2015 Kia Rio problems and recalls

Owners have filed 52 complaints on the 2015 Kia Rio, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Engine (23 complaints).

52
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crash reports
10
Fire reports
11
Injuries
148.0
Severity index

Severity index 148.0 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 148.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 8 of 143 by severity index among 2015 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 94% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2015 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 23 complaints (44.2%)23 44%Service BrakesService Brakes: 12 complaints (23.1%)12 23%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 9 complaints (17.3%)9 17%HydraulicHydraulic: 9 complaints (17.3%)9 17%Air BagsAir Bags: 5 complaints (9.6%)5 10%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 complaints (7.7%)4 8%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 4 complaints (7.7%)4 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (5.8%)3 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE2344.2%
SERVICE BRAKES1223.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM917.3%
HYDRAULIC917.3%
AIR BAGS59.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING47.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER47.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35.8%

Complaints filed per year

08152015: 22016: 22017: 22018: 62019: 152021: 22022: 22023: 82024: 102025: 31516171819152122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20152
20162
20172
20186
201915
20212
20222
20238
202410
20253
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2019 to 2022 (21 against 19).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
23V65200025/09/2023SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEKia 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 Con

Other Kia Rio model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 11 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.