2017 Kia Rio: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
31
Complaints
2
Recalls
3
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
4
Injuries
258.1
Severity index
Severity index 258.1 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 11 | 35.5% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 | 22.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 6 | 19.4% |
| HYDRAULIC | 6 | 19.4% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 | 9.7% |
| AIR BAGS | 3 | 9.7% |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 2 | 6.5% |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 | 3.2% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 11 of 31 complaints (35.5%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 3 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 3.8x 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.