2020 Kia Rio: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
26
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
1
Injuries
653.8
Severity index
Severity index 653.8 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 26.9% |
| POWER TRAIN | 5 | 19.2% |
| ENGINE | 5 | 19.2% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 | 15.4% |
| STEERING | 4 | 15.4% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 | 11.5% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 | 7.7% |
| WHEELS | 2 | 7.7% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 7 of 26 complaints (26.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V936000 | 01/12/2021 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance. |
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.