2018 Kia Rio problems and recalls

54% of owner complaints on the 2018 Kia Rio related to the Engine (15 of 28).

28
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
1
Injuries
72.6
Severity index

Severity index 72.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 72.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 15 complaints (53.6%)15 54%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 5 complaints (17.9%)5 18%Air BagsAir Bags: 5 complaints (17.9%)5 18%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 5 complaints (17.9%)5 18%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%Latches/Locks/LinkagesLatches/Locks/Linkages: 2 complaints (7.1%)2 7%SeatsSeats: 1 complaints (3.6%)1 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE1553.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM517.9%
AIR BAGS517.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER517.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING27.1%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES27.1%
SEATS13.6%

Complaints filed per year

0362019: 12020: 22021: 32022: 42023: 32024: 42025: 62026: 5 (partial year)19202122232425626
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20191
20202
20213
20224
20233
20244
20256
2026 (year to date)5
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (13 against 9).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V62200009/08/2021LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F

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 2026-08-11. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.