STILL HAD ISSUE
“WHEN I TURNED MY RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT ICON STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
8 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA RIO. A MINUTE AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER (DYER KIA, 21280 US-27, LAKE WALES, FL 33859) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANU
- • PROBLEMS: 1) AC STOPS WORKING AND ONLY BLOWS WARM AIR, 2) WINDSHIELD WIPERS DOES NOT WORK. BOTH FRONT AND BACK 3) FRONT LIGHTS DOES NOT WORK
- • The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that occasionally the key failed to be removed from the ignition switch, and the front driver’s side door. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where t
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA RIO. A MINUTE AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER (DYER KIA, 21280 US-27, LAKE WALES, FL 33859) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANU”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE AT A STOP OR TRAFFIC LIGHT.
- • I HAVE 2016 KIA RIO LX AND I BEEN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT FIRST IT WAS MY WIDOW SWITCH KEEP RUBBING SO I TOOK THE THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SAID IT NEEDED OIL ON IT WAS DRYOUT.NEXT I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK WHEN I PUMP GAS IN THE TANK IT KEEP REJECTING AND CLICKING AT THE PUMP LIKE IT'S FULL OF G
- • on 08.30.22 while driving on the interstate I75 going approx. 75 mph my vehicle just lost speed and I barely made it to the side of the road. it did not shut off just had no power, this was at 63,000 miles and had to have the catalytic converter replaced. total cost $1800. fast forward to 12.10.22 s
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE AT A STOP OR TRAFFIC LIGHT.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 110 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car ou
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WHEN I TURNED MY RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT ICON STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA RIO. A MINUTE AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER (DYER KIA, 21280 US-27, LAKE WALES, FL 33859) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia RIO — Year Comparison
How does 2016 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 110
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 14
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2016 Kia RIO