2019 Kia RIO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2019 Kia RIO has 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: the car vin number is not recognized in any sites by kia. so how i can get any information on recalls or any other issue with my car??. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 5 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

9 complaints

31%

• THE CAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECOGNIZED IN ANY SITES BY KIA. SO HOW I CAN GET ANY INFORMATION ON RECALLS OR ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH MY CAR??
• I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I APPROACHED A GREEN LIGHT IT TURNED YELLOW I MASH DOWN ON MY BRAKE IT ENGAGED FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND IT GAVE ON ME AND I COULD NOT GET THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE AGAIN I COULD NOT STOP FOR THE LIGHT AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
• No incident's with my vehicle, just need my recall to be complete before i ship my vehicle from LA to Hawaii.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE CAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECOGNIZED IN ANY SITES BY KIA. SO HOW I CAN GET ANY INFORMATION ON RECALLS OR ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH MY CAR??”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

21%

• Unknown of specifics. I was driving up a hill. I heard a loud pop. I pulled off the side of the road. The battery light, oil light, and one other came on. I turned my car off. Tried to start it, again however it sounded like the starter wasn't working. Then smoke started to come out of the car. With
• Unknown. I was driving and my car slowed to a stop and started smoking. The engine stopped and I couldn’t restart the car. Kia says the engine block threw a rod. But they won’t cover saying I don’t have sufficient service records.. I can’t get records from an out of business shop. Insurance won’t co
• My car is only 3 years old 70k miles.. I have regularly serviced and never had any issues until all of a sudden I was driving I heard a sound and my hood started smoking. My car quickly came to a stop and wouldn’t turn back on. The engine block threw a rod and left a giant hole in my engine. Kia is

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“Unknown of specifics. I was driving up a hill. I heard a loud pop. I pulled off the side of the road. The battery light, oil light, and one other came on. I turned my car off. Tried to start it, again however it sounded like the starter wasn't working. Then smoke started to come out of the car. With”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED FROM THE CENTER LANE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, RIGHT FOOT, AND LEFT KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA RIO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 42 MPH, WHILE IN THE LEFT LANE TO GO STRAIGHT. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN THE TURNING LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE MADE A RIGHT TURN INSTEAD AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAUSING THE T
• Victim was hit head on by a truck. Victim was going 10-15mph truck faster. Victim was t-boned on the driver side at the front tire. The entire front fender and frame were damaged. Victim sub-stained a bad shoulder injury and ptsd. Air bags did not deploy.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED FROM THE CENTER LANE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, RIGHT FOOT, AND LEFT KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

2 complaints

• THE CAR DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD
• STEERING HAS AN INTERMITTENT PULL TO THE LEFT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE CAR DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF STOCKTON LOCATED AT (6215 HOLMAN RD, STOCKTON, CA 95212) BUT WAS NO
• The oil light flashed in the car once after an oil change, so I took the car back the very next day to the mechanic and he said there was no oil in the car at the time. He filled the car back up with oil, and by the end of the week, the car needed oil again, but no light indicated the car was low on

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF STOCKTON LOCATED AT (6215 HOLMAN RD, STOCKTON, CA 95212) BUT WAS NO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 29 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: THE CAR VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECOGNIZED IN ANY SITES BY KIA. SO HOW I CAN GET ANY INFORMATION ON RECALLS OR ANY OTHER ISSUE WITH MY CAR??
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: Unknown of specifics. I was driving up a hill. I heard a loud pop. I pulled off the side of the road. The battery light, oil light, and one other came on. I turned my car off. Tried to start it, again however it sounded like the starter wasn't working. Then smoke started to come out of the car. With
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED FROM THE CENTER LANE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, RIGHT FOOT, AND LEFT KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE CAR DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)