2016 Kia Rio: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 77 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
77
Complaints
2
Recalls
7
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
5
Injuries
127.3
Severity index
Severity index 127.3 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 140 2016 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2016 Kia Rio ranks 16 of 140 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 89% of its model-year peers. See the full 2016 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 38 | 49.4% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 18 | 23.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 15 | 19.5% |
| HYDRAULIC | 12 | 15.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 8 | 10.4% |
| POWER TRAIN | 5 | 6.5% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 4 | 5.2% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 | 5.2% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 38 of 77 complaints (49.4%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 23 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 3.0x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V594000 | 24/08/2023 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH | 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 require |
| 23V652000 | 25/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 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 Con |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.