Kia RIO — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2013 Kia RIO
218 complaints (574% of segment average)
Main issue: WHEN WE PULLED UP TO THE RED LIGHT, THE IDLE STOP AND GO SYSTEM ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND, AS WE WERE ON A DOWNSLOPE, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN ROLLING INTO THE INTERSECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE GO PART DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE DIDN'T RESTART.
2016 Kia RIO
110 complaints (289% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2014 Kia RIO
74 complaints (195% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG ANTIFREEZE AND FUEL ODOR AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE
2012 Kia RIO
73 complaints (192% of segment average)
Main issue: MY 2012 KIA RIO CAUGHT FIRE THE OTHER DAY. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO PUT MY LAPTOP DOWN. I HAD SHUT THE CAR OFF. CAME BACK OUT TO GRAB SOME STUFF FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. THOUGHT IT HAD OVERHEATED. PULLED HOOD RELEASE AND WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD WH
Safe to Buy
2022 Kia RIO
12 complaints — well below segment average
2023 Kia RIO
20 complaints — well below segment average
2021 Kia RIO
23 complaints — well below segment average
2019 Kia RIO
29 complaints — well below segment average
2011 Kia RIO
32 complaints — well below segment average
2017 Kia RIO
36 complaints — well below segment average
2020 Kia RIO
37 complaints — well below segment average